Description: This is a full-time appointment, to be based in Cairo. The Middle East and North Africa Division Regional Advocacy and Communications (“RAC”) Director is the chief regional advocate and communications director for HRW’s work in the MENA region, responsible for ensuring the highest standards of quality and effectiveness for HRW's diverse advocacy and media efforts in the region. S/he will be based in Cairo and will serve as the organization’s key regional spokesperson, representing HRW before the press, government officials, and the public, and coordinating and providing direction for the advocacy and media efforts of the MENA staff based in the U.S., Europe, and the MENA region. The MENA RAC Director will lead efforts to conceptualize and implement strategies for transforming the organization’s MENA investigations and reports into concrete improvements in human rights practices by influencing and enlisting the support of governments and government officials, international and regional institutions, other NGOs, the private sector, and the general public. S/he will also be responsible for coordinating press conferences and media outreach in connection with the work of the MENA division. The RAC Director also will be responsible for managing the Cairo office and its local staff and interns and assisting visiting staff. The MENA RAC Director will be a senior member of HRW's MENA staff.
Qualifications: The MENA RAC Director should be a collegial, self-motivated activist with significant senior-level advocacy and/or media experience in the Middle East or in connection with Middle East issues. S/he should have extensive experience and familiarity working with the Middle East press and media; very strong organizational skills and experience; the ability to think conceptually, creatively, and strategically; strong initiative and follow-through; dynamic public speaking ability; fluency and excellent writing and editing skills in both English and Arabic; the ability to work quickly and well under pressure with a broad range of people and as part of a dynamic team; the capacity to pay close attention to detail while working in a fast-paced environment and juggling multiple tasks; and a personal commitment to human rights work. In light of the time zone differences with the New York headquarters and the urgent nature of the work, the person must be available to work flexible hours, sometimes involving nights and weekends.
Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and generous employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary regional work authorization, if required; non-US citizens are encouraged to apply.
PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY by emailing together a letter of interest, resume, references, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) to ashrafa@hrw.org. Please use “Application for MENA RAC Director” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:
Human Rights Watch
Attn: Search Committee (MENA RAC Director)
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
Fax: (212) 736-1300
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.
HRW’s Middle East and North Africa division monitors issues related to human rights and international humanitarian law from Morocco to Iran.