Header

SOUTH AFRICA DIRECTOR

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
SOUTH AFRICA DIRECTOR
Africa Division
(Johannesburg Office)
Application Deadline: October 16, 2011

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking a South Africa Director to coordinate its efforts from its office in Johannesburg. The position reports to the Executive Director of the Africa Division

Responsibilities:

1. Serving as the principal spokesperson for Human Rights Watch in South Africa;

2. Acting as HRW’s main point of contact for the media, government, civil society and public in South Africa;

3. Promoting HRW’s priority concerns to the above actors with a particular emphasis on Africa;

4. Supporting HRW’s fundraising and outreach work in South Africa;

5. Performing a general representational role as the senior staff member in HRW’s Johannesburg office;

6. Coordinating research in selected areas, in collaboration with the Executive Director of the Africa Division;

7. Supervising Africa Division staff members in the Johannesburg office;

8. Liaising effectively with HRW staff in Africa, headquarters and other locations to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;

9. Traveling within South Africa, the Southern Africa region and to other HRW offices in North America and Europe; and

10. Carrying out any other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education: An advanced degree in international relations, journalism, law, history, economics and/or a similar discipline in the social sciencesis highly desirable.

Experience: Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience. Significant senior-level policy, media, advocacy and management experienceas well as experience in human rights work are required.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Extensive working knowledge of the South African media and the South African government's decision-making processes is required.

2. Knowledge related to Southern African and African decision-making processes is valuable.

3. Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights in the South African context is essential.

4. Experience living or working in Southern Africa is necessary.

5. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential; proficiency in another language is desirable.

6. Demonstrated commitment to human rights, strong initiative and follow-through, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent writing and editing skills, and a dynamic public speaking ability are all required.

7. Excellent leadership skills and a depth and breadth of management and organizational skills are required.

8. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with government officials and external media partners.

9. Ability work quickly and effectively under pressure with a broad range of people and as part of a team.

10. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions.

Other: South Africa work authorization is required.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses, if required.

Contract Duration: Initial two year fixed term contract. Renewable depending on the availability of continued funding.

Contact: Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, salary requirements, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references to africajobs@hrw.org. Please use“South Africa DirectorRef AFR-11-1050-A” as the subject of your email.

Only complete applications will be reviewed and only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool. South African nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.