Director, Los Angeles

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES
Development and Outreach Department
Los Angeles Office
Application Deadline: September 30, 2024 

The Development and Outreach Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for the position of Director, Los Angeles to lead our fundraising and outreach in Los Angeles, California. The Director will oversee a talented and dynamic team in the Los Angeles office and will report to the Managing Director of Development and Outreach in North America. 

The successful candidate will mobilize support from donors and prospects in Los Angeles and the surrounding area, including the Los Angeles Committee – a network of close supporters in the city – at a truly critical time. The Director will be charged with nurturing, stewarding, and growing HRW’s donor base and presence including by planning and executing an annual signature fundraising event. 

The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Los Angeles office at least 2 days 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 and oversee the strategic plan, budget and income forecast for fundraising strategy in Los Angeles and its immediate surroundings;
2. Seek and secure philanthropic commitments from a personal portfolio of individual, trust and Foundation donors, prioritizing those with multi-year and six-figure capacities;  
3. Identify and develop strategic fundraising and outreach initiatives, fostering engagement and cultivation of major gift prospects, including planned giving and cultivation events to enhance program visibility and increase fundraising results;  
4. Work in collaboration with Los Angeles Committee leadership and members, as well as LA-based Board members, to implement initiatives geared toward maximizing fundraising results, including the planning and execution of the annual Voices for Justice celebration;
5. In partnership with the Institutional Giving Team, research, identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit prospective foundations and existing foundations that have the ability and affinity to contribute to HRW;
6. Represent the work of HRW to existing and prospective supporters;
7. Deliver sustainable growth and meet or exceed agreed-upon financial targets;
8. Oversee income tracking, projections, expenditure budgets, event expenses, and revenue, ensuring appropriate allocation of resources within the budget; and
9. Perform any other responsibilities as required.

Managerial Responsibilities: 

1. Provide leadership, motivation, and mentorship to the Los Angeles team, setting clear expectations, performance objectives, and providing regular and constructive feedback;
2. Foster an inclusive, creative, and positive work environment, encouraging diverse perspectives and participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, while proactively addressing bias, discrimination, and microaggressions;
3. Model inclusive behavior and consistently adhere to HRW's internal values;
4. Incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion values and initiatives into the work of the Los Angeles team; and
5. Collaborate with staff to develop initiatives aimed at movement-building and expanding partnerships with diverse clients, donors, stakeholders, and partners.

Qualifications:  

Education: A bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a relevant field such as international relations, social sciences, or related studies is required.   

Experience: A minimum of seven years of fundraising experience with major and leadership level donors, including at least five years of management experience, is required. 

Related Skills and Knowledge: 

1. Demonstrated success in creating and managing major and leadership gift programs, as well as extensive experience in building and maintaining high-level donor relationships and personally soliciting six and seven figure gifts is required. 
2. Demonstrated experience managing teams ensuring motivation and high-performance levels, is required. Experience overseeing fundraising strategy around events is preferred. 
3. Proven experience in budgeting, revenue tracking, and projections is required.
4. Strong technological skills, including familiarity with Salesforce or other relational databases are highly desirable.
5. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including strong presentation abilities is required.
6. Outstanding interpersonal skills for effective collaboration within the organization and with external partners is required.
7. Strong commitment to human rights and/or international issues, with the ability to represent and advocate for the mission and programs of the organization is required.
8. Entrepreneurial mindset with self-motivation, independence, and the ability to work both individually and as part of a development team is required.
9. Sound knowledge of the LA philanthropic community is preferred.

Other: Occasional evening and weekend work to staff fundraising events will be required. Infrequent travel, domestic and international, will also be 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. This position is based in the United States and the salary range would be USD 121,000-138,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by September 30, 2024 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a letter of interest detailing your fundraising experience and your commitment to Human Rights Watch 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 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.