Executive Director
Women’s Rights Division
Deadline for applications: July 6, 2007
Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking a highly-qualified, senior-level professional to head its Women’s Rights Division (“WRD”).
Description: The Executive Director of HRW’s Women’s Rights Division is responsible for charting strategy, setting priorities, planning, and executing research and advocacy to best defend and advance women’s human rights globally. She or he is responsible for overseeing the collection of detailed information on human rights practices affecting women, the publication of reliable, comprehensive, insightful, and timely reports on those practices, and the use of those reports to generate international pressure to curb abuses. She or he represents the organization frequently before the international press and broadcast media; meets with government and other high-level officials; coordinates with allied organizations, local NGOs and other Human Rights Watch program areas; sets programmatic priorities; manages and develops staff; directs the planning and execution of research and related advocacy initiatives; provides final editing of reports and other written interventions; and takes part in research and writing. The Executive Director is also responsible for fundraising, identifying and recruiting donors, and drafting funding proposals. She or he will preferably be based in the organization’s New York City headquarters, but other locations may be considered. This position requires travel both domestically and internationally.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated, creative, strategic thinker with substantive, senior-level experience working on women’s human rights issues globally. She or he will have excellent leadership skills and a depth and breadth of management and organizational skills, including the demonstrated ability to lead a team of talented professionals in multiple global locations. She or he must be able to juggle multiple tasks and work collegially in a demanding, diverse, and fast-paced professional environment. The ideal candidate will have excellent oral and written communications skills in English, keen political judgment, proven initiative and follow-through, the ability to work quickly and well under pressure, and a commitment to human rights. Fluency in one or more languages other than English is desirable. An advanced degree in women’s studies, law, area studies, public policy, or a related field is desired, as is familiarity with international human rights law.
Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and generous 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, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than July 6, 2007 to program@hrw.org. Please use “Application for WRD Executive Director” 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 (WRD Executive Director)
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
Fax: (212) 736-1300