Human Rights Watch seeking Africa Executive Director

Human Rights Watch (”HRW”) is seeking a highly-qualified, senior-level
professional to head its Africa Division.

Description: The Executive Director of HRW’s Africa Division is
responsible for the development and implementation of strategies for
HRW’s work in Africa and ensuring the setting of programmatic
priorities, including response to emergencies. S/he is responsible for
overseeing the division’s research on human rights violations and for
developing effective advocacy and communications strategies for maximum
impact. S/he represents the organization frequently before the
international media and meets with government and other high-level
officials and coordinates with key colleagues, both within HRW and
externally with allied organizations and local NGOs. S/he manages staff
based in three continents, including Africa, supporting their
development and overseeing security in the field. The Executive Director
is also responsible for fundraising, identifying and recruiting donors,
and drafting funding proposals. She or he preferably will be based in
the organization’s New York City headquarters or another major HRW
office, but other locations, including a key capital in Africa, may be
considered. This position requires frequent international travel.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated, creative,
strategic thinker with substantive, senior-level experience working on
human rights issues in Africa and the capacity to serve as an effective
advocate and activist. S/he will have excellent leadership, management
and organizational skills, including the demonstrated ability to lead a
team of talented professionals in multiple global locations. She or he
will be able to juggle multiple tasks and work collegially in a
demanding, diverse, and fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will
have excellent oral and written communications skills in English and
ideally another relevant language, keen political judgment, proven
initiative and follow-through, the ability to work quickly and well
under pressure, and a commitment to human rights. An advanced degree in
law, international relations, African studies, public policy, or a
related field is desired, as is familiarity with international human
rights law.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers
competitive compensation and generous 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.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY by emailing in a single submission: a letter of
interest describing your experience, your resume, names or letters of
reference, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than
April 1, 2008 to program@hrw.org. Please use “Executive Director,
Africa Division” as the subject of your email. Only complete
applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be
submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials
(please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:

Human Rights Watch

Attn: Search Committee (Executive Director, Africa Division)

350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor

New York, NY 10118-3299

Fax: (212) 736-1300