Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

Right Livelihood is looking for a full-time Head of Research. The role will be based at one of our offices in Stockholm or Geneva and will lead the selection and research of new Laureates for the Right Livelihood Award.

About Right Livelihood

For over 40 years, Right Livelihood has honoured courageous people solving global problems, creating a community of change-makers committed to peace, justice, and sustainability. By recognising the actions of brave visionaries and building a continuous relationship with these change-makers, Right Livelihood boosts urgent and transformational societal change. With offices in Stockholm and Geneva, Right Livelihood has 20 staff and an annual budget of EUR 4 million. Every year, an international jury chooses the new Laureates: to date, 198 Laureates from 77 countries have been awarded for their impactful contributions. Read more about our approach.

Purpose of the role

You will oversee all aspects of the research and selection of new Laureates for the Right Livelihood Award, taking a leading role in implementing our strategic outlook, as well as developing and managing the research team. In this position, you will be collaborating with colleagues in the entire Right Livelihood team and communicating with nominees for the Award as well as external experts and other contacts. It is expected that you stay on top of global developments related to the work. It is your responsibility to ensure high quality in the research and present accurate, comprehensive, and timely research findings about the candidates. 

The Head of Research will report to the Deputy Director and lead the work of the research team, which currently has two staff members. 

Main responsibilities

• Lead and develop the annual selection process of Laureates towards the goals defined in the organisational strategy and operational plan.
• Provide leadership to the research team, manage and guide the research work, and be responsible for the research budget.
• Coordinate and conduct investigative research about nominees for the Award, both remote and on-site, and lead the writing of the report presented to the jury, including all relevant research findings.
• Ensure high-quality research to allow the jury to assess nominations from multiple perspectives.
• In coordination with colleagues, make sure that our work is informed by current trends in global affairs and civil society movements.

Required experience and qualifications

• Professional experience in leadership roles
• Professional experience in conducting investigative research in fields such as activism and social transformation 
• Experience with conducting interviews with a wide range of people, e.g. victims of environmental or human rights violations, both on-site or online
• Full professional proficiency in English, including experience with research report writing

Terms of employment

This position will be located preferably at our head office in Stockholm or at our Geneva office. Regular international travel is expected in this role. This is a permanent full-time position with a probationary period.

Right Livelihood is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We therefore strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, identities and abilities to help us create a diverse, balanced and inclusive working environment.

Starting date

By agreement, preferably April 2025.

How to apply

We use a competency-based process for this recruitment. Therefore, you will not be asked to attach a letter of motivation to your application. Instead, we will ask you to complete the online application form accessed through the link below, attach your CV and submit a work sample. Instructions for the work sample are outlined here and in the application form.

go to application form

If you have further questions about the position or the application process, please contact us at jobs@rightlivelihood.org.

The deadline for applications is February 12, 2025 (EOD).