Human Rights Watch
FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
AUSTRALIA DIRECTOR
Asia Division
Sydney Office
Application Deadline: 23 October 2022
The Asia Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for the position of Australia Director. The Australia office has been an important player in Human Rights Watch’s global efforts to encourage influential governments to defend and promote human rights in foreign policy, at the United Nations, and at home.
The Australia Director will be an effective leader, strategic thinker, and compelling communicator to lead Human Rights Watch’s advocacy and media, and supervise a team of staff responsible for research, advocacy, fundraising, development and outreach in Australia. The Director may also expand our nascent advocacy efforts in New Zealand and other Pacific jurisdictions where appropriate.
The Australia Director will function as the key advocate and spokesperson for Human Rights Watch in Australia, acting as our link to policy- and decision-makers and the media on our global portfolio of issues, as well as on domestic human rights concerns.
The Australia Director will oversee our Sydney office and build a culture in which staff from a broad range of backgrounds can thrive. The successful candidate will have a solid understanding of the current human rights landscape domestically and overseas, a strong track record of engaging with policy circles and the wider public, a sophisticated grasp of the media landscape, and be a compelling public speaker.
This position is preferably based in Sydney and reports to the Director of the Asia Division.
Due to COVID-19, many of our global offices are operating in reduced capacities. The successful candidate may be required to work remotely if local mandates necessitate. We recognize that this moment, during the pandemic, is a uniquely difficult time for most people, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities, and we aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.
Responsibilities:
1. Lead the overall strategy and day-to-day work of the Australia office of Human Rights Watch;
2. Lead HRW’s foreign policy advocacy in Australia, and design and implement advocacy strategies on the countries and issues most relevant to Australia for maximum impact; expand HRW’s nascent advocacy efforts in New Zealand and other Pacific jurisdictions where appropriate;
3. Lead, motivate, and mentor direct-reports, including by communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely constructive feedback, ensuring balanced workload, providing guidance on professional growth, and monitoring staff well-being as it pertains to stress and resilience issues and self-care;
4. Supervise HRW’s Australia researcher overseeing our domestic research and advocacy, including the editing of published written work (such as reports, letters, press releases and op-eds and submissions);
5. Use HRW research to influence decisionmakers in Australia, build access to and staying in regular contact with key policymakers and departments, testifying in parliamentary hearings, speaking at public events and seminars, influencing think tanks and other policy/advisory bodies, and otherwise leveraging the Australian government to be a more consistent and principled actor for human rights worldwide;
6. Lead the strategy to effectively promote HRW’s work to both traditional and social media in Australia, building useful relationships and partnerships with journalists and media outlets, telling compelling stories in an innovative way to promote human rights values to the broader public, crafting succinct soundbites and messages, and writing and speaking on human rights issues;
7. Coordinate closely with HRW advocates in other countries and at the UN (based in New York and Geneva);
8. Work with HRW researchers in the Asia Division and beyond to act on media and advocacy opportunities in the Australia, on both global and domestic issues;
9. Collaborate closely with development staff in Sydney and Melbourne to support the implementation of their fundraising strategy and build relationships with Committee members, donors and prospective supporters by representing HRW – sharing research, advocacy and impact – in an authentic and inspiring way;
10. Contribute to internal HRW policies and strategic debates;
11. Work closely with local human rights organizations to ensure effective coordination, and engaging in joint actions when appropriate;
12. Provide leadership of the Sydney Office, working in collaboration with Operations colleagues, to oversee the organisation’s financial systems, human resources and security protocols;
13. Promote an inclusive and positive work environment including by incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion values and practices into the Australia team’s research and advocacy, working with staff to develop initiatives aimed at movement-building and expanding our partnerships with diverse directly affected individuals and other stakeholders, and building a diverse team and inclusive environment;
14. Act as HRW representative and company secretary for the Australian entity, overseeing the organisation’s governance responsibilities in collaboration with Operations colleagues; and
15. Perform other responsibilities, as required.
Qualifications:
Education: A graduate degree or equivalent work experience in international relations, journalism, law, social sciences or a related field is required.
Experience: A minimum of seven years of relevant international experience in human rights, advocacy/media and managing staff are required.
Related Skills and Knowledge:
1. Strong knowledge of the Australian political, media, and NGO scene is required.
2. Fluency in English, with excellent public speaking skills, is required. Proven track record of an ability to inspire, communicate with and connect to different audiences.
3. Passion for and experience working on human rights issues is required. Ability to monitor numerous human rights issues in a rigorous and nuanced manner is required.
4. Ability to identify research and advocacy opportunities and help develop and implement advocacy strategies is required. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and solid understanding of how to implement successful advocacy for policy change are required.
5. Experience at fundraising for a not-for-profit organization, engaging with donors and developing fundraising strategies is required.
6. Ability to think strategically about the traditional and social media environment, ability to write and edit opinion and news pieces as well as letters and experience speaking with the media and cultivating relationships with journalists are required.
7. Strong initiative and follow-through, ability to shift priorities according to international news developments, and ability to work well under pressure are required.
8. Strong interpersonal skills, in order to work collaboratively with HRW staff in multiple locations globally and with Australia committee members and supporters are required.
9. Willingness to travel regularly domestically and internationally as required.
10. Experience building and leading inclusive teams and workplaces is required.
11. Experience with governance standards, financial systems, and human resources is highly desirable.
12. Experience working with other NGOs on joint advocacy strategies is preferred.
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.
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.
How to apply
How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 23 October 2022 by visiting our online job portal at https://careers.hrw.org/ and attaching a cover letter and a resume or CV, preferably as PDF files. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission or if you require accommodations during the application process, please email [email protected]. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.