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Senior Legal Advisor

HRW - Human Rights Watch

New York/Washington, DC/Other/

Legal and Policy Department
(New York or Washington, DC offices preferred but other offices considered)
Application Deadline: August 4, 2015

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking highly qualified applicants for the position of Senior Legal Advisor in the Legal and Policy Department. The Legal and Policy Department ensures that all HRW publications and advocacy interventions are consistent with international human rights and humanitarian law and HRW policies. The Senior Legal Advisor works with division directors and researchers of the Program Department and advocates at all levels, and at times on an emergency basis. The post is a key position within HRW, with direct responsibility for ensuring the high quality of HRW’s work. The position will preferably be based in the New York or Washington, DC office but other HRW offices will be considered. The position will report to the Legal and Policy Director based in New York.

Responsibilities:

  1. Provide advice on law and policy to HRW’s regional and thematic divisions as well as the advocacy and communications departments;
  2. Review and provide substantive input on reports, media releases, commentary, videos and other interventions;
  3. Help to develop the international legal dimension of HRW’s research and advocacy strategies;
  4. Represent HRW at expert meetings and conferences on international legal issues;
  5. Develop and apply the organization’s policies; and
  6. Carry out other tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

Education: A degree in law is required.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years in positions utilizing international human rights law is required. Knowledge of international humanitarian law and refugee law and experience in human rights field research or advocacy are assets.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

  1. A strong commitment to the promotion of human rights is required;
  2. Demonstrated ability to think legally, analytically, strategically and effectively is required;
  3. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required. Proficiency in other languages is a plus;
  4. Capacity to appropriately plan and prioritize and to manage multiple, sometimes competing demands efficiently in a challenging, fast-paced environment are required;
  5. Ability to defend and explain complex issues and positions to staff and to advocate on these positions externally is required;
  6. Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within HRW and outside the organization are required.
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 letter of interest, resume, a short writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references to legaljobs@hrw.org. Please use “Senior Advisor Ref: LEGAL-15-1052” 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.