Program Officer (Consultant) At Nazdeek

Nazdeek is seeking a Program Officer (Consultant) to join our team.

Nazdeek is a legal capacity-building organization committed to bringing access to justice closer to marginalized communities in India. Nazdeek works to advance social and economic rights through civic training, community mobilization, and access to judicial and non-judicial remedies with a core focus on women from marginalised communities. We believe that the law can be an effective tool in overcoming discrimination and marginalization. Two of our main projects have been: 1. Improving access to labour and health rights of tea plantation workers in Assam; 2. Strengthening housing and health rights of slum dwellers in Delhi. We are now bringing our advocacy model to work in the state of Tamil Nadu with primary focus on labour and constitutional rights issues.

This Program Officer (Consultant) position may be based in either New Delhi or Tamil Nadu, with extensive travel to the other, for our rights-based legal and organizing work. The position offers an opportunity to engage in participatory research and community engagement, while gaining advocacy experience in the growing field of legal empowerment. Our ideal applicant is a mid-level professional who is fluent in Tamil and English, likes to travel, has strong writing and communications skills, has strong knowledge of labour law, legal writing and analytical skills, and is experienced with conducting field work, taking interviews, and mobilizing communities.

Responsibilities of the consultant include:

• Undertaking legal and policy research on labour issues in Tamil Nadu with special focus on textile & garment and tea industry.
• Conducting extensive field research in identified areas (including fact finding and surveys); interacting with a variety of high-level stakeholders, community leaders, workers, and activist groups; and collecting data through quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Developing innovative participatory tools and methodologies for data collection and reporting
• Preparing modules and facilitating training and community meetings related to socioeconomic rights, labour laws, existing grievance redressal mechanisms and advocacy skills.
• Engaging and coordinating with diverse stakeholders to create partnerships fundamental to community mobilization work
• Participating in strategic program management by identifying potential areas for Nazdeek’s ongoing interventions, including legal capacity-building, data collection, development of grievance redressal mechanisms, etc.
• Managing site visit logistics, creating and tracking budgets for events and meetings, writing summaries and reports of our data collection and research, and maintaining detailed records
• Ensuring project deliverables are completed according to the project timeline.
• Supporting or leading legal advocacy strategies by collaborating with lawyers, law schools and legal aid services, undertaking legal analysis, research, writing and drafting.

Required qualifications and skills:

Education: Applicants must either possess an LLM (preferred) or LLB with experience in labour law; or a Masters degree in social sciences, labour welfare, or other related disciplines with a human rights focus.

Skills:

• Excellent English and Tamil communication, research, documentation, and writing skills.
• At least 3 years of experience in program administration and implementing projects around women’s and workers’ rights, preferably in the labour sector in Tamil Nadu. OR for candidates with a Ll.B or Ll.M, at least 3 years of post-qualification experience in working on women’s and workers’ rights, preferably on labour law in Tamil Nadu.
• Ability to conduct legal research and use a legal lens in rights-based work.
• Field experience working with vulnerable communities in advancing rights.
• Ability to manage field work with the support of supervisory staff.
• Thorough knowledge of human rights, labour welfare and gender issues.
• Ability to work under pressure and communicate effectively with a diverse audience, ranging from workers in vulnerable communities to government officials and international organizations.
• Knowledge and experience related to business and human rights, particularly in the textile and garment industry in South Asia, will be preferable.
• Familiarity with community engagement and mobilization as well as experience with grassroots organisations, trade unions or social movements will be preferable.
• Experience in rights-based advocacy and outreach efforts, including planning and implementing campaigns, will be preferable.

Linguistic competencies:

• Fluency in written and spoken Tamil
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Basic knowledge of Hindi preferred

Compensation and other benefits:

Salary: ​Commensurate with experience and in-line with the average non-profit sector in India. Nazdeek is a small organization; however, we strive to provide our staff with the support and flexibility they need. The position allows for great career development opportunities, including travel and networking.

Duration: One year contract, with possibility of extension

Location: ​Tamil Nadu and New Delhi, India

Starting date​: ASAP