Position Announcement: Southeast Asia Legal Associate

Start Date: As soon as possible

Location: Phnom Penh preferred, though other locations in Southeast Asia

will be considered for exceptional candidates

About Inclusive Development International

Inclusive Development International is a US-based non-governmental organization that supports communities around the world to defend their human rights and environment in the face of harmful corporate activities and works to build a more just and equitable global economy. Through research, casework, capacity building and policy advocacy, we hold corporations and development finance institutions accountable to their human rights and environmental responsibilities. Our strategy revolves around the mining of financial data to unravel the investment and supply chains behind harmful industries to help affected communities and social movements pursue winning advocacy strategies. And we bring our knowledge - grounded in years of experience supporting communities to defend their rights - to global policy arenas where we advocate to close accountability gaps and make business and human rights standards enforceable. Learn more at: https://www.inclusivedevelopment.net.

About the Position

We are seeking a dynamic, experienced advocate to serve as our Southeast Asia Legal Associate, advancing Inclusive Development International's casework and capacity-building activities in the region.

Deploying Inclusive Development International's signature Follow the Money approach to corporate accountability, the Legal Associate will work with our legal, research, and China Global teams, and our partners in Southeast Asia, to support communities to defend their rights in the face of harmful investment projects and advance a just energy transition.

The Legal Associate will work most closely with, and under the supervision of, the Southeast Asia Legal Coordinator to advance casework, including litigation, mediation, and other advocacy and remedy strategies, and to conduct training workshops in the region.

With the support of our international team, the Legal Associate will also provide strategic advice and support to local advocacy organizations seeking to use Follow the Money strategies to defend human rights and the environment in partnership with affected communities.

Principle Responsibilities:

• 
  Support community partners to develop corporate accountability strategies, including judicial and non-judicial remedial processes and complementary advocacy activities.
• Support strategic litigation and mediation processes, including through field and desk research, evidence collection, developing legal arguments and positions, facilitating community strategy decisions, and preparing communities to engage in remedial processes.
• Support the team in delivering Follow the Money trainings to regional partners, playing a key role in building a Southeast Asian community of practice to defend community rights in the face of harmful investment projects and hold responsible actors accountable.
• Foster and develop relationships with local and regional partners and social movements working to defend community rights and advance a just energy transition.
• Assist the team in effectively communicating the results of our investment and supply chain research of harmful projects, including new opportunities for advocacy, to local groups that request support from Inclusive Development International's Follow the Money initiative.
  

Key Selection Criteria: The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and attributes:

• 
  A strong personal commitment to Inclusive Development International's mission and core values.
• At least five years of experience advocating for human rights, environmental justice and/or corporate accountability.
• Experience working with communities suffering from injustice and respecting their agency in defending their human rights.
• A degree in a related field, such as law, human rights, development studies or international finance.
• Litigation and/or non-judicial grievance mechanism experience.
• Field research experience and skills (experience gathering evidence and conducting social, environmental or human rights impact assessments is highly desired).
• Deeply rooted in the Southeast Asian region.
• Excellent English language verbal and written communication skills and fluency in Khmer, Thai and/or Bahasa Indonesia.
• Comfortable working with a diverse international team and local CSO partners.
• Willingness to travel regularly in the region, including to remote locations.

Schedule

Typical working hours, though flexible, will be 9 am - 5 pm Monday-Friday, with occasional earlier morning or evening calls to meet the needs of an international team.

Compensation and Benefits

Inclusive Development International offers a salary range of $40,000 - $48,000 for this role and a generous benefits package, including paid time off, medical insurance, annual contribution to a retirement fund, and paid parental leave.

Application Instructions:

Candidates will be required to submit each of the following with their application:

• Resume
• Cover letter addressing the key selection criteria (maximum 2 pages)
• 2 writing samples (in English) on relevant subject matters.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short research and writing test as part of our selection process.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Posting may close without notice.

We value diversity and believe that a more diverse team is a more effective team. Inclusive Development International strongly encourages people of color, Indigenous people, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, adults of all ages, and all qualified persons to apply for our open options.

Inclusive Development International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, class or other characteristics protected by law.