Officer, Communications

FULL-TIME, FIXED-TERM VACANCY

Officer, Communications

Media Department

Sydney Office

Application Date: April 7, 2025

The Communications Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for the position of Press Officer.

The Press Officer acts as the main liaison between HRW and members of the media in Oceania, builds and maintains HRW’s reach in the Australian media market, and oversees and executes editorial production of media materials in the Asia/Pacific time zone. The Media Department works to determine the best messages, the right audiences, and the best vehicle to raise public awareness of the human rights violations HRW investigates and documents. The Press Officer guides the HRW Press Team and contributes to the range of materials being published by HRW daily including copy editing and pitching.

This is a 13-month fixed term, full-time position at 38 hours per week for parental leave coverage, with an anticipated start in mid-May 2025. This role requires availability to work occasional nights and weekend events, and potential travel, when it is safe to do so. The Press Officer is based in our Sydney, Australia office and reports to the Senior Communications Manager based in Washington DC.

This is an incredible opportunity for career growth in a very successful communications environment at a fast-paced global organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Engage in thoughtful and creative collaboration with the Senior Communications Manager and Communications Director on communications strategies that help to achieve our goals;
2. Pitch HRW research products to journalists and members of the media;
3. Identify the most effective media targets for HRW products, which are distributed to journalists;
4. Copy edit, format, and distribute materials;
5. Assist with Zoom press conferences in the Australia and Asia time zone.
6. Assist with coordinating the review, production, translation, and distribution of reports, news releases, letters, charts, briefing papers, op-eds, other publications, and web content;
7. Track the editorial flow of research and media products.
8. Collaborate with the Press Officers in Europe and Communications department in the Asia time zones on pitching, media roundups and analysis for reports, news releases, and other products when needed;
9. Handle and respond to queries from journalists and other media professionals, connecting them with relevant staff where appropriate;
10. Create and maintain extensive contact databases and filing and archiving systems;
11. Maintain the HRW Press pipeline, keep all publishing schedules and calendars up to date and relevant;
12. Collaborate with the associates in East Coast, Europe, West Coast time zones on media roundups and analysis for reports, news releases, and other products when needed;
13. Co-supervise the West Coast Associate;
14. Guide and manage interns;
15. Perform other tasks as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or another relevant field or equivalent training is required.

Experience: A minimum of three 3 years of communications, and/or media experience and a deep knowledge of international, Canadian, and Australian media landscapes is required.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of AP Stylebook is required.
2. Familiarity with the press corps in Australia and Oceania is required.
3. Previous journalism experience or communications experience is required.
4. Ability to translate complex issues into pithy, succinct, accessible pitches and the ability to develop messaging that resonates with target audiences is required.
5. Ability to develop a regular practice of using accessible pitches and target audience messaging to generate coverage in media outlets is required.
6. Ability to plan longer-term projects and generate real-time responses to developing news in an environment that demands both rigor and relevance is required.
7. The ability to work well under pressure and to manage multiple priorities while working effectively toward deadlines is required.
8. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within Human Rights Watch as well as with external partners are required.
9. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions and take initiative when appropriate is required.
10. Knowledge of PR distribution software (Cision, Meltwater, Muck Rack)

Other: Applicants for this position must possess valid Australian work authorization.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance.

How to Apply: Please apply by April 7, 2025, by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter and resume, preferably in PDF format. 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 require a disability related accommodation, please email recruitment@hrw.org. 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.