Human Rights Watch SOUTHERN STATE POLICY ADVOCATE

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking a Southern State Policy Advocate for its US Program to help conceptualize and implement strategies for transforming HRW’s research and reports into improvements in state policy and practice in the southern United States. From a likely base in Florida, and using the US Program’s research and policy recommendations in the areas of criminal justice and immigration reform, the Southern State Policy Advocate will focus on achieving advocacy reforms at the state, city, and county levels and with all branches of government (e.g. legislative, executive, courts, law enforcement, corrections agencies). While the state of Florida will be an initial primary target, the Southern State Policy Advocate will increasingly include advocacy opportunities in other southern states in his or her work plan.

This position will report jointly to the Director and Advocacy Director of the US Program. The position is expected to be based in Florida, where HRW hopes to focus advocacy attention, although we may also consider basing the position in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, or Virginia, depending on the selected candidate’s interests and abilities.

Responsibilities:

1. Meet regularly with state policymakers, including executive branch officials, legislators, and their staff members;

2. Prepare a range of written materials, including policy analyses and advocacy documents, targeting officials and the public;

3. Seek to influence policy debates by writing press releases, op-eds, blog postings, and other social media content;

4. Work in partnership with other advocacy organizations, including through coalitions;

5. Develop contacts with journalists in a variety of media;

6. Keep abreast of pertinent developments in Florida and other relevant states in the southern United States and keep US Program staff updated on those developments;

7. Act as a key organizational spokesperson among those who represent the US Program before the media, government officials, and the public;

8. Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events;

9. Travel domestically, as required;

10. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and be consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the US Program.

11. Help set priorities for the US Program’s advocacy efforts.

12. Carry out any other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education: A U.S. law degree or an advanced degree in US immigration law/policy, journalism, or a related field is required.

Experience: Minimum 3 years relevant experience in the fields of public policy and/or advocacy with state government, preferably in issue areas related to criminal justice, immigration, human rights, or civil rights / liberties.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Advocacy and policy experience working on domestic issues and state policy in the United States is required.

2. Experience in at least one of the substantive policy areas of immigration, criminal justice, or civil rights is required.

3. Experience working in an advocacy environment in Florida or elsewhere in the southern United States is preferred.

4. Direct experience working in government agencies, as a legislative staffer, or in private organizations working to influence government policy or practices is highly desirable.

5. Ability to identify, develop, and implement strategies in order to seize advocacy opportunities is required.

6. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.

7. Knowledge of and experience working in human rights is highly desirable.

8. Strong initiative and follow-through, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent writing skills, and a dynamic public speaking ability are required.

9. Ability to articulate human rights issues effectively and persuasively, particularly with people of differing perspectives and concerns is required.

10. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.

11. Ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work under pressure are required.

12. Ability to work independently in a region in which HRW does not have an office or history of sustained work.

13. Prior research experience, including interview-based research, is desirable though not required.

14. Demonstrated ability to think strategically about local media environments and how to use the media and electronic media to further advocacy goals is desirable.

15. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required.

Other:S/he must be willing to travel frequently.

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.

Contact: Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, salary requirements, a brief writing sample (unedited by others and no legal briefs or memoranda please), and contact information for three references, in a single attachment, to usprog_jobs@hrw.org. Please use “State Advocate Ref USP-12-1034-B” 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.

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.

The US Program of Human Rights Watch works to secure increased recognition of and respect for internationally recognized human rights in the United States. While there are many human rights problems in the US, we prioritize those that arise from the exercise of the coercive, penal, or custodial powers of the government, primarily those that affect the right to liberty, and the right to be free from discrimination as well as torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; and are experienced by persons who are particularly vulnerable because of their race, ethnicity, sexual identity, national origin, immigrant status, gender, age, socioeconomic status, or alleged or actual criminal conduct, and who are likely to have difficulty vindicating their rights through the political process or in the courts.