Director of Programs - New Position

PHR is seeking a strategic, innovative, and experienced Director of Programs to provide vision, leadership, and direction for PHR’s research, investigations, documentation, advocacy, and capacity-building programs, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of our work.

The Director will lead a dynamic team of professional staff, consultants, and volunteers to develop and carry out PHR’s global programs, and to help develop complementary communication and advocacy strategies to advance our human rights goals. The Director of Programs will develop new programming consistent with the quality and highly specialized medical and scientific expertise that PHR is known for, integrate all programming throughout PHR for maximum impact, monitor and evaluate programs, and develop and mentor new generations of human rights defenders. The Director of Programs will be located in New York City and is a newly-created position. He/she will be a member of the Executive Management Team and report to the Executive Director.

PHR is an independent not-for-profit organization that mobilizes the specialized skills, rigor, and passion of health professionals and scientists to investigate and stop egregious violations of human rights. PHR focuses on mass atrocities and severe human rights violations against individuals.

PHR conducts research and investigations globally, and advocates for the:

• Prevention of individual and small-scale violations from becoming mass atrocities.
• Protection of internationally guaranteed rights of individuals and civilian populations.
• Prosecution of perpetrators and accountability for violations.

PHR was founded in 1986 based on the idea that health professionals, with their scientific expertise, ethical commitment, and credible voices, have a unique role to play in addressing human rights violations. Today, PHR’s expertise and voice is sought by global human rights organizations, governments, United Nations agencies, international courts and tribunals, and local and regional groups.

The integrity of PHR’s research and investigations allows its work with others to raise awareness and press for change on the most severe human rights violations of the day. PHR currently focuses on torture, mass atrocities, rape in war, and the persecution of health workers. PHR is a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Peace.

PHR is a 501c3 organization with an annual budget of approximately $6 million and is quickly growing. Served by a dedicated staff of 32, a distinguished 18-member Board of Directors, and hundreds of expert consultants and volunteers, PHR is supported primarily by multi-year grants from foundations, governments, and individual donors. PHR has recently completed a strategic planning process which has identified a path for significantly growing the organization’s budget, reach, and overall impact.

As part of that strategy, we are restructuring our organization to better position the organization and staff to grow globally. The Director of Programs is a new senior executive position resulting from this process. We are also relocating our headquarters to New York City in the spring of 2013, and we will continue to maintain a presence in Washington, DC, and in the Boston area.

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: New York, NY

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement PHR’s overarching programmatic priorities, goals, and work plan, and help to ensure coordination and collaboration throughout the organization.
• Monitor global human rights issues and help determine when it is appropriate for the organization to engage.
• Develop and maintain a network of colleagues and experts in the global health and human rights field in order to advance PHR’s programs through collaborations and partnerships, and to continuously expand our knowledge, expertise, and the impact we can bring to bear on human rights issues.
• Determine volunteer and staff teams for human rights investigations, advocacy, or capacity-building projects. Ensure adequate training, monitoring, and evaluation. Foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning; monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary.
• Oversee research and advocacy training programs for staff and volunteers. Working closely with the newly created Department of Strategic Partnerships, significantly expand and strategically deploy the group of volunteer professionals that supports PHR’s programmatic and advocacy work (currently at over 400.)
• Serve as a top PHR spokesperson and advocate on international human rights issues and, with others, engage with funders, media, and international human rights entities and other international institutions, including UN agencies, tribunals, and courts, especially the International Criminal Court. Help train others to do the same in order to expand PHR’s reach with medical and scientific expertise.
• Develop metrics and systems for evaluating the impact of PHR’s strategic programmatic efforts.
• Oversee the substantive writing of all communications resulting from investigations and advocacy missions including electronic and print publications, press briefings and releases, letters to officials, submissions to governments and the United Nations, and to other multilateral bodies.
• Ensure that research and advocacy methodology is sound and comports with the highest norms and standards in the medical, scientific, and legal fields, including medicine, forensic science, public health, and international law. Staff PHR’s Medical and Ethical Review Board and work closely with PHR’s Editorial Review Board (both comprised of leading experts in the medical, scientific, and legal fields.)
• Oversee security policies and protocols and their implementation, including security of staff and volunteers, data security and the security of partners involved in PHR field work.
• Build, manage, mentor, and inspire an extraordinary team of professionals consisting of staff, consultants, interns, and volunteers.
• Together with other members of the Executive Management Team, promote organization-wide communication and across-departmental working groups. Help foster a collaborative team environment and one in which contributions at all levels can be made and are acknowledged. As a leader, take responsibility for the professional development of all staff and interns.
• Propose program budgets, and manage and monitor budget expenditures to ensure adherence to timelines and spending guidelines.
• Implement special projects and carry out other functions requested by the Executive Director. 

Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in international relations, public health, international law, social sciences or related studies.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in international human rights or related work including investigations, reporting, and advocacy, with at least 5 years in a senior management position.
• A record of success in the strategic and forward-thinking development and implementation of effective human rights programming including advocacy.
• Excellent political judgment and understanding of global advocacy.
• Proven track record of leadership skills including management; the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a team of staff, interns, and volunteers in multiple, global locations. A person who has proven to have placed a high priority on the professional development of staff, delegation of responsibility, and mentorship.
• Ability to be available off-hours for rapid response and to travel internationally with frequency.
• Superb interpersonal skills with experience forging strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Experience working and/or living outside of the US is required and a proficiency in another language is desirable.
• Excellent writing and editing skills and demonstrated ability to defend and explain complex issues and translate information about them to broad audiences, including senior officials and intergovernmental bodies.
• A team-oriented person with a passion for human rights, excellent judgment, maturity, creativity, flexibility, and a good sense of humor. 

Position Location

PHR’s main headquarters will move from Cambridge, MA, to New York City in the spring. The Director of Programs will be located at the new main headquarters. PHR will maintain a presence in the Boston area for select programs, and also has an office in Washington DC. Several senior program staff work in locations other than PHR’s main offices, including overseas, and the Director of Programs will manage staff in all of these multiple locations.

Compensation

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with background and experience. PHR offers a comprehensive and very generous benefits package.

Deadline

Applications will be reviewed immediately and will be accepted until the position is filled. 

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How to Apply:

Please send cover letter (with compensation requirements) and resume to resumes [at] phrusa [dot] org. Please include the job title you're applying for in your subject line.

Physicians for Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in its work and staff.