[URBANTH-L]Exciting Job Opportunity

[Richard Thomas]

Physicians for Human Rights
Position Announcement - June 2005

International Forensic Program Director

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) seeks a Director for the International Forensic Program, based in its Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters. PHR mobilizes the health professions and enlists support from the general public to protect and promote the human rights of all people. PHR has a staff of 30 in its Cambridge office and has an office in Washington, DC with a staff of six. The director is part of the senior staff of the organization, and will manage all forensic staff. The program also deploys dozens of consultants and volunteers for specific field investigations and training projects. 

The widely respected and recognized International Forensic Program, formally established in 1994, grew out of the need to establish the truth about massive abuses of human rights, especially crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. The program serves three key purposes: to hold perpetrators accountable, to enable the victims' families to learn (and cope with) the fate of their missing loved ones, and to answer the claims of history. PHR's program brings skills of forensic pathology, trauma medicine, epidemiology, physical anthropology and archeology, genetics, toxicology and odontology and other sciences to this task. The program has supported tribunals, truth commissions, national courts, families and associations of families, human rights organizations, and provided training and capacity-building to forensic scientists worldwide. 

The director will determine the priorities of the program, manage specific projects and address requests for forensic assistance and training. The director will also engage in various field projects. These may include assessing, conducting exhumations and documenting evidence of individual and mass graves, conducting or observing autopsies on deaths in custody or in suspicious circumstances, and offering expert consultation to governmental, nongovernmental and intergovernmental bodies. 

Duties Include: 

1. Lead PHR's work in human rights forensic investigation, training and advocacy.
2. Assess and develop forensic projects.
3. Conduct some assessments and participate in projects in the field. 
4. Recruit, and in some cases train qualified volunteers and consultants in relevant fields to perform forensic assessments of individual and mass graves in human rights cases, reviewing autopsy reports, and communicating with families of the victims.
5. Develop strategies to assure psycho-social needs of families are met in cases where PHR is involved in forensic investigations.
6. Testify before courts and tribunals when required.
7. Assure quality of products and progress according to established timetables, developing and maintaining process to monitor and evaluate all projects.
8. Participate in international standards development for forensic human rights work.
9. Provide technical assistance and training on forensic human rights matters.
10. Advise governments, tribunals, and international agencies on appropriate approach and management of forensic matters where appropriate.
11. Communicate with and oversee PHR forensic volunteers.
1. 12. Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with other NGOs and relevant governmental institutions and individuals, providing guidance to other human rights organizations on forensic scientific matters.
13. Generate reports and articles on projects and developments as well as policies in this field.
14. Manage the forensic program and supervise staff consistent with PHR standards including performance planning, feedback and performance reviews and coordinating with other PHR departments and external parties. Oversee staff compliance with organizational policies and procedures, including strategy team requirements as well as administrative policies and procedures.
15. Participate in PHR strategy related to specific situations, development of the program, and its relation to PHR's other program areas.
16. Support fundraising initiatives for forensic projects including assisting development staff in grant writing and donor appeals and speaking at events.

Qualifications

· PhD. or equivalent in physical anthropology. Prefer anthropologist with specialization and experience in forensic anthropology including in medical examiner office settings. Pathologists may also apply; prefer US, Board-certified forensic pathologist with experience working on death investigations of individual and mass graves in concert with anthropologists. 
· Record of publication for academic and general audiences, as well as human rights documentation.
· Excellent leadership, team management and communication skills
· Experience as spokesperson with media and the public
· Team orientation
· Cross-cultural experience and sensitivity; experience and proven ability to work with internationally represented staff
· Diplomatic skills and experience
· Human rights background, experience and commitment; knowledge of international humanitarian and human rights law
· Ability to work with diverse group of people from range of professions and backgrounds
· Willingness to work within context of a non-profit, non-governmental organization
· Willingness to travel including ability to withstand the physical rigors of international work and willingness to live and work in difficult conditions when doing international investigations/projects.

Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, names of three professional references and salary history to Barbara Harris, Physicians for Human Rights, 2 Arrow Street, Suite 301, Cambridge, MA 02138 E-mail resumes at phrusa.org. For more information about PHR, please visit our website @ www.phrusa.org

	

Richard Thomas

Visit Our On-Line Career Center at 
http://www.aaanet.org/careers.htm
AAA 
2200 Wilson Blvd Ste 600
Arlington VA 22201-3357
ph 703-528-1902 x 3030
fx 703-528-3546
rthomas at aaanet.org