FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
OFFICER, BOARD AND COUNCIL RELATIONS
Executive Office and Development and Outreach Department
New York Office
Application Deadline: November 5, 2023

The Executive Office and Development and Outreach Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking candidates for the position of Officer to support the governance of the HRW Board of Directors and provide administrative assistance to the Board and Council Relations Office.

The Board of Directors is the highest governing body responsible for overseeing HRW and advancing the human rights cause around the world. The Human Rights Watch Council serves as a primary vehicle to connect HRW supporters to the human rights cause and consists of our approximately 20 active city committees and over 30 cities engaged in Council activities.

This full-time position will be based in the New York office and will report to the Senior Manager, Board Engagement within the Board Relations Office. Some occasional evening and weekend work will be required for events.

The successful candidate may have the option to work remotely but is expected to work from the office 2-3 times a week. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as the main point of contact for Board member inquiries, including contact information, calendar, events and travel inquiries, and program materials;

2. Manage day-to-day logistics for Board meetings, Board committee meetings, and other Board events:

• Set Board calendar in consultation with the Board Relations team, executive staff, and Board leadership;
• Conduct venue and accommodation research for Board meetings and events;
• Draft invitation letters and liaise with external guests;
• Attend all Board meetings and select committee meetings; record minutes at relevant meetings and track action items;
• Serve as the contact person with vendors and venues for Board meetings, Board and Council events including matters related to AV, catering, security, and transportation; and
• Troubleshoot issues ranging from venue, A/V and online Board portal problems.

3. In collaboration with staff across various departments, prepare Board and committee meeting materials and briefing packets;

4. Maintain Board contacts and up-to-date Board lists, calendars and documents, and organize Board materials on internal databases as well as the online Board platform;

5. Manage the Board pipeline process and lists and maintain up-to-date information on all Board prospects in collaboration with staff and the leadership of the Nominating Committee;

6. Draft routine correspondence to the Board including organizational updates, event invitations, meeting and event details and notes from the Board leadership;

7. Support the production of Board and Council meetings, trainings and events including overseeing the registration process, tracking guest lists and RSVPs, and managing follow-up communications;

8. Support projects related to Board governance matters;

9. Maintain up-to-date Council lists and Council leadership documents;

10. Provide event-management support for the Council Trainings Series by managing the set-up of Zoom events, the registration and RSVPs and assisting with the event production on the day of as well as the follow up;

11. Support the preparation of Council communications and materials, including the Council Membership Guidelines, Council Events Calendar, and other Council initiatives undertaken by the Council Steering Committee;

12. Process invoices for Board and Council projects, contracts, events, and consultants;

13. Maintain up-to-date records for Board members and Council leadership on Salesforce;

14. Provide administrative support to the Senior Board Relations Director, including scheduling meetings, preparing for and taking minutes at meetings, identifying and tracking priorities, and responding to inquiries and requests for information; and

15. Carry out other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a related field is required.

Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience, specifically supporting the administrative work of a team is required. Experience working with a wide range of people, including board of directors, prominent officials, donors, or the public is required. Experience with event planning or fundraising is preferable.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Prior office/administration experience, effective organizational skills, and meticulous attention to detail are required.

2. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.

3. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within Human Rights Watch as well as external partners are required.

4. Ability to work well under deadlines while juggling multiple tasks simultaneously is required.

5. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with a variety of audiences including Board members, donors and external partners are required.

6. Self-motivation and the ability to prioritize with minimal supervision and work independently as well as function as a member of a team with staff in locations globally is required.

7. High degree of reliability, solid judgment, discretion, problem solving, and critical thinking skills are required. Ability to maintain confidentiality and to think proactively is required.

8. Commitment to and experience working with staff, vendors, and partners in collaborative, diverse, and inclusive team environment is required.

9. Proficiency in computer applications including MS Office and Zoom is required. Experience with Salesforce, virtual event platforms and Marketing Cloud is desirable.

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. This position is based in the United States and the salary range would be USD 62,000-66,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by November 5, 2023 by visiting our online job portal at https://careers.hrw.org/ and attaching a letter of interest and a 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.