Researcher, Iran

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY

RESEARCHER, IRAN

Middle East and North Africa Division

Multiple Locations Considered

Application Deadline: 15 September 2024

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a 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.

We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment and onboarding of this position.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and implement a research and advocacy agenda that focuses on improving respect for human rights, including civil and political and social and economic rights, in Iran;
2. Research, monitor, and document human rights abuses by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources, including governments, local media, NGOs, survivors of abuses, witnesses, journalists, diplomats, and other relevant sources;
3. Regularly write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds, and submissions to regional and international bodies based on research findings;
4. Develop recommendations for rights improvements in the country; devise and implement national, regional, and international advocacy strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices;
5. Place abuses within the broader political, social, economic, and historical contexts and present human rights concerns to government officials, opinion leaders, inter-governmental agencies, and the media;
6. Respond promptly to queries from the media, public, and colleagues in the human rights community and take initiative to project concerns in public debate;
7. Work closely with NGOs and other human rights organizations to ensure that HRW’s work complements and enhances their own work;
8. Liaise effectively with HRW staff in multiple locations throughout the world to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;
9. Assist the Deputy Director, MENA Division, and HRW’s Development and Global Initiatives Department in conducting fundraising;
10. Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events;
11. Travel domestically and overseas, as required, to conduct field work and advocacy meetings when necessary;
12. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the MENA division and wider Program Department;
13. Cover research and advocacy issues on other MENA countries in support of MENA division’s broader strategy; and
14. Perform other tasks as may be 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 three 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 80,000 – 88,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 15 September 2024 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.