Researcher/Advocate, Youth Justice

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY

YOUTH JUSTICE RESEARCHER/ADVOCATE

Children’s Rights Division

Multiple US Locations Considered (West Coast Time Zone Preferred)

Application Deadline: September 5, 2022

The Children’s Rights Division (CRD) of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a researcher and advocate for transformative change to youth justice in the US. The Researcher/Advocate will work with community partners, policymakers, and other relevant actors to develop effective strategies for far-reaching change to how US states interact with youth accused of crimes. Rights abuses in the US disproportionately harm Black people, people of color, indigenous people, people from poverty and working-class backgrounds, immigrants, women, and LGBTQIA+ people. Because we believe these communities must be centered in HRW’s work, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or other related lived experiences, people with personal or community experience of the justice system, and those who are formerly incarcerated and/or crime survivors.

The Researcher/Advocate will work with the Senior Advocate in CRD in assessing, planning, and implementing work in US states, and to advance and protect achievements in California. The Researcher/Advocate will be responsible for researching laws; analyzing state practices; assessing viable avenues for effecting change; speaking to the media; producing analytical written products to further advocacy goals; nurturing and strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones; and designing, managing, or working with others on legislative and community-based campaigns, always in close collaboration with partners.

The Youth Justice Researcher/Advocate will be part of a dynamic team in the Children’s Rights Division, which works to end rights abuses affecting children around the world, including in child labor, armed conflict, education, migration, and youth justice. This position will focus on the US and will ideally be based on the West Coast of the US. This position will report to the Senior Advocate in CRD based in Los Angeles.

Human Rights Watch has played a key leadership role in efforts to change youth justice, working in close collaboration with many in the US. We work to ensure youth have the protections and opportunities they deserve. Our guiding principle is a system of justice that treats all with respect and offers opportunities for healing to survivors of crime, people who cause harm, and communities. We believe that youth should be responded to in ways that build on their potential and provide avenues for growth. To get to these goals, we aim to end the transfer of children to adult criminal court, the use of extreme sentences for all youth and young adults, and the incarceration of people under age 18. Our investigations, analysis, and partnership-building are the basis for strategic advocacy to press for changes in laws and policies that respect the rights of children and youth.

Due to COVID-19, many of our global offices are operating in reduced capacities. The successful candidate may be required to work remotely as local mandates necessitate. 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. Research and document human rights abuses of youth by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources including people who are directly impacted, witnesses, local media, NGOs, journalists, diplomats, governments, and others in the field;

2. Work with colleagues to analyze state and federal youth justice and related laws, policies, and alternatives;

3. Write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds, bill or law analyses, and provide submissions to US policymakers or bodies and testimony in local, state, or federal hearings based on findings from your own research and research carried out by colleagues in the Children’s Rights Division;

4. Build, maintain, and grow strong working relationships with policymakers, partner organizations, and other relevant actors in California and other states in which we work;

5. Develop and implement advocacy strategies and campaigns in consultation with people who are directly impacted, partner organizations, and HRW colleagues on youth justice and related issues;

6. Speak on behalf of HRW to the media and general public;

7. Effectively utilize social media, blog-posting, and other communications strategies to influence public opinion about the rights and needs of youth in the justice system;

8. Travel within the United States and internationally, as required for internal meetings and advocacy opportunities; and

9. Perform other tasks as required.

Qualifications:

Education: An advanced degree in public policy, journalism, law, or related studies is required. This requirement may be waived in lieu of additional years of experience.

Experience: A minimum of three years of relevant experience in human rights is required.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of human rights issues related to youth justice, and an understanding of youth justice in the US and the elements that shape it is required.

2. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required; proficiency in another language is desirable.

3. Ability to identify, research, analyze, and effectively communicate important human rights developments on youth justice is required.

4. Excellent , networking, planning, and organizing skills are required. .

5. Ability to efficiently distil information about youth justice so as to focus time and effort on issues of greatest importance or issues that are most capable of being influenced is required.

6. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively is required.

7. Ability to work individually and multi-task effectively, and the ability to work well under pressure are required.

8. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.

9. Proven ability to work with partners, such as community-based groups, faith organizations, crime survivors, law enforcement, and others; and a commitment to being guided by people with direct experience of the human rights violations we aim to end is required.

10. Ability to work in a context where reaching long-term goals may require many failed attempts and incremental gains.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. HRW offers a relocation assistance package and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by September 5, 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. Recruitment will be conducted on a rolling basis, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply immediately.

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 come 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, incisive and timely reporting, innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.