Associate, EU Advocacy

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY

ASSOCIATE

Advocacy Department

Brussels Office

Application Deadline: 1 September 2022

The Advocacy Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking an Associate to provide administrative, research, advocacy and organizational assistance to the European Union (EU) Advocacy team based in Brussels. This position reports to the EU Director and to the EU Advocate and provides occasional support to other members of the advocacy department.

Due to COVID-19, many of our global offices are operating in reduced capacities. The successful candidate may be required to work remotely temporarily, but will be expected to work from the Brussels office frequently as well as attend in-person meetings and events at EU institutions. We recognize that this moment, during the pandemic, is a uniquely difficult time for most people, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities, and we aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES*:*

1. Provide administrative and advocacy support to the EU Advocacy department such as scheduling and attending meetings, making travel arrangements, sharing notes, creating and maintaining extensive filing and archiving systems, disseminating HRW’s briefings and publications to advocacy targets; and coding EU-related publications on HRW’s website;

2. Assist with research on various aspects of EU and member states’ policies, including the occasional need to contribute to larger research projects;

3. Prepare, edit, format and distribute materials such as news releases, advocacy letters, reports, briefing papers, op‑eds, publications, agendas, and web content;

4. Conduct background advocacy research and draft related documents such as advocacy letters and memoranda;

5. Assist with the organization of roundtables, trainings, news conferences, staff meetings, and special events;

6. Monitor and analyze key developments in EU institutions and in Brussels, official statements, events, and EU debates, with the view to identify relevant advocacy opportunities, and provide information back to the team and relevant staff;

7. Assist in developing and implementing advocacy strategies on specific countries/thematic issues with EU institutions and collaborate with HRW staff to identify and create opportunities that support their advocacy efforts;

8. Organize, prepare and attend advocacy meetings, support advocacy rounds with researchers or HRW experts, and represent the HRW EU team at internal or external meetings or events, including with civil society partners;

9. Update the EU advocacy calendar, contact lists and databases and retrieve and respond to requests for information;

10. Assist with recruiting, coordinating, and mentoring of interns and assist with recruiting division staff, as needed; and

11. Carry out other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS*:*

Education: A bachelor’s degree in human rights, international relations, law, political sciences, EU studies, journalism or a related field is required.

Experience: A minimum of one year of relevant work experience in an office environment is required. Experience working for EU institutions or for EU advocacy-related organizations is preferred.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Prior office/administration experience, unflagging attention to detail, flexibility and strong organizational skills are required.

2. Ability to work well under pressure while juggling multiple tasks simultaneously is required.

3. Ability to prioritize with minimal supervision and work independently as well as function as a member of a team with staff in multiple locations globally is required.

4. Proficiency in computer packages including MS Office applications is required.

5. Strong interpersonal skills and independent judgment are required.

6. Research and analytical skills, including the ability to conduct online research, are required

7. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required; fluency in other European languages (in particular French) is desirable.

8. Strong interest in international human rights as well as knowledge of the European Union institutions is highly desirable.

9. Previous work, internship, or volunteer experience with the European Union and/or in Brussels-based human rights organizations is an advantage.

Other: Applicants for this position must possess valid EU work authorization.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 1 September 2022 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a letter of interest and CV or resume. 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 accommodations during the application process, please email [email protected]. 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.