Human Rights Watch Africa Advocacy Director

Advocacy Director

Africa Division

( Nairobi Office preferred)

Application Deadline: January 21, 2012

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking highly-qualified applicants for the position of Advocacy Director.

Description:

The Africa Advocacy Director is the chief advocacy strategist for HRW’s work in the sub-Saharan Africa region. He or she is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of quality and effectiveness for HRW’s diverse advocacy efforts and works both with Africa Division staff as well as the Global advocacy team of core advocates in the organization to design and implement strategies to promote and protect human rights in Africa . The Advocacy Director helps to conceptualize, design and implement strategies for transforming HRW's investigations and reports into concrete improvements in human rights policies and practices by enlisting the support of all possible allies including governments, international and regional institutions with particular emphasis on the African Union and sub-regional bodies, private and non-state actors, colleague organizations, media, and the general public. He or she also helps to shape HRW’s research agenda by identifying opportunities for impact. In addition, the Advocacy Director is a key organizational spokesperson, among those who represent the Africa Division before government officials, international agencies, media and the public. The Advocacy Director is a member of HRW’s Africa Division staff and will preferably be based in the Nairobi office with frequent travels both in the region and outside of the region.

More specific essential responsibilities include:

1. Serve as one of the key spokesperson and advocate for Human Rights Watch on Africa ;
2. Work closely with researchers in the Africa division from the selection of research projects to the design and implementation level to ensure that an effective advocacy strategy is part of the research project as well as develop and implement advocacy strategies on the full range of issues addressed by HRW in Africa;
3. Present research findings on human rights violations in Africa and recommendations for advocacy targets including government offices, international/regional institutions, media and general public;

4. Establish and maintain regular contacts and effective working relationship with relevant government officials from around the world, relevant staff of international/regional institutions, (particularly with AU, its organs and sub-regional organizations), members of the media, and other important actors;

5. Keep abreast of policy developments, gathering relevant information and provide a timely synthesis and analysis on policy developments as well as advise on emerging advocacy opportunities on the continent and elsewhere;
6. Prepare advocacy materials such as press releases, op-eds, campaign materials and other relevant advocacy documentations;
7. Work closely with international, national and local civil society organizations and activists including human rights organizations through formal and informal coalitions and partnerships;
8. Ensure organization-wide coordination to develop advocacy strategies and activities;

9. Perform other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, or social science is required.

Experience: Minimum 7 years of direct experience in nongovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, or governments working to influence policy on human rights in Africa .

Required Skills and Knowledge:

1. Senior level advocacy experience and knowledge of policymaking in Africa .

2. Extensive knowledge of sub-Saharan Africa and its human rights issues.

3. Experience designing and implementing successful advocacy initiatives.

4. Ability to defend and explain complex issues and positions to governmental and intergovernmental bodies as well as to media and staff.

5. A track record of dealing with the media, including experience with media interviews as well as cultivating and maintaining relationships with key journalists.

6. Demonstrated ability to think creatively, strategically, and quickly.

7. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and proficiency in French is strongly desirable; proficiency in another language is an added value.

8. Demonstrated commitment to human rights and/or international issues and the capacity to master and represent the mission and programs of HRW.

9. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with local partners, government officials, and external partners.

10. Capacity to appropriately plan and prioritize and to manage multiple, sometimes competing, demands efficiently in a challenging, fast-paced, pressured environment.

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.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY by emailing in a single submission a letter of interest describing your experience, your resume, salary requirements, names and contact details for references, copy of your transcript(s) and/or degree certificate(s), and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than January 21, 2012 to africajobs@hrw.org. Please use “ Africa Advocacy Director Ref AFR-11-1060-B” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:

Human Rights Watch

Attn: Search Committee ( Africa Advocacy Director Ref AFR-11-1060-B)

350 Fifth Avenue , 34^th Floor

New York, NY 10118-3299

Fax: (212) 736-1300