Director, Research and Analysis, Refugee Protection

Human Rights First; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of Research and Analysis to lead efforts in refugee protection. This pivotal role involves conducting in-depth legal and policy research, advocating for reforms in U.S. asylum law, and collaborating with various teams to enhance refugee rights. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in international human rights, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to advancing advocacy objectives. Join a dynamic organization dedicated to promoting justice and equity in the refugee protection landscape, where your expertise will make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of relevant legal or human rights work experience required.
• Strong research, writing, and policy analysis skills necessary.

Responsibilities

• Direct and conduct legal, factual, and policy research.
• Oversee regulatory comments and proposals for changes.
• Develop advocacy strategies with the Senior Director.

Skills

International human rights knowledge

Policy advocacy experience

Research and writing skills

Fluency in Spanish

Supervisory experience

Education

Degree in international human rights

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

Job Title:

Director, Research and Analysis, Refugee Protection

Reporting Office:

New York; Washington, DC or Remote

Department:

Programs & Policy

Job Classification:

Fulltime; Exempt

Supervisor:

Senior Director, Refugee Advocacy

Union Classification:

Non-Union

Accountable To:

Vice President, Advocacy

Last Updated:

5/7/2025

Purpose of the Job

The Director, Research and Analysis, Refugee Protection will direct and conduct legal, factual, and policy research and reporting, conduct policy analysis and advance advocacy efforts directed at the U.S. government to promote the protection of refugees, reform U.S. asylum law, policies and practices, address deficiencies in the U.S. resettlement system, and bring other U.S. immigration policies and forced displacement policies and practices into line with international refugee protection and human rights law standards. The Director, who will report to the Senior Director, Refugee Advocacy, will coordinate closely with Human Rights First’s legal representation, advocacy, communications, technology, and development teams.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Desk research, interviews, FOIA applications and fact-finding trips, designed to help achieve the organization’s advocacy objectives.
• Analyze laws, policies, practices, and proposed regulations, legislation, and policies of the U.S. government as well as other governments or intergovernmental organizations affecting human rights, and draft specific and practical recommendations to improve the promotion and protection of refugee rights.
• Oversee regulatory comments and other proposals for changes to rules, laws, or policies.
• Produce reports, recommendations, website content, fact sheets, written content specific to campaigns and ongoing initiatives, press materials, legal and other research memos.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, legal practitioners, refugees and their advocates, faith groups, non-governmental organizations, foreign government, and international organizational officials.
• Coordinate with Human Rights First’s advocacy team members in building and maintaining relationships with executive branch officials, staff, and congressional offices, particularly with respect to Human Rights First research and analysis efforts.
• Direct refugee protection team efforts to leverage social media, technology, and other tools to support our research, reporting, and advocacy efforts, working with the communications and innovation lab teams.
• Develop and supervise work of Senior Research and Policy Counsel, fellows, and other research/analysis staff, as well as research, analysis and reporting contributions and projects conducted by members of other teams and ensure appropriate distribution of tasks.
• Represent Human Rights First as an expert with U.S. government officials, other governments, the media, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, coalitions, campaigns, and other interlocutors and build a public profile to regularly share and elevate Human Rights First’s research and analysis.
• Direct initiation of panels, convenings, discussions, and briefings to help advance Human Rights First policy recommendations and elevate its research and analysis.
• Direct the development and regular updates of U.S. policy recommendations and policy briefs on relevant issues.
• Identify opportunities for potential litigation and support amicus and litigation efforts in areas of factual and legal expertise.
• Lead, in consultation with colleagues, relevant organizational planning, strategy development and evaluation, including by promptly identifying emerging challenges and trends in human rights and U.S. policy, developing strategies to address these challenges, directing research into possible new objectives and strategies, as well as tracking and regularly relating progress toward meeting these goals.
• Develop advocacy strategies in coordination with Human Rights First’s Senior Director, Refugee Advocacy, and other team members to maximize use of our research and analysis to achieve the organization’s objectives, as well as in advocacy meetings with decision makers in both the legislative and executive branches.
• Coordinate with advocacy and representation team colleagues to enhance collaboration with refugee representation team through strategies and communications to help identify cases that support Human Rights First’s research and advocacy, and targeted projects involving refugee representation team members.
• Identify best practices and guidance in the conduct of research, develop and implement training for teams conducting research, both within the refugee protection team and across the organization.
• Contribute to and lead refugee protection team input to donor proposal drafting and reporting and contribute to fundraising outreach and events.
• Participate in and generate ideas for Human Rights First events.
• Regular presence in or travel to Washington DC, presence or travel to offices where supervised staff are based, and regular travel for research, presentations, briefings meetings and events. The staff member would preferably be based at Human Rights First’s Washington or New York offices but could potentially be based in the Los Angeles office or other U.S. locations, as the position can be performed mostly remotely, subject to the above travel and presence requirements.
• Other duties as requested based on department and/or organizational need.
  
