Front Line Defenders seeks to recruit staff, interns and volunteers in an open and transparent manner. Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting cultural diversity within the Front Line Defenders staff. All positions are advertised via this website as well as through other media or networks appropriate to the position being advertised.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of requests we receive, it is not possible to keep general applications or CVs on file. During a recruitment process we do not generally review applications received until after the closing date. Shortlisting can take some time given the volume of applications we receive for some posts.
Front Line Defenders is currently recruiting for the following positions:
Front Line Defenders is recruiting an Africa Officer to support the Protection Team’s response to human rights defenders at risk in Africa. The Protection Team, through Protection Coordinators, Officers and Managers, drive the organisation's strategic priorities on behalf of HRDs in each of the countries/regions. This position will involve collaboration with all colleagues working in the region offering assistance with documentation, research, administrative and logistic duties in relation to Front Line Defender’s work with human rights defenders
See full job description and role profile at: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/africa_officer_jd...
Remuneration: €37,430 per annum (Point 1 on Scale 6)
Benefits include: 26 days annual leave, pension, health insurance, income protection, life assurance, employee assistance scheme (EAP), monthly well-being provisions.
Selection and Appointment:
- To apply, candidates need to submit a copy of their application - CV and cover letter - via the ‘Apply now’ button;
- Cover letters should be addressed to Ivi Oliveira, Protection Manager;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview;
- It is anticipated interviews will be held in July, 2025;
- The appointment is expected to be effective from July 2025.
- Closing date for applications; midnight (local Irish time) on Sunday, 22 June, 2025 as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
Front Line Defenders is recruiting an Americas Officer to support the Protection Team’s response to human rights defenders at risk in the Americas. The Protection Team, through Protection Coordinators, Officers and Managers, drive the organisation's strategic priorities on behalf of HRDs in each of the countries/regions. This position will involve collaboration with all colleagues working in the region, offering assistance with documentation, research, administrative and logistic duties in relation to Front Line Defender’s work with human rights defenders.
See full job description and role profile at: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/protection_office...
Remuneration: €37,430 per annum (Point 1 on Scale 6)
Benefits include: 26 days annual leave, pension, health insurance, income protection, life assurance, employee assistance scheme (EAP), monthly well-being provisions.
Selection and Appointment:
- To apply, candidates need to submit a copy of their application - CV and cover letter - via the ‘Apply now’ button;
- Cover letters should be addressed to Ivi Oliveira, Protection Manager;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview;
- It is anticipated interviews will be held in the month of June 2025;
- The appointment is expected to be effective from July 2025.
- Closing date for applications; midnight (Americas time) on Sunday, 08 June, 2025 as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
Front Line Defenders is recruiting an Asia Officer to support the Protection Team’s response to human rights defenders at risk in Asia. The Protection Team, through Protection Coordinators, Officers and Managers, drive the organisation's strategic priorities on behalf of HRDs in each of the countries/regions. This position will involve collaboration with all colleagues working in the region offering assistance with documentation, research, administrative and logistic duties in relation to Front Line Defender’s work with human rights defenders
See full job description and role profile at: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/asia_officer_jd_f...
Remuneration: €37,430 per annum (Point 1 on Scale 6)
Benefits include: 26 days annual leave, pension, health insurance, income protection, life assurance, employee assistance scheme (EAP), monthly well-being provisions.
Selection and Appointment:
- To apply, candidates need to submit a copy of their application - CV and cover letter - via the ‘Apply now’ button;
- Cover letters should be addressed to Sarah de Roure, Head of Protection;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview;
- It is anticipated interviews will be held late July, 2025;
- The appointment is expected to be effective from July 2025.
- Closing date for applications; midnight (local Irish time) on Sunday, 29 June, 2025 as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
Front Line Defenders is recruiting an ECA Officer to support the Protection Team’s response to human rights defenders at risk in Europe and Central Asia (ECA). The Protection Team, through Protection Coordinators, Officers and Managers, drive the organisation's strategic priorities on behalf of HRDs in each of the countries/regions. This position will involve close collaboration with ECA Protection Coordinators, Protection Manager and Head of Protection offering assistance with protection work, research, and administrative duties.
