Associate Director, Investor Alliance for Human Rights

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is seeking an Associate Director to support the Investor Alliance for Human Rights, an initiative of ICCR which is a collective action platform for responsible investment that is grounded in respect for people’s fundamental rights. The Associate Director will serve as the Investor Alliance expert on technology and human rights, including digital rights risks (such as right to privacy and freedom of expression), systemic forms of discrimination, unlawful surveillance, defense tech, child safety online, security and conflict, political participation, etc. The Associate Director will work with the Director and team to facilitate engagement with companies on critical human rights issues; engage with policymakers and standards setting bodies; educate investors about the investor and corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and develop tools and guidance for investors.

About us

The Investor Alliance for Human Rights is a membership-based, non-profit initiative focusing on the investor responsibility to respect human rights, corporate engagements that drive responsible business conduct, and policymaking and standards-setting activities that push for robust business and human rights governance. Our membership is currently comprised of 150 institutional investors, including asset management firms, trade union funds, public pension funds, foundations, endowments, faith-based organizations, and family funds representing over $8.8T in assets under management and advisement.

Founded 54 years ago, ICCR is a pioneer coalition of over 300 active institutional investor members who leverage their investments as a catalyst for change. ICCR members work in coalition to engage the world's largest corporations on a range of social and environmental issues impacting communities in the U.S. and globally, including human rights and worker justice; climate change; health equity; and corporate influence via lobbying and political spending.

About this role

The Associate Director will work closely with the Director of the Investor Alliance for Human Rights to develop guidance, tools, and strategies to support investor action on human rights with a specific focus on technology, help facilitate and participate in company engagements, engage with key stakeholders, issue experts, and relevant coalitions, and facilitate initiatives for investors and civil society on core issues. The Associate Director will also support the Director in developing and implementing member engagement, maintenance, and communications, overall initiative strategy, and tracking important developments in the field.

Major responsibilities:

• Managing the corporate engagement on digital rights and AI, including coordination of investor dialogues with target companies, oversight of the Tech and Human Rights working group calls, including relationship building and maintenance with CSO allies, and coordination and drafting of investor actions and materials.
• Serving as a thought leader on business and human rights, and specifically on technology, and representing the Investor Alliance in public fora, civil society events, and industry conferences.
• Developing research, investor guidance, and other content for members for priority workstreams, particularly regarding technology and human rights.
• Developing and maintaining strong working partnerships with key allies and civil society organizations in the field, including impacted stakeholder groups.
• Engaging with policymakers to advance policy priorities and engaging on relevant policy opportunities as they arise.
• Supporting as needed the maintenance of relationships with funders.
• Collaborating with executive leadership and other ICCR staff around strategy.
• Working with Director to support member communication, engagement, and retention.
• Working with Director to support and engage Investor Alliance Advisory Council and related sub-committees.

About you

You have strong experience in (and a passion for) holding technology corporations accountable for the harms they cause to communities around the globe, while being able to communicate effectively with investors about their responsibilities not to further or benefit from those harms. You are an experienced human rights advocate with deep knowledge of the intersection of technology and human rights. You excel at teamwork, but can also work independently, and can manage multiple projects simultaneously. You can make complex issues accessible for multiple audiences.

Specifically, you will have many of the following qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience (7+) in business and human rights as well as the intersection of technology and human rights; including knowledge of AI and tech policy developments in the U.S., EU, and globally and familiarity with emerging technology and innovation and their impact on human rights.
• Experience in responsible investment, shareholder advocacy, corporate engagement, and/or related fields is preferred.
• Capacity to organize and lead dynamic investor advocacy.
• Experience building and supporting leadership teams of diverse parties, including investors and digital rights and other civil society organizations, working to drive rights-respecting business and investor conduct.
• Experience in public speaking, media, and other forms of public communication.
• Strong writing skills.

Job requirements

• You must have the ability to work in the United States. Unfortunately, ICCR is unable to sponsor applicants for employment visas for this role.
• Ability to work on East Coast time is key, given the Investor Alliance’s Europe-based membership.
• Preference will be given to those in the NYC or Washington DC area.
• Flexibility to travel (including internationally) as needed, approximately 4-6 times per year, including the fall and spring ICCR conferences in NYC.

Salary and Benefits

The starting salary for this role is $86,000. This role is full time and is part of ICCR’s union. It includes generous benefits, including 90% health insurance (individual or with dependents), 11% pension contribution after 3 months, paid dental/vision/life/short- and long-term disability insurance, remote work stipend, and extensive time off (including vacation, sick time, personal days, 13 paid holidays, and organizational time off around July 4th and end of year). Professional development will be provided as appropriate.

It is the policy of ICCR to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. This policy is intended to reflect the values and ideals of ICCR’s members and to help ICCR itself model the equal employment opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action practices that its members urge corporations to adopt.

Timeline:

Interviews will be conducted beginning in early April, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. We apologize that because of the volume of applications, we are only able to respond to those applicants granted an interview. No phone calls or emails please. All applications must be done through the BeApplied system to be considered.

Expected Start Date: May 18.

The starting salary for this role is $86,000. This role is full time and is part of ICCR’s union. It includes generous benefits, including 90% health insurance (individual or with dependents), 11% pension contribution after 3 months, paid dental/vision/life/short- and long-term disability insurance, remote work stipend, and extensive time off (including vacation, sick time, personal days, 13 paid holidays, and organizational time off around July 4th and end of year). Professional development will be provided as appropriate.