Emergencies Researcher

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking highly qualified applicants for the position of Researcher with the Emergencies Division. The Researcher will monitor human rights crises, including situations of armed conflict, massive civilian displacement, or large-scale killing. Essential tasks include research, writing, press work, and advocacy.  The Researcher should be prepared to spend extensive periods working in the field in various crisis situations.   Responsibilities:     1. Monitor, investigate, and document human rights developments in the field, and report findings quickly and regularly;   2. Write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds, and submissions to international bodies based on the findings of your research;   3. Develop and implement local, regional, and international strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices;   4. Respond promptly to queries from the media, public, and colleagues in the human rights community and take initiative to project concerns in public debate;   5. Enhance the organization's capacity to respond to crises by providing training and advice on emergency field operations and related planning and policy development;   6. Travel to crisis situations in order to carry out research and advocacy;   7. Assist the Director of the Division and HRW’s Development and Global Initiative Department in conducting fundraising;   8. Work closely with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local human rights organizations to ensure that HRW’s work complements and enhances their own work;   9. Liaise effectively with HRW staff located in multiple locations throughout the world to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;   10. Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events; and   11. Perform other duties as required.   Qualifications:    Education: A law degree or other advanced degree is required.     Experience: A minimum of three years of experience working on human rights issues or humanitarian law.   Related Skills and Knowledge:     1. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required. Fluency in one or more additional languages is strongly preferred.   2. Strong knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law is required.   3. Proven track record of field work including ability to conduct interviews with a wide range of people, including victims and witnesses, is required.   4. Ability to employ sensitivity and discretion when dealing with gender-related investigations, such as research on sexual violence, is required.   5. Ability to identify and advise on strategies to conduct research and advocacy is required.   6. Ability to produce high-quality written material under tight deadlines is required.   7. Strong initiative and follow-through, capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent editing skills, and dynamic public speaking skills are required.   8. Strong interpersonal skills, in addition to the ability to prioritize with minimal supervision and work independently as well as part of a team, are required.   9. Ability to multi-task effectively, including having strong planning and organizing skills, and ability to work under pressure are required.   10. Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events is 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 apply immediately or by 15 May by emailing, in a single submission, a letter of interest describing your experience, resume, contact details for three references, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others)to emergenciesjobs@hrw.org. Please use “Emergencies Researcher Ref. EME-15-1035” as the subject of your email.    Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted 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.