Research Assistant, Health and Reproductive Justice At Human Rights Watch

FIXED-TERM, FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Women’s Rights Division
Multiple Locations Considered – Southern US preferred
Application Deadline: March 31, 2023

The Women’s Rights Division (WRD) of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a Research Assistant to support the work of the Women’s Rights Division, with a particular focus on advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice mainly in the United States.

This is a one-year, fixed-term position with a possibility of renewal, depending on funding, reporting to a Researcher in the Women’s Rights Division. The successful candidate will preferably be based in the Southern United States, but other locations in the US may be considered.

The successful candidate will have the option to work remotely. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide research, advocacy, and administrative assistance to Women’s Rights Division researchers, including desk research and phone interviews;

2. Develop contacts with and help to build and maintain relationships with reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations, feminist activists, and local and international officials; facilitate meetings with NGOs, government officials, and other individuals for research and advocacy;

3. Assist researchers in monitoring, collecting, and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources, mainly on ongoing reproductive justice projects, including cervical cancer disparities and in the intersection of climate change and reproductive health and rights;

4. Under the guidance of WRD staff, provide background briefings, written analyses, and, when appropriate, first drafts of briefing papers, letters, news releases, submissions to international bodies, and other HRW products;

5. Assist WRD staff in identifying advocacy opportunities at regional, national, and global forums, and in designing, coordinating, and implementing research-based advocacy campaigns;

6. Assist WRD staff in designing and facilitating webinars, trainings, and other online events;

7. Under the guidance of WRD staff, help develop social media strategies including writing concise, engaging, and legally accurate posts for use on HRW’s social media accounts;

8. Assist WRD staff in building and maintaining a media list including journalists and influencers; and

9. Perform other tasks, as may be required.

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in international relations, law, journalism, communications, public relations, social sciences or studies of a related discipline, or equivalent working experience, is required.

Experience: A minimum of one year of experience conducting research, preferably for an NGO, trade union, media outlet, or similar institution, is required. Experience in advocacy work and community outreach and organizing is preferred.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Experience working with reproductive health, rights, or justice movements and a demonstrated commitment to women’s rights and racial justice is required.

2. Ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills, self-motivated, and ability to work with guidance but regularly independently is required.

3. Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with external partners and the media is required.

4. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is required, and proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

5. Good communication skills, especially how to communicate complicated information in a concise and clear manner is required.

6. Strong initiative and follow-through, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent writing and editing skills is required.

Other: Applicants must possess valid US work authorization. Human Rights Watch is not able to sponsor work authorization for this role.

Salary and Benefits: This position is based in the United States and the salary range would be USD 60,000- 70,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location. Human Rights Watch offers comprehensive employer-paid benefits, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, a retirement savings plan and twenty (20) days of vacation per year.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by March 31, 2023, by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a letter of interest and resume or CV. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require a disability-related accommodation, please email recruitment@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

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.