Human Rights Watch RESEARCHER ON MEXICO

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
RESEARCHER
Americas Division
(New York, Washington, DC or Mexico City)
Apply Immediately

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking highly-qualified applicants for the position of Researcher on Mexico. This position reports to the Managing Director of the Americas Division.

Responsibilities:

1. Developing and implementing a research and advocacy agenda focusing on Mexico;

2. Traveling to Mexico and elsewhere for substantial periods of time, several times a year, in order to carry out research and advocacy;

3. Monitoring and documenting human rights practices in Mexico by conducting fact-finding missions and collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources, including government agencies and institutions, local media, NGOs, journalists, diplomats, and others in the field;

4. Monitoring Mexico’s foreign policy with respect to human rights issues around the globe;

5. Writing and publicizing reports, briefing memos, statements, op-eds, articles, and press releases, as well as submissions to international bodies, and doing so in a concise, accurate, and timely manner;

6. Responding promptly to queries from the media, the public, and colleagues in the human rights community;

7. Helping to design and implement local and international advocacy strategies to improve respect for human rights in Mexico;

8. Working closely with local and regional human rights organizations to ensure that the work of HRW in Mexico complements and enhances their own work;

9. Developing recommendations to stop or prevent abuses; and

10. Carrying out other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, Latin American regional studies, social sciences, or related studies is required.

Experience: Experience working on Latin America, including time spent living in the region, is essential.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Ability to research and analyze complex human rights issues in a rigorous, nuanced and efficient manner is required.

2. Ability to conduct interviews with a wide range of people, including victims of abuse, witnesses, and government officials, is required.

3. Ability to monitor human rights developments in Mexico and to identify and prioritize issues to work on is required.

4. Ability to produce high-quality written material under tight deadlines is required.

5. Ability to identify advocacy opportunities and advise the Americas division in developing and implementing advocacy strategies is required.

6. Ability to respond quickly to crises and conflicts as they may occur is required.

7. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Spanish are required.

8. Ability to think strategically about the global and local media environments and how to use the print and electronic media to further advocacy goals is desirable.

9. Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights and familiarity with international human rights law is preferred.

10. Strong interpersonal skills, in order to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with local partners, government officials, and others, is essential.

11. Strong initiative and follow-through, capacity to think creatively and strategically, ability to multi-task effectively, and ability to work under pressure are required.

12. Strong public-speaking skills are essential.

13. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is essential.
 

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 (no calls or email inquiries, please) by emailing together a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references to americasjobs@hrw.org. . Please use “Mexico Researcher Ref AME-12-1059-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.

The Americas Division of Human Rights Watch (formerly Americas Watch) was established in 1981 to monitor human rights throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.