UK Advocacy Officer

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
UK Advocacy Officer
Advocacy Department 
London Office
Application Date: 22 April 2025

Are you passionate about human rights and eager to help our team push the UK Government to live up to its human rights obligations in the UK and globally? Come join us! Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a UK Advocacy Officer to join our London-based UK Advocacy team.

The Advocacy Officer will participate in the planning and implementation of HRW’s advocacy strategy in the UK. This is a full-time position based in our London office and reports to and works closely with the UK Director. The successful candidate will be based in London and work from our central London office at least 3 days a week.

Responsibilities 

1. Develop, and support in the development of advocacy strategies on specific country and thematic portfolios. This involves stakeholder mapping/research and engagement (both within and outside of HRW), identifying opportunities and strategies for engagement/influence, and as relevant, providing information to HRW colleagues in a timely manner so they can take advantage of these opportunities.
2. Implement, and support in the implementation of advocacy strategies on specific country and thematic portfolios. This involves undertaking, independently, as well as in support of the UK Director and other HRW staff, written (submissions, legislative amendments, dispatches etc) and oral advocacy, providing briefings for the UK Director or other HRW staff, facilitating access for HRW staff to key advocacy targets, and working with partners to promote advocacy objectives.
3. Proactively build and maintain relationships with key advocacy targets and civil society partners. Identify opportunities and support efforts to collaborate with UK based civil society organisations or individuals.
4. Monitor and track policy developments, official statements, visits, legislative plans and Bills, Parliamentary activity, key UK policy debates and keep the UK Director and relevant HRW colleagues updated as necessary.
5. Identify opportunities to utilise media coverage to further our advocacy gaols, and work with the Senior Media Officer to achieve coverage. Distribute materials to advocacy targets as needed.
6. Provide day-to-day administrative support to the UK Director such as scheduling meetings, managing subscriptions, building and maintaining an effective information management system and contact databases, responding to internal and external requests for information, making travel arrangements for research and advocacy trips, preparing for and taking minutes at meetings.
7. Assist with organizing media and advocacy events, including news conferences and briefings, roundtables, trainings, and other events.
8. Carry out other duties as required.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in International Relations or Law, or a related field, or equivalent experience is required.

Experience: Minimum of three years of relevant work experience. Experience working in UK non-governmental organisations is an asset.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.
2. A solid understanding of international relations and human rights is required. Related experience with UK institutions, NGOs or media outlets is highly desirable.
3. Strong interpersonal skills are required.
4. Independent judgment and discretion, as well as tact, diplomacy and maturity in dealing with colleagues at all levels of the organisation is required.
5. Ability to work well under pressure while juggling multiple tasks simultaneously is required.
6. Ability to make sound decision consistent with functions is required.
7. Ability to prioritize with minimum supervision and work independently as well as function as a member of a team with staff in multiple locations globally are required.
8. Prior office/administrative experience and strong organisational skills is required.
9. Proficiency in computer packages including MS Office applications is required.

Other: Applicants for this position must possess valid UK work authorisation.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers comprehensive compensation and benefits. The salary range for this position is GBP 46,000- 50,500.

How to apply: Please apply by 22 April, 2025 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org. 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, 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.