Full-Time Job Vacancy: Advocacy Director
Africa Division (Nairobi Office)
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
The Africa Division of Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking an experienced and highly qualified Africa Advocacy Director.
S/he is responsible for developing and implementing an effective advocacy strategy for HRW’s work in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The position serves as a spokesperson and advocate for HRW on human rights issues pertaining to the region and establishes and maintains effective advocacy relationships with key interlocutors and representatives of governments, regional bodies including the African Union, African civil society organizations and other international organizations.
This position reports to the Executive Director of the Africa Division.
Responsibilities:
- Develop recommendations for achieving human rights improvements in the region, including through research of relevant advocacy targets such as the African Union, other regional institutions, and relevant government offices;
- Prepare and implement advocacy strategies in consultation with divisional staff, others in HRW and with relevant external partners;
- Serve as Head of HRW’s Nairobi office and coordinate advocacy and outreach activities;
- Prepare a range of written materials, including news releases, opinion pieces, blog postings, policy analyses and other documents and review such documents, including HRW reports, prepared by others;
- Work collaboratively with other human rights organizations including through coalitions and develop contacts with journalists in a variety of media;
- Keep abreast of pertinent legislative and policy developments and advise relevant Africa staff and others, as appropriate, of important changes;
- Ensure organization-wide coordination of Africa advocacy, including through close collaboration with other advocates and relevant staff in other HRW divisions and offices;
- Operate in compliance with organizational regulations and rules, including the policies of applicable employee agreements;
- In consultation with staff, deliver outputs in a timely manner and be consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the division;
- Monitor progress against milestones and deadlines of all outputs that are within the purview of responsibility; and
- Perform other tasks as required and assigned by the Executive Director of the Africa Division.
Qualifications:
Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, social science or related subjects is required.
Experience: A minimum of 7-8 years of direct experience in nongovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations or governments working to influence policy on human rights is required.
Related Skills and Knowledge:
- Significant advocacy experience is required, including at the African Union. Experience with other African regional institutions is desirable.
- Extensive knowledge of human rights issues in all or part of Sub-Saharan Africa region is required.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French are required; proficiency in additional African or AU working languages is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated commitment to human rights and/or international issues and the capacity to master and represent the mission and programs of HRW are required.
- Ability to defend and explain complex issues and positions to intergovernmental and governmental bodies is required.
- Demonstrated ability to think creatively and strategically is required.
- Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with local partners, government officials and external media partners are required.
- Capacity to appropriately plan and prioritize and to manage multiple, sometimes competing demands efficiently in a challenging, fast-paced environment are required.
- Knowledge and advocacy experience with other regional bodies such as the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the UN are desirable.
- A track record of successful media outreach and cultivating relationships with journalists 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.
Contact: Please submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references to africajobs@hrw.org.
Please use “Africa Advocacy Director Ref AFR-15-1045” as the subject of your email.
Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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.
Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its indepth 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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