Business and Human Rights Senior Researcher and Legal Research Intern – Research Jobs
2025
Business and Human Rights Senior Researcher and Legal Research Intern – Research Jobs
Are you passionate about business and human rights? Are you looking to make a real impact in corporate accountability and human rights practices? These exciting opportunities are for you!
In this post, we’ll highlight two key positions at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), one of the leading global non-profit organizations dedicated to integrating human rights into the business world. These roles are perfect for individuals interested in combining research, policy analysis, and human rights advocacy to hold corporations accountable for their actions.
If you are passionate about justice, transparency, and making an impactful change in the corporate sector, these positions offer an incredible opportunity to build a career in this important field.
U.S. Business and Human Rights Senior Researcher
Location: Preferably Washington, D.C. or surrounding areas, possibly New York or surrounding areas.
Salary: $56,000 (part-time, 3.5 days/week), commensurate with experience.
Closing date: 14 March 2025
Interview dates: 18-20 March 2025
The Role The Senior Researcher will play a critical role in advancing the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s mission to increase transparency and accountability within U.S. corporations, specifically focusing on four key sectors that have high human rights risks: energy, apparel, technology, and food and beverage.
This position involves monitoring corporate behavior, tracking the progress (or lack thereof) of business and human rights commitments, and producing reports that highlight these findings. The researcher will engage with a range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, companies, and policymakers, to promote greater corporate responsibility and respect for human rights.
This position also offers a chance to work closely with experts, activists, and organizations globally, contributing to the Resource Centre’s strategic goals of:
- Shared prosperity for society – Ensuring businesses contribute to society equitably.
- Corporate duty of care for human rights and environmental justice – Holding corporations accountable for their impact on human rights and the environment.
- Safe and enabling environments for human rights defenders – Advocating for protection and safe spaces for those who speak up for justice.
Key Responsibilities As a Senior Researcher at BHRRC, you will:
- Conduct Research: Build a comprehensive evidence base of human rights-related policy commitments of 50 top U.S. companies across sectors such as energy, apparel, technology, and food & beverage. Your research will focus on labour rights, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, community rights, and environmental justice.
- Monitor Backsliding or Progress: Using existing tools and methodologies, you’ll track the progress (or lack thereof) of U.S. companies in their efforts to uphold human rights principles and hold them accountable for failures.
- Write Briefings and Reports: Develop and publish quarterly reports, blog posts, and policy papers that detail trends in corporate accountability, bringing attention to companies that are making progress or falling short in their human rights commitments.
- Engage with Stakeholders: Work directly with companies, investors, civil society groups, and government officials to advocate for change, promote transparency, and engage in policy discussions.
- Influence Policy Change: Leverage your findings to push for stronger human rights legislation and policies that hold companies accountable for abuses, both within the U.S. and globally.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Business and Human Rights Commitment: A deep commitment to human rights, with a background in research or corporate accountability.
- Research Expertise: Strong experience in researching corporate practices, drafting reports, and presenting findings to stakeholders.
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information in an accessible way.
- Engagement: Proven experience engaging with private-sector actors, government agencies, or human rights organizations.
Legal Research Intern
Location: Remote position (work from home or university). Candidates must have at least 3.5 hours of overlap between 8:30 am-6:00 pm CET.
Period: Minimum commitment of 14 hours a week for at least 4 months, starting mid to late May 2025.
Application Deadline: 29 March 2025
About the Role The Legal Research Intern will assist the Corporate Legal Accountability (CLA) Programme, which tracks and advocates for corporate legal accountability. The intern will focus on gathering legal information related to business-related human rights abuses and drafting profiles of lawsuits involving corporate malfeasance.
Key Responsibilities
- Legal Research and Analysis: Conduct online legal research and help update the Resource Centre’s legal profiles with relevant information about lawsuits against companies for human rights and environmental abuses.
- Tracking and Summarizing Lawsuits: Assist in creating summaries of legal cases and lawsuits involving companies accused of human rights violations, including providing concise details for internal and external use.
- Assisting with Reports: Support the production of the CLA Quarterly Update and other newsletters highlighting key legal developments and trends in corporate accountability.
- Support Administrative Tasks: Provide data input and general administrative support as necessary, including managing and updating the legal information on the website.
- Team Collaboration: Participate in virtual meetings with global team members and researchers to discuss the progress of the CLA program and key developments in the field.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Legal Background: Enrolled in a law degree (LLB/LLM/JD or equivalent) or have a strong legal background.
- Research Skills: Ability to perform legal research, analyze data, and produce summaries.
- Commitment to Human Rights: A genuine interest in and commitment to promoting human rights through legal means.
- Languages: Fluency in English is required; additional proficiency in French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian is a plus.
- Attention to Detail: Ability to manage large amounts of information and input data accurately.
About the Organization
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) is a global non-profit dedicated to ensuring that businesses respect human rights. BHRRC works with communities, civil society organizations, governments, and corporations to hold companies accountable for their human rights impact.
BHRRC tracks over 10,000 companies globally and provides a platform for information on corporate practices. Their mission is to promote a just economy, protect climate justice, and eliminate corporate abuse. Their platform serves as a knowledge hub, offering regular updates on corporate legal accountability, human rights policies, and legislative developments.
Why These Positions Matter
These roles provide a unique opportunity to contribute to corporate accountability and human rights at a global scale. By working with BHRRC, you will be part of an organization at the forefront of advocating for corporate responsibility and pushing for stronger legal frameworks that protect human rights worldwide. Whether you are an experienced researcher or a law student looking for practical experience, these positions will provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a significant impact on human rights within business practices.
If you are passionate about human rights, corporate accountability, and social justice, these positions are a chance to build a meaningful career while making a difference in the world.
To apply for either position, complete the application form on the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s website. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you into this vital work.
For more information on the job opportunities, visit the links below:
