FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
WASHINGTON, DC DIRECTOR
Advocacy Division
(Washington, DC)
Application Deadline: January 31, 2020
Organizational Overview:
Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) advances human rights worldwide. We investigate wrongs, expose the facts, offer solutions, and challenge those with power to respect rights. We collaborate with people claiming their rights, learn from partners, and engage the public. HRW upholds the freedoms and defends the protections that promote dignity, equality, and justice.
Our 500 staff based in more than 50 countries conduct research into human rights abuses, publicize our findings, and advocate for change; we raise money to sustain our work, ensure our security, and manage a complex operations environment.
That mission is as urgent as it has ever been, and it faces complex new challenges. We must contend with the failures of governments to meet their obligations on water, land, education, and food. We must respond to conflict and crisis on an extraordinary scale, and we must confront the persistence of repression around the world. Climate change, the resurgence of authoritarian populism, rapidly advancing technologies, and the effects of deep inequality all compound these threats to rights. Innovation, efficiency, and diversity are critical to our success in meeting these challenges, and to delivering sustained impact.
HRW’s guiding principles include independence, accurate and fair fact-finding, an impact orientation, and engagement with partners. Our core internal values include transparency, diversity and inclusion, learning and trust, safety and resilience, and accountability.
Position Overview:
HRW is seeking applicants for the position of Washington, DC, Director to develop and implement advocacy strategies on the full range of countries and US foreign policy issues addressed by the organization. Serving as a key advocacy strategist, the Washington Director will ensure that the highest standards of quality and efficacy for HRW’s diverse advocacy efforts and help transform HRW’s research into concrete improvements in human rights practices. The position is based in our Washington, DC office and reports to the Global Advocacy Deputy Executive Director.
Responsibilities:
1. Provide overarching vision for HRW’s advocacy in Washington, determine advocacy priorities on human rights issues;
2. Lead HRW’s advocacy in Washington, including with officials in the executive branch (including with White House, State Department, Pentagon, Treasury), and with key members of Congress and their staffs;
3. Collaborate with the various parts of HRW to identify and create opportunities that support their advocacy efforts involving the US government; host researchers, other HRW colleagues, and partners for timely meetings on particular issues;
4. Coordinate, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of HRW’s advocacy with the US government;
5. Support HRW’s efforts to engage Washington-based media regarding our work; engage regularly with Washington based press corps including editorial boards and investigative journalists; write op-eds and provide quotes as needed;
6. Respond to and/or anticipate relevant news events and policy debates by inserting HRW’s voice, research and strategic messaging events, debates, and discussions;
7. Advise senior management, donors, and members of the board on appropriate policy responses; coordinate talking points and provide analysis for various global events and meetings related to US policy and core human rights concerns;
8. Provide US political analysis, perspective, and guidance to the organization;
9. Coordinate and bring together the staff of HRW’s Washington office with respect to their US advocacy efforts; coordinate closely with other HRW advocates around the global to determine share priorities;
10. Work with non-governmental organizations, foreign embassies, think tanks and other key actors on collaborative advocacy efforts; and regularly represent the organization in public events whether on panels, forums, dinners, or press conference;
11. Lead, motivate, and mentor a small staff in HRW’s Washington DC office, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely constructive feedback, ensuring a balanced workload, providing guidance on professional growth, and monitoring staff well-being as it pertains to stress and resilience issues and self-care; and
12. Carry out other duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, or social science is highly desirable.
Experience: A minimum ten years of relevant experience, substantial knowledge of the executive and legislative branches of the US government, and direct experience engaging with or working for the US government required. This position requires significant human rights experience and expertise, and a demonstrated commitment to human rights. Substantial advocacy experience is also strongly desired.
Required Skills and Knowledge:
1. Excellent speaking, writing, and editing skills in English.
2. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and a proven track record of advocacy.
3. Experience speaking with the media and cultivating relationships with journalists.
4. Ability to defend and explain complex issues and positions to government officials, lawmakers, and the media.
5. Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with others.
6. Ability to think creatively, initiate projects, and follow through on plans.
7. Capacity to appropriately plan, prioritize and manage multiple, sometimes competing demands efficiently in a challenging, fast-paced environment.
8. Commitment to working with staff and partners in a positive, collaborative, diverse, and inclusive work environment is required.
9. Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations are required.
10. Also desirable are fluency in additional language and experience conducting human rights work in other countries or settings.
Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by January 31, 2020 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a letter of interest, a resume or CV, salary requirements, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references preferably as PDF files. Additional links to media appearances or other relevant background are welcomed. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, please email recruitment@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.
Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.
Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.
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