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Human Rights Watch EUROPEAN MEDIA DIRECTOR


Application Deadline: November 9, 2012
Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking highly qualified applicants for the position of European Media Director to promote Human Rights Watch’s work to the European media, with a strong focus on digital and social media. The European Media Director will report to the Communications Director.
Responsibilities:
1. Oversee media outreach generally in Europe, with a focus on social media strategies for reaching journalists and policy makers;
2. Develop and maintain contacts with relevant journalists and bloggers based in Europe (outside European countries where HRW maintains offices) as well as with influential social media users interested in HRW and its issues;
3. Create and help others to create shorter-form content suitable for sharing via social media; identify and deploy the right distribution channels for such content;
4. Work with the Communications Director in strategizing about the release of media statements, reports, and other materials in a 24/7, international context;
5. Work with the Senior Online Editor and relevant language editors to expand HRW’s social media reach in Europe;
6. Act as a spokesperson for HRW to journalists in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East;
7. Monitor and participate in online conversations relevant to HRW’s audiences to promote human rights;
8. Create content partnerships with key European social media outlets;
9. Investigate new platforms/channels relevant to HRW’s targets;
10. Monitor and present relevant data, trends, successes, exceptions and react to real-time traffic metrics;
11. Work with the Multimedia Director to optimize the distribution of raw footage to European broadcasters, place experts on important broadcast shows and drive YouTube views and subscribers to HRW’s channel;
12. Oversee the training and management of staff in dealing with the European media;
13. Ensure organization-wide coordination and complementarity as well as maintain good working relationships with external partners; and
14. Carry out any other tasks as required.
Managerial Responsibilities:
1. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and maintain consistency with the agreed strategy and priorities of the Communications Department;
2. Monitor progress against milestones and deadlines of all outputs that are within the purview of responsibility;
3. Operate in compliance with organizational regulations and rules, including the policies of applicable employee agreements;
4. Establish clear work plans for staff and communicate priorities clearly and effectively; provide oversight and take responsibility for delegated assignments.
Qualifications:
Education:  A degree in Journalism, English, or other relevant fields is required; an advanced degree is highly desirable.
Experience:  Minimum 7 years of experience in digital journalism or equivalent related profession is required. Minimum of 5 years management experience is required.
 Related Skills and Knowledge: 
1. Experience working in a fast-paced media environment.
2. Ability to optimize content for social media and identify editorial opportunities to insert HRW issues into trending topics.
3. Network of contacts with key interlocutors in European media scene.
4. Ability to explain and distill complex issues and positions to journalists and other relevant external partners is required.
5. Ability to think strategically, creatively, possess initiative and drive to follow-through is required.
6. Ability to work in a demanding, diverse, and fast-paced environment both independently and as a member of a team is required.
7. Ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work under pressure are required.
8. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with local partners and external media partners are required.
 9. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and another major European language are required; proficiency in otherlanguages is desirable.
10. Broad range of knowledge in human rights is desirable.
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, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), salary requirements and contact information for three references to pressjobs@hrw.org.  Please use“European Media Director Ref: COMMS-12-1057-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.
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.