Deputy Program Director

Human Rights Watch; United States; On-site; USD 190,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

Human Rights Watch seeks a Deputy Program Director to lead HRW’s Program Office, overseeing global research divisions and driving strategy in alignment with the organization’s priorities. The role requires a visionary leader with deep human rights knowledge, rigorous research standards, and a commitment to staff development and inclusive leadership.

The successful candidate will manage senior teams, foster collaboration, and contribute to fundraising and program impact across diverse regions,

Qualifications

• We are eager to hear from candidates who feel confident they can perform well even if not fully meeting all requirements, especially from backgrounds underrepresented in international human rights NGOs/CSOs.
• An advanced degree in international relations, law, journalism, social sciences or related field or equivalent work experience is required.
• Minimum twelve years in international human rights or related work, with at least five years in management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee four research divisions, directing strategy and operations across global teams.
• Develop divisional and cross-divisional strategic plans aligned with HRW priorities.
• Ensure rigorous research, writing, and fact-checking in line with organizational standards.
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion and staff well-being within divisions.
• Lead partnerships, fundraising involvement and cross-department collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic thinking

Diversity & inclusion

Research management

Writing & editing

Policy advocacy

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
Deputy Program Director
Program Department
Multiple Locations Considered
Application Deadline: October 11, 2026

Compelling fact-finding that influences policy is at the heart of Human Rights Watch’s (HRW’s) capacity for impact. We are looking for a strategic leader and manager for the role of Deputy Program Director in the Program Office, HRW’s research office that oversees 240 research staff in 15 thematic and regional divisions around the world.

The Deputy Program Director should be an effective leader and people manager, and a strategic thinker with deep knowledge of human rights issues, research methodologies and advocacy in the field of international human rights. The successful candidate will have experience in implementing writing, research and ethical standards in accordance with best practices in the human rights field, fostering the engagement and effectiveness of staff, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion; fostering staff resilience and well-being, and participating in designing and implementing strategy.

The Deputy Program Director will oversee four of HRW’s research divisions (regional and thematic), facilitate programmatic implementation of HRW’s global strategy, participate in developing strategies at the project and divisional levels, and undertake additional responsibilities within the Program office as outlined below. The Deputy Program Director will work with the Program Office, comprised of a Global Program Director, three additional Deputies, an Associate Director for research training and standards, two Senior Editors, Senior Officer and Coordinator. The Deputy Program Director will report to the Global Program Director, and will preferably be based in any of the following locations where HRW has an office: New York, Washington, Toronto, Sao Paulo, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Beirut, or Amman.

Responsibilities:

Managerial Responsibilities

• In consultation with other members of the Program Office, manage divisional directors to effectively lead and support Program department staff based around the world, many of whom work in challenging environments.
• Model, cultivate and coach inclusive and collaborative leadership within divisions that demonstrates commitment to diversity and belonging.
• Manage performance in a fair, consistent, transparent, and empathetic manner.
• Oversee effective financial management of the research divisions by the relevant divisional directors.
• Support staff resilience within divisions by promoting flexibility and life/work balance of all divisional staff.
• Promote an inclusive and positive work environment including by fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within the divisions and proactively addressing bias, discrimination, and microaggressions.

Strategy and Innovation

• Together with other members of the Program office, oversee the development of the strategies and operational plans of designated research divisions, ensuring that plans include clear goals and benchmarks, and that they align with the priorities of the organization. This includes annual and multi-year planning, as well as leading staff through implementation of the global strategy process.
• Ensure well-articulated theories of change in divisional strategies and cross-divisional projects that can be measured and evaluated and that are contextualized within broader movements for change.
• Facilitate intra-organizational meetings to develop strategies and monitor their implementation.

Systems for effective, impactful work

• Facilitate information flow and coherence across regional and thematic divisions with staff spread across many time zones.
• Ensure consistency and rigor in conducting research and implementing internal fact-checking guidelines and ethical standards, in line with best practices in the human rights field.
• Facilitate effective cross divisional collaboration and teamwork, including addressing blockages in effective collaboration within programmatic divisions and across the organization.

Partnerships

• Ensure that divisions foster and strengthen sustainable relationships with human rights partners outside of HRW, including promoting visibility and recognition of partnership work.
• Troubleshoot internal and external obstacles to effective partnerships.

Quality Control

• Oversee high standards of research, writing and fact-checking within divisions, including reviewing divisional products for effectiveness, structure, consistency, and compliance with organizational standards and approving project design memos.
• Support divisions and ensure their compliance with vetting guidelines, research standards and policies within products.

Security

• Work with the Security team to design security protocols and ensure compliance with them, including by reviewing and approving security plans, participating in their implementation and making fast-paced decisions when security issues arise.
• Troubleshoot conflicts/issues that arise between divisions and Security team, escalating to Global Program Director as needed.

Additional responsibilities

• As a senior leader at Human Rights Watch, cultivate and maintain good working relationships with the leadership and staff of other departments, including through participation in leadership meetings and cross-departmental initiatives.
• Undertake special projects as needed to fulfill the purpose of the program office and ensure the success of HRW’s research divisions.
• Participate in fundraising for the organization; and
• Perform other tasks as may be required.

Qualifications

We are eager to hear from candidates who feel confident that they can perform well in this role even if they do not meet the desired education, experience, and knowledge levels outlined below, particularly if they are from backgrounds that are underrepresented in international human rights NGOs/CSOs.

Education

An advanced degree in international relations, law, journalism, social sciences, or a related field or equivalent work experience, is required.

Experience

A minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant experience in international human rights or related work, with at least five (5) years in a management role.

Related Skills and Knowledge

Experience with and commitment to rigor

• Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights, including interviewing, fact-finding and advocacy and familiarity with international human rights law and international humanitarian law is required.
• A demonstrated track record of working effectively in collaboration with colleagues is required.
• A strong commitment to human rights research and strategic work that has impact is required.
• Excellent writing, editing, and fact-checking skills, mastery of best practices in research and publication standards and fluent English is required.

Track record of success in leading teams

• A high degree of emotional intelligence and collegiality is required.
• Experience effectively managing senior managers is required.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals with diverse identities, cultures, backgrounds, skillsets, and orientations is preferred.
• Experience with and commitment to being a collaborative team player who can empathetically engage with staff across levels and jurisdictions is required.

Experience with delivering results

• Track record of identifiable and measurable successes in specifically and tangibly contributing to complex projects and ensuring high-quality deliverables is required.
• Experience in contributing to a work culture and practice that are inclusive and that attract and retain staff from diverse backgrounds is required.
• Experience cultivating and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, delegate responsibilities, and allocate resources is required.
• Demonstrated ability to apply culturally competent behaviors, attitudes, and practices to enable effective policies and structures is required.

Other

• Experience working on the United States or Latin America is desired.

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 (where possible), if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply. If based in the United States, the salary range for this role is USD 190,000 – 228,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary by location.

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 disability, 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.