  
  

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)

Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:

• Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
• Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
• Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
• Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.
  
  
  

Supervisor Responsibilities

As a supervisor you are responsible for the performance of your direct-report(s). You should guide, train, support, and motivate your team member(s) to help them accomplish their job-specific goals. As a supervisor it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of your direct-report(s) responsibilities and know how to get the tasks accomplished in their absence. You should continually work to earn the respect and credibility of your direct-report(s) by building an inclusive and supportive learning environment. As such, building trust with your team members is vital to a healthy work relationship. Specifically, you will:

Performance Management

• Set clear performance goals at the start of each annual performance period.
• Meet with direct-report(s) on a weekly basis to discuss progress on projects, priorities, and goals.
• Assist direct-report(s) with workflow/bandwidth management and ensure that direct-report(s) understand their duties and delegated tasks.
• Provide timely and ongoing constructive feedback, including soliciting feedback from colleagues from other departments with whom direct-report(s) collaborate.
• Document progress of individual direct-report(s) goals that maps performance goals by administering an annual performance review and mid-year review of performance goals.
• Support and assist in planning direct-report(s) professional development activities; assist with finding professional growth opportunities.
  
  
  

Administration

• Maintain a safe and healthy work environment by establishing and enforcing organization standards and adhering to legal regulations.
• Develop and update employee job descriptions, as necessary.
• Approve timekeeping records in a timely manner.
  
  
  

Leadership

• Assist direct-reports with ongoing coaching and counseling.
• Provide quick and appropriate resolution of all challenges, discrepancies, and miscommunications.
• Share, support, and carry out decisions made by the organization’s management.
• Ensure adherence to Human Rights Firsts’ personnel policies and practices.
• Focus on creating a culture where accountability and fairness are present in every situation.
• Support an innovative workplace that fosters creativity, encourages new ideas, and supports examining different approaches to existing initiatives.
• Recognize the contributions of your direct reports in ways that are meaningful to them.
  
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skill, And Experience

• Degree in a discipline related to international human rights; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 9 years of relevant legal and/or human rights work experience; law degree highly preferred
• Significant knowledge of international human rights and refugee protection standards including asylum, migrant rights, and displacement.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Significant and in-depth knowledge of U.S. asylum and immigration policies and proceedings, as well as expertise on immigration detention, and experience working with refugee and immigrant populations in the United States.
• Familiarity with international refugee protection challenges, mechanisms, and strategies
• Prior policy advocacy experience, including with the U.S. government.
• Strong research, writing, report drafting, and policy analysis skills and expertise, including ability to monitor and analyze relevant national and international legal, political, and other conditions.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills and a demonstrated ability to translate highly technical material for a variety of audiences, including through the media and social media.
• Demonstrated capacity to take initiative, to finish assignments under pressure and to work collegially with others.
• Prior supervisory experience required.
• Prior experience on refugee resettlement, human rights, and displacement issues in the Americas region and/or relating to climate preferred.
• Ability to work comfortably in a variety of settings, including legal, academic, and governmental.
• Ability to work successfully across organization lines and with a diverse team of colleagues.