See full job description and role profile at: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/eca_officer_jd_fd...
Remuneration: €37,430 per annum (Point 1 on Scale 6)
Benefits include: 26 days annual leave, pension, health insurance, income protection, life assurance, employee assistance scheme (EAP), monthly well-being provisions.
Selection and Appointment:
- To apply, candidates need to submit a copy of their application - CV and cover letter - via the ‘Apply now’ button;
- Cover letters should be addressed to Olena Ivantsiv, Protection Manager;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview;
- It is anticipated interviews will be held July, 2025;
- The appointment is expected to be effective from July 2025.
- Closing date for applications; midnight (local Irish time) on Sunday, 22 June, 2025 as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
Front Line Defenders is recruiting a MENA Officer to support the Protection Team’s response to human rights defenders at risk in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The Protection Team, through Protection Coordinators, Officers and Managers, drive the organisation's strategic priorities on behalf of HRDs in each of the countries/regions. This position will involve close collaboration with MENA Protection Coordinators, Protection Officer, Protection Manager and Head of Protection offering assistance with protection work, research, and administrative duties.
See full job description and role profile at: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/mena_officer_jd_f...
Remuneration: €37,430 per annum (Point 1 on Scale 6)
Benefits include: 26 days annual leave, pension, health insurance, income protection, life assurance, employee assistance scheme (EAP), monthly well-being provisions.
Selection and Appointment:
- To apply, candidates need to submit a copy of their application - CV and cover letter - via the ‘Apply now’ button;
- Cover letters should be addressed to Olena Ivantsiv, Protection Manager;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview;
- It is anticipated interviews will be held late July, 2025;
- The appointment is expected to be effective from July 2025.
- Closing date for applications; midnight (local Irish time) on Sunday, 22 June, 2025 as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
Director of Finance and Operations
Posted 16 May 2025
Consultancies and tenders
None at the present time.
Fellowships and internships
Front Line Defenders annually recruits for two positions that are part of the organisation's commitment to strengthening international mechanisms supporting human rights defenders:
Internship at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul)
The purpose of the Internship is to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). It is a 12 month position based in Banjul. Candidates should be able to work in English and French. Front Line Defenders will prioritise candidates who have experience as a human rights defender in Africa.
Frank Jennings Fellowship (Dublin & Geneva)
The Frank Jennings Fellowship was set up to give an opportunity for dedicated and talented individuals to gain experience working for the protection of human rights defenders in an international NGO and at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is named after Front Line Defenders former Head of Research who died after a long illness in 2005. Frank made a huge contribution to the development of human rights activism in Ireland and candidates who have some experience of human rights work in Ireland will be given priority.
The Frank Jennings Fellow spends three months at Front Line Defenders where he/she will be trained in relation to Human Rights Defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the Mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur; the procedures and methodology of the mandate; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in the support and protection of Human Rights Defenders. The Fellow will then move to Geneva for a period six months before returning to Front Line Defenders for a further three months.
Volunteering at Front Line Defenders
We greatly appreciate the valuable contribution of volunteers who support the work of Front Line Defenders.
The best way to get involved is to help Front Line Defenders raise awareness about the risks faced by human rights defenders around the world and to help raise much needed funds to increase their security and protection.
When human rights defenders visit Ireland on rest & respite, it is important to provide a network of support to them. This community of support includes volunteers interested in accompanying the human rights defender sightseeing, to music and cultural activities, sharing about Irish history and current affairs or other hobbies/activities that may be of interest. Language support is especially useful to visiting human rights defenders. The working languages of Front Line Defenders are English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian but sometimes we also need support with other languages.
If specific additional volunteering opportunities arise, they will be posted here.
