Asylum Advocacy Associate - Washington, DC
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) seeks a highly qualified, experienced advocate to work in PHR’s Washington, D.C. office on policy issues relating to asylum seekers, immigration detainees, and refugees. The Asylum Advocacy Associate (AAA) will report to and work closely with PHR’s Asylum Program Director, in Cambridge, MA and with PHR’s Chief Policy Officer/Washington Office Director.
The AAA will work to advance PHR’s policies calling for reduced barriers to asylum, better access to health services in immigration detention, and elimination of torture in immigration detention. S/he will organize and support policy-reform activities by PHR’s health professional constituents. S/he will utilize PHR’s reports and will develop advocacy and communications materials to advance rights-based asylum and detention policies, and represent PHR in meetings with government officials, congressional staff, and NGO coalition partners.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Identify and create opportunities to advance PHR’s policy goals through administrative and legislative advocacy.
- Represent PHR at meetings with Administration and congressional staff, and in strategy and advocacy meetings with NGO colleagues. Set up meetings, briefings, and
related advocacy events as needed.
- Engage PHR constituents’ participation in administrative and legislative policy reform efforts relating to asylum and immigration detention.
- Keep abreast of issues in U.S. policy and practice on asylum, detention, and refugee issues, and report back to Asylum Program staff.
- Write and/or co-write articles, blog posts and collateral materials on topics relating to asylum, immigration detention, and refugee issues.
- Work closely with “Medical Advisory Group” to provide guidance to DHS on immigration detention reform.
- Identify new, critical policy issues that PHR may wish to adopt.
- Build relationships with policymakers to advance PHR goals in all programmatic areas.
- Support PHR fund raising efforts, including grant proposal and report writing.
Qualifications
- Law, public policy, or other relevant advanced degree.
- Knowledge of international human rights law, with additional background in U.S. law governing asylum desirable.
- Experience working with legislative and/or administrative policy issues as a legislative or administrative agency staff member, an NGO advocate, or in another relevant position.
- Excellent written communications skills in English; ability to write concisely and discuss legal issues without excessive legal jargon is required. Strong oral presentation skills also required.
- Flexibility to shift gears, change priorities, and juggle multiple tasks required.
- Keen political judgment, maturity, and discretion to maintain confidentiality.
- Proven initiative and follow-through, the ability to work quickly and well independently and under pressure.
- Team player mentality to support all PHR advocacy initiatives and all Asylum Program work.
- Demonstrated commitment to human rights in general, and interest in potentially working on additional issues (not related to asylum and detention) at some point.
The position may require occasional domestic travel including travel to professional meetings, trainings, or detention centers. The position is initially funded for through December 2012 as a full-time salaried position, with the intention of continuing the position depending upon the availability of ongoing project funding.
To Apply:
Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Please put Asylum Advocacy Associate in the subject line and include compensation requirements in your cover letter.
You may also mail to:
Resume Coordinator, Physicians for Human Rights, 2 Arrow Street, Suite 301, Cambridge, MA 02138.
For more information about PHR, please visit our website:
No calls please.
PLEASE NOTE: ALTHOUGH THIS POSITION IS LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, DC, ALL RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS SHOULD BE SENT TO OUR CAMBRIDGE, MA OFFICE.
Physicians for Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer.
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