Regional Human Rights Specialist – Africa

About the role

The Regional Human Rights Specialist will lead the integration of human‑rights standards across WCS conservation programmes throughout Africa. Reporting to the Director of the Africa Protected Areas Management Unit, the role works closely with regional, country and field teams to ensure rights‑based approaches are embedded in planning, law‑enforcement and community engagement.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate the implementation of WCS’s rights‑based conservation approach across all Africa programmes, providing technical guidance on international human‑rights standards.
• Conduct human‑rights impact assessments for new sites and interventions, identify risks and recommend mitigation measures.
• Support law‑enforcement teams to embed human‑rights principles into operational protocols and training.
• Review and update Africa‑level Standard Operating Procedures to ensure they reflect rights‑respecting practices.
• Design and deliver practical human‑rights training for field staff, community partners and law‑enforcement advisors.

Required profile

• Advanced degree in Law or a related field with a specialization in human rights (or equivalent experience and certificates).
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in human‑rights advocacy, research, policy or monitoring, preferably in an African context.
• Proven experience working directly with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, civil‑society organisations or government stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and professional proficiency in French; additional language skills are a plus.