FIXED-TERM, FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
Advocate, Forced Labor, Due Diligence & Value Chains
Advocacy Department
Location: Brussels Office
Application Deadline: 22 October 2023

The Advocacy Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for a new position to advocate for the adoption and implementation of proposed EU regulations relating to corporate due diligence, forced labor, value chains, and responsible sourcing. The Advocate will also support the EU Advocacy team in its engagement with EU member states, in Brussels or in capitals as needed, on these or other HRW human rights priorities. One key area of focus in year one will build on HRW’s and organizational partners’ work in Xinjiang, China.

This is a one year, fixed-term, full-time position, with the possibility of extension dependent on available funding. The successful candidate will be based in Brussels, and will report to the EU Director, while working in close collaboration with relevant teams, including HRW’s Economic Justice and Rights Division, regional and country teams particularly affected, and other advocates, including in key EU states.

The successful candidate will have some option to work remotely, with in-person and in-office meetings as required, preferably at least one day per week. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop, lead, and execute an engagement strategy and workplan to assess where Human Rights Watch can have greatest value added and impact in helping advocate for the adoption and implementation of robust EU regulations detailing corporate obligations with a focus on, inter alia, preventing and responding to forced labour, value chain, human rights and environmental due diligence.

2. Support the use of other tools available in the EU and multilateral fora to address human rights violations committed by foreign governments, including targeted sanctions against those responsible, mapping prospects for accountability, and mechanisms to gather information regarding both victims and perpetrators;

3. Advocate for the adoption of EU legislation related to human rights due diligence and import restrictions, including by working to ensure those regulations adequately address companies’ links to human rights abuses abroad;

4. Conduct advocacy-related research as needed to help identify key sectors as a focus for potential engagement;

5. Engage with regulators and companies to promote the strongest possible draft provisions and interpretations that advance the protection of human rights and environmental standards to hold companies accountable in line with HRW’s positions;

6. Prepare a range of written materials, as needed, including news releases, op-eds, blog postings, policy analyses, talking points and other documents, to increase awareness of the issues and facilitate engagement by other HRW divisions or external partners;

7. Travel regionally or internationally as required to conduct advocacy and outreach in key capitals, including where HRW does not currently have a permanent advocacy presence;

8. Develop and strengthen partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. civil society organisations and rights groups, trade unions) to make a compelling case for the most robust legislative frameworks to be adopted;

9. Work with relevant teams to coordinate increased engagement across HRW on EU’s upcoming legislations on human rights and environmental due diligence, forced labour and value chains, and help identify projects likely to have impact elsewhere;

10. Support the EU Advocacy team in its wider engagement with EU member states, in Brussels or in capitals as needed;

11. Work with HRW’s development staff to support HRW’s fundraising efforts in support of this and related projects; and

12. Perform other tasks as required.

Qualifications:

Education: An advanced degree or equivalent work experience in public policy, international relations, political science, international, human rights, corporate law, or related studies is required.

Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in nongovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, or governments working to advance robust laws in the European Union relevant to human rights and holding corporations accountable is required. Direct experience conducting advocacy on the legislative priorities identified is preferred.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Excellent public speaking and writing skills in English are required; knowledge of French and additional EU languages is an asset.

2. Knowledge of the European Union, including an understanding of its principal institutions, including preferably the Council’s Working Party on Company Law, the European Parliament, and mechanisms relating to human rights and corporate responsibility is required.

3. Experience designing and implementing successful advocacy initiatives, ideally within a European context is required.

4. Ability to defend and persuasively explain complex issues and positions to government officials, diplomats and policymakers is preferred.

5. Experience developing, managing, and sustaining partnerships, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders is desirable.

6. A track record of dealing with the media and cultivating relationships with journalists is desirable.

7. Experience working on human rights issues in China is desirable.

8. Strong interpersonal skills, self-motivation, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team is desirable.

9. Commitment to human rights is required; knowledge of human rights violations in the context of European companies’ supply chains, particularly in challenging environments such as China, is desirable.

10. Ability to think creatively and strategically, initiate projects, follow through on plans and met deadlines, is required.

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 22 October 2023, 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 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, 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.