Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking highly-qualified applicants for the position of Advocacy Director with its Asia Division.

Description: The Advocacy Director will be based in HRW’s Washington, DC, office and will work with staff from HRW’s Asia Division and its thematic divisions (women’s rights, children’s rights, international justice, refugees, etc.) to design and implement strategies to promote and protect human rights in Asia. Principal advocacy targets include abusive governments, institutions, or actors, and influential governments and international actors such as the United States, United Nations, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Union, and others. The Advocacy Director will meet regularly with policymakers, present the research and recommendations of the Asia Division in public fora, monitor legislative and policy developments, write opinion pieces for publication, speak on behalf of the division to the media and general public, and work with human rights organizations in Asia and elsewhere. This is an initial two-year appointment, with the possibility of extension. 

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, creative, self-motivated, strategic and original thinker with senior level advocacy experience and a demonstrated commitment to human rights. Direct experience in nongovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations or governments working to influence policy on human rights is required. The ideal candidate will possess fluent oral and written communication skills in English (and preferably one other language), proven initiative and follow-through, and the ability to work well under pressure and as a member of a team. An advanced degree in human rights, international relations, law, or a related field in history or the social sciences is desirable.

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.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY by emailing in a single submission: a letter of interest describing your experience, your resume, names or letters of reference, salary history and requirements, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than April 21, 2011 to asiajobs@hrw.org. Please use “Advocacy Director REF: ASIA-11-1014-D” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:

Human Rights Watch
Attn: Search Committee (Advocacy Director REF: ASIA-11-1014-D)
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
Fax: (212) 736-1300

Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.