Global Wellbeing Front Line Defenders USA

An Introduction to Front Line Defenders and Our Mission

At Front Line Defenders, our fundamental purpose is to protect and support human rights defenders (HRDs) who are at risk due to their peaceful work in upholding the rights and freedoms of others. These courageous individuals often operate in perilous environments, facing threats, intimidation, surveillance, and violence. The psychological and emotional toll of this work is immense, leading to stress, burnout, trauma, and secondary trauma.

Recognizing that a defender’s well-being is intrinsically linked to their resilience and capacity to continue their vital work, we are establishing a dedicated, global programme focused on holistic support. We are not just looking for an employee; we are searching for a mission-driven professional to architect and lead this critical initiative. This is the role of the Global Wellbeing Coordinator.

The Role in Detail: More Than a Job Title

The Global Wellbeing Coordinator is the central architect and engine of our organization’s well-being programme. This is not a passive or administrative role. It is a dynamic, hands-on position that blends strategic development with direct, compassionate support. The core objective is to design and implement a robust, responsive, and culturally sensitive programme that directly addresses the unique needs of HRDs at risk.

You will be the primary point of contact for well-being within our global network, responsible for ensuring that defenders have enhanced access to the psycho-social support they need to sustain their work and their personal lives.

Key Responsibilities and Impact Areas

Your work will be divided into two primary, interconnected streams:

1. Direct Support and Programme Management

This is the heart of the role, where you will interact directly with the community we serve.

• Needs Assessment & Programme Design: You will conduct thorough assessments to identify the specific psycho-social and well-being needs of HRDs in different regions and contexts. This involves listening, understanding, and translating those needs into a actionable, effective global strategy.

• One-on-One Support: You will provide direct, confidential, and empathetic support to HRDs who are experiencing acute stress, burnout, or trauma. This involves crisis intervention, active listening, and guiding them towards appropriate resources.

• Resource Development: You will be tasked with creating a repository of well-being resources. This includes developing guides, self-help materials, and digital content on topics like stress management, digital wellness, safety planning, and resilience-building, tailored specifically for an HRD audience.

• Training and Workshops: You will design and facilitate virtual and, where possible, in-person training sessions and workshops for HRDs and our partner organizations on well-being, mental health first aid, and collective care practices.

2. Network and Ecosystem Development

To maximize impact, you will not work alone. You will build and nurture a global support system.

• Curating a Practitioner Network: A critical part of this role is to identify, vet, and build a trusted network of external well-being and mental health professionals (psychologists, therapists, counselors, etc.) across various regions and languages.

• Partnership Building: You will establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with other organizations specializing in well-being, psycho-social support, and humanitarian aid to share best practices, leverage resources, and create referral pathways.

• Capacity Building: You will train and support the practitioners within your network, ensuring they understand the unique context and pressures faced by human rights defenders, thereby guaranteeing culturally competent and relevant care.

• System Management: You will develop and manage the systems for connecting HRDs with the most appropriate practitioner from your network, ensuring a smooth, confidential, and supportive referral process.

Who We Are Looking For: The Ideal Candidate Profile

We seek a professional who combines deep technical expertise in well-being support with a profound understanding of the high-stakes, international context of human rights defense.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience directly providing well-being and psycho-social support.

• Demonstrable experience working in an international context, with a clear understanding of cross-cultural communication and the challenges of providing remote support.

• A proven track record of developing, implementing, and managing well-being programmes or support systems from the ground up.

• Preferred: Direct experience providing support to human rights defenders, activists, journalists, or individuals operating in high-risk or conflict-affected environments.

Critical Competencies and Personal Attributes

Beyond the years of experience, your character and soft skills are paramount to success in this role.

• Empathy and Compassion: You must possess a deep, authentic well of empathy. Your interactions with HRDs will be guided by compassion, patience, and a non-judgmental attitude. You understand that listening is an act of support.

• Utmost Discretion and Integrity: You will be entrusted with highly sensitive and confidential information. The ability to handle this information with the highest degree of discretion, professionalism, and ethical integrity is non-negotiable.

• Resilience and Self-Awareness: Supporting individuals under extreme stress requires a high level of personal resilience and emotional intelligence. You must be self-aware, have robust self-care practices, and know your own boundaries to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

• Superb Communication Skills: You are an excellent communicator, both in writing and verbally, able to convey complex ideas with clarity and sensitivity to individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

• Proactive and Autonomous: As a remote coordinator, you must be a self-starter, highly organized, and capable of managing your own workload, setting priorities, and driving initiatives forward with minimal supervision.

• Collaborative Spirit: While autonomous, you are fundamentally a team player who believes in the power of networks and collaborates effectively with colleagues and external partners across time zones.

Why Join Front Line Defenders?

This role offers a unique opportunity to create a lasting, tangible impact on the global human rights movement.

• Mission-Critical Work: You will be filling a crucial gap in the support ecosystem for HRDs, directly contributing to their safety, resilience, and longevity.

• Global Reach: You will interact with brave individuals and organizations from every corner of the world, gaining a unique perspective on the global human rights landscape.

• Autonomy and Trust: You will be given the responsibility and autonomy to shape a vital new programme, putting your vision and expertise into practice.

• A Supportive Environment: You will become part of a dedicated, passionate, and internationally recognized team that is committed to its mission and its people.