Senior Researcher, Iran

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY

SENIOR RESEARCHER, IRAN

Middle East and North Africa Division

Multiple Locations Considered

Application Deadline: January 1, 2025

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a senior researcher who will document and analyze human rights abuses in Iran and advocate for these abuses to end and be redressed. The MENA Division is part of the Program Department, which consists of 15 regional and thematic divisions. The MENA Division works to advance human rights in the region and conducts a wide range of activities, including investigation, report writing, advocacy, and media work. This position reports to a MENA Deputy Director based in New York. This position will preferably be based in one of HRW’s offices in London, New York, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Toronto or Washington DC, but other locations will be considered. The successful candidate is expected to take up the role as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:

1. Research, monitor and document human rights abuses by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources including through interviews with victims and witnesses and the analysis of physical evidence or photographs and videos, as well as by monitoring reports from and speaking with government officials, local media, healthcare workers, NGOs, journalists, diplomats, security forces, and others;
2. Write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds, and submissions to international bodies based on the findings of your research, including through an active social media presence;
3. Collaborate with colleagues in the multimedia team to produce videos and other visual materials that convey research findings and advocacy messages;
4. Develop and implement local, regional, and international strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices and to hold those most responsible for serious abuses to account;
5. Present human rights and humanitarian law issues and concerns to government officials, armed groups, opinion leaders, inter-governmental agencies, and the media to promote civilian protection and human rights reforms;
6. Identify and highlight key political and human rights trends and emerging issues, and analyze abuses within the broader political, social, and economic context to highlight factors contributing to abuses and avenues for effective change;
7. Work closely with local and regional human rights organizations to ensure that the work of HRW in Iran complements and enhances their own work;
8. Respond promptly to queries from the media, public, and colleagues in the human rights community and take initiative to project concerns in public debate;
9. Respond to and/or anticipate news events in order to press human rights issues; to assess when and where to make public interventions such as op-eds; and think creatively about using the web and social media to generate public support for human rights issues and further advocacy goals;
10. Liaise effectively with HRW staff located in multiple locations throughout the world to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;
11. Supervise a research assistant, oversee the work of consultants as needed, and edit reports and other material on Iran by other researchers;
12. Establish clear work plans for other staff, consultants, or interns working on a project led by the senior researcher and ensure that their workload is manageable, that priorities are clearly and effectively communicated, and that they are given proper guidance, training, and support on issues of security and resilience;
13. Contribute to internal HRW policy debates on issues relevant to your expertise and areas of focus;
14. Assist the directors of the division and HRW’s Development Department with fundraising;
15. Travel domestically and internationally, as required, in order to carry out research and advocacy;
16. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and maintain consistency with the agreed strategy and priorities of the division and organization;
17. Cover research and advocacy issues on other MENA countries in support of MENA division’s broader strategy;
18. Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, Middle Eastern/Iranian studies, history, or social sciences or equivalent work experience is required.

Experience: A minimum of seven years of professional-level experience working on Iran, preferably in human rights or related issues, is required.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

1. Demonstrated ability to identify, research, analyze, and effectively communicate important human rights developments in Iran and the broader MENA region is required.
2. Demonstrated ability to conduct interviews sensitively with a wide range of people, including survivors of and witnesses to rights violations, is required.
3. Ability to identify and advise on strategies to conduct research and advocacy is required.
4. Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights and familiarity with international human rights law and international humanitarian law is required, particularly as it relates to Iran and developments in the MENA region.
5. Knowledge of and experience working on rights issues relating to the Iranian context, including civil and political rights, social and economic rights, business and human rights, rule of law, and crises and conflicts are required.
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Farsi, including dynamic public speaking skills and the ability to write accurate, persuasive, well-organized, analytical, and timely documents, are required. Proficiency in at least one language other than Farsi and English and relevant to Iran research is also desirable, including Kurdish, Baluch, Azeri, or Arabic.
7. Ability to build and sustain partnerships with human rights, community, and regional organizations on shared goals and objectives is required.
8. Interpersonal skills in order to work positively and collaboratively within HRW as well as with national partners, government officials, media, and other external partners from diverse backgrounds are required.
9. Demonstrated ability to think strategically about the global and national media and policy environments and how to use the media and electronic media to further advocacy goals is desirable.
10. Ability to maintain contacts and meet with officials and experts addressing human rights in Iran is required.
11. Ability to multi-task effectively, including good planning and organizational skills and an ability to work under pressure are required.

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. If based in the United States, the salary range for this role is USD 88,000 – 96,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by January 1, 2025 by visiting our online job portal at https://www.hrw.org/careers and attaching a letter of interest and resume or CV, preferably as PDF files. 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 a disability-related accommodation to submit your application, 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.