Director, Washington, DC

Human Rights Watch, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 133,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Human Rights Watch is seeking a Washington, DC-based Director in the Advocacy Department to lead the organization’s US policy and national security advocacy. This full-time role requires strong leadership, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement with high-level policymakers and civil society partners.

The Director will coordinate with HRW colleagues worldwide, guide media strategy, and support fundraising efforts.

Qualifications

• A graduate degree in international relations, journalism, law, social sciences or equivalent work experience is required.
• A minimum of ten years of policy advocacy work experience, including at least four years of management experience, is required.
• Experience in international environments with culturally diverse teams and across multiple time zones is a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead HRW’s advocacy in the US on foreign policy and national security issues.
• Coordinate with HRW advocates globally and with UN, EU, and other regions.
• Strategize with US Senior Media Officer to promote HRW’s work in traditional and social media.
• Provide US political analysis and guidance on policy responses and events.
• Develop donor relationships and fundraising efforts with US development colleagues.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Public speaking

Stakeholder engagement

Media relations

Strategic planning

Fundraising

Education

Graduate degree (IR/Journ/Law)

Job description

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY

WASHINGTON, DC, DIRECTOR

Advocacy Department

Washington, DC, Office

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026

HRW is seeking is seeking a highly strategic and effective leader with compelling communication and interpersonal skills for the position of Washington, DC, Director to formulate and execute, with a keen sense of prioritization, advocacy strategies on the full range of US foreign policy and national security issues and countries addressed by the organization. As a key advocacy strategist for HRW and principal HRW representative in the US on foreign policy and national security, the successful candidate will need to stay closely attuned to the US political landscape and translate that into clear, actionable opportunities to turn HRW research into tangible human rights impact in relation to US foreign policy and national security practice. The role also calls for close coordination with the US Program on domestic issues that are overlapping or converging.

The Washington, DC, Director will have a strong track record of effectively engaging and cultivating relationships with key stakeholders including high-level policy makers within the Executive branch, members of Congress, and working closely and collegially with other civil society organizations. They will be confident in engaging on mediums that reach the wider public and have a sophisticated grasp of the media landscape in addition to being a compelling public speaker. They will also assist with fundraising efforts as needed.

This position is based in Washington, DC. The successful candidate must be willing to work from the office as needed and reports to the Chief Advocacy Officer ("CAO"). It supervises a Washington, DC-based Advocacy Coordinator.

Responsibilities

1. Lead HRW’s advocacy in the US on the foreign policy and national security front and work with HRW colleagues to formulate and execute advocacy and media strategies on a range of foreign policy and national security issues and countries, and with the US Program on converging or overlapping domestic issues as needed;
2. Promote and coordinate the work of HRW in the US to influence decisionmakers, mainly key high-level government officials in the White House, Department of State, Department of War, Department of the Treasury, and other departments and agencies as necessary, building access to and staying in regular contact with key policymakers and departments, working with members of Congress and providing evidence to congressional committees, speaking at public events and seminars, influencing think tanks and other policy/advisory bodies, representing the organization in the human rights movement on a national and international stage and otherwise leveraging the US to be a more consistent actor for human rights worldwide;
3. With the US Senior Media Officer, strategize on promoting HRW’s work effectively to traditional and social media in the US, building relevant relationships and contacts with journalists and media outlets to ensure HRW is as influential as possible, writing and speaking on human rights issues, telling compelling stories, crafting succinct soundbites and messages, and deploying diverse and innovative storytelling skills to promote human rights values to the broader public, maintaining leading role in advancing growth and engagement of the US audience. Help HRW colleagues understand how and when to seize press and advocacy opportunities in the US, both on global and domestic issues;
4. Coordinate closely with HRW advocates around the globe, at the UN (based in New York and Geneva), at the EU (based in Brussels), and elsewhere as well as advocates in regional and thematic teams in HRW. Collaborate with the various parts of HRW, including the Advocacy and Media teams around the globe, to identify and create opportunities that support research and advocacy efforts involving the US;
5. Provide US political analysis, perspective, and guidance to the organization on appropriate policy responses; coordinate talking points and provide analysis for various global events and meetings related to US policy and core human rights concerns and respond to and/or anticipate relevant news events and policy debates by inserting HRW’s voice and research.
6. Work in partnership with the US Development colleagues to build relationships with donors and financial prospects by representing HRW – sharing research, advocacy and impact – in an authentic and inspiring way;
7. Work with non-governmental organizations, civil society partners, and other key actors on collaborative advocacy efforts, strengthening strategic partnerships as appropriate;
8. Contribute to internal HRW policies and strategic debates. Provide regular information, political analysis, perspective, and guidance on the UK’s human rights policies to the organization, and the foreign and security implications derived from them, in particular to regional and thematic divisions and HRW’s other advocates;
9. Provide leadership, motivation, and mentorship to direct reports, setting, clear expectations, performance objectives, and providing regular and constructive feedback; and
10. Perform other responsibilities, as required.

Qualifications

Education: A graduate degree in international relations, journalism, law, social sciences or equivalent work experience is required.

Experience: A minimum of ten years of policy advocacy work experience, including at least four years of management experience, is required. Work experience in an international environment, with culturally diverse teams and across multiple time zones, is a strong advantage.

Related Skills and Knowledge

1. Substantial knowledge of US government departments and agencies, and direct experience performing policy advocacy with one or more of these bodies is strongly desired.
2. Significant human rights experience and expertise, and a demonstrated commitment to human rights.
3. Excellent political and strategic judgment and analytical and strategic-thinking capabilities.
4. Effective, concise public speaker and possess excellent speaking, writing, and editing skills in English.
5. The ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure; the capacity to pay close attention to detail while working in a fast-paced environment and juggling multiple tasks.
6. Strong coordination skills and the ability to work effectively independently, as part of a team, and in partnership with other organizations.

Salary and Benefits

HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and generous employer-paid benefits. The salary range for this role is US$ 133,000 – 165,000.

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 socioeconomic 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.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Human Rights Watch’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

The application deadline for this role is November 2, 2026