Deputy Director, Asia

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY

Deputy Director

Asia Division

Multiple Locations Considered

Application Deadline: November 13, 2022

The Opportunity

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for the position of Deputy Director in the Asia Division. The largest division at HRW, the Asia Division covers pressing rights issues in more than 20 Asian countries including conflict-related abuses, restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly, shrinking civic space, violence against women and girls, migrant and refugee rights, labor rights, the nexus between climate change and human rights, and how corruption, the activities of multinational corporations, and government policies restrict access to social and economic rights. Our team of approximately 35 experts, based across the region and elsewhere, work in partnership with local organizations to meticulously document human rights abuses, advocate for concrete policy changes to end the abuses, and press for perpetrators to be held accountable.

The Deputy will report to and assist the Director of the Asia Division to ensure the highest standards of research, writing, and advocacy and to develop and implement the division’s strategy in collaboration with the Asia team. The Deputy Director will also liaise with other parts of the organization such as the Finance and Human Resources departments, raise funds in support of the division, and manage divisional staff members with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion; stress and resilience; and encouraging a healthy work/life balance. We anticipate that this role will require a base in either Asia, North America or Europe and regular travel for fundraising events, advocacy meetings, and other staff gatherings.

Due to COVID-19, some global HRW offices continue to operate at reduced capacities. The successful candidate may be required to work remotely as local mandates necessitate. We recognize that the pandemic may continue to pose difficulties for 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. Work closely with the Director to provide day-to-day management and leadership of the Asia Division, supervising staff and supporting an environment of collaborative work;

2. Assist the Director in strategically guiding and advancing the Division’s work, including with the design of country projects and plans, and provide inputs and edit published written work (such as reports, press releases, op-eds, dispatches, submissions);

3. Assist the Director in the consultations, drafting and development of the Asia Division’s annual workplan;

4. Assist the Director, in close liaison with the Development and Outreach Department in identifying, cultivating and successfully executing new fundraising opportunities for the Asia Division’s work;

5. Assist the Director in regularly monitoring the division’s budget and ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately;

6. Work with the Director and colleagues in Advocacy and Communications Departments to develop and implement multidisciplinary strategies to achieve impact and positive results in the division’s work;

7. Act as a senior representative and advocate for the work of the division within HRW;

8. Develop and maintain supportive and collaborative relationships with governments, UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society partners, at the national, regional and international level; and

9. Undertake other responsibilities as required.

Managerial Responsibilities

1. Manage a team of researchers and work in conjunction with the Director to deliver outputs in a timely manner to support the Asia division’s strategy and priorities;

2. Consult closely and regularly with Asia staff to ensure that the workload of the staff is manageable, and the reporting lines and timelines are clear;

3. Lead, motivate, and mentor Asia Division staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely constructive feedback, ensuring balanced workload, providing guidance on professional growth, and monitoring staff well-being as it pertains to stress and resilience issues and self-care;

4. Promote inclusive, creative, and positive work environment including by soliciting diverse points of views, encouraging staff to participate in efforts to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion, and proactively addressing bias, discrimination, microaggressions, etc.;

5. Model inclusive behavior and consistently adhere to HRW’s internal values;

6. Incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion values and initiatives into the division’s work;

7. Work with staff to develop initiatives aimed at movement-building and expanding our partnership with diverse partners;

8. Provide appropriate and timely feedback to the staff on their performance and provide guidance, coaching and training, as necessary; and

9. Serve effectively as a communicative, engaged and supportive member of the Asia Management Team to support the Director.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a thoughtful, collaborative, and strategic leader, ideally from or in the region, with extensive experience working on human rights in Asia in research, advocacy, policy and/or management positions, who is fluent in English, and preferably another Asian language, has very strong writing and editing skills, and has a solid background on human rights with an understanding of multicultural environments.

Qualifications

Education: A graduate degree or an equivalent level of experience in human rights, law, journalism, social sciences, international affairs, or a related field is required.

Experience: A minimum of seven (7) yearsof relevant work experience with at least four years in a management role.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Extensive knowledge of human rights issues in Asia, with an expertise in at least one or two subregions (Southeast Asia, East Asia or South Asia) is required.

2. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing impactful, human rights driven research and advocacy projects, crafting strategies, and providing guidance on projects from the design, implementation and evaluation phases is required.

3. Track record of measurable success executing complex projects, managing budgets, fundraising, implementing operational change, conducting monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring high-quality written and oral work, and other deliverables is required.

4. Prior demonstrated experience in supervising talented self-driven professionals in multiple global locations, via online and in person methods across multiple time zones is required.

5. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and experience in applying DEI values in the workplace is required.

6. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is required. Fluency in languages spoken in Asia is a plus.

7. Strong and consistent editor of a range of written work products, with ability to edit for factual and legal accuracy, for effective communication in relation to intended audience, for structural and grammatical edits, and to adhere to word limit guidelines and template requirements is required.

8. Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively and constructively, including in inter-cultural situations is required.

9. Experience managing and building a diverse team is required.

10. Ability to multi-task effectively, often under time pressures, adjust to changing priorities, and meet deadlines is required

*Salary and Benefits:*** HRW encourages applicants from or in the region and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. If based in the United States, the salary range for this position will be USD 135,000-150,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location. Citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply; HRW offers a relocation assistance package and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required.

**How to Apply:**Please apply immediately or by November 13, 2022, by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and submitting a cover letter 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 a disability-related accommodation, 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.