Officer, Office of the Chief Programs Officer

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
OFFICER
Office of the Chief Programs Officer
Location: Washington, DC
Application Deadline: December 17, 2025

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking an Officer to provide operational, project and administrative project support to the Deputy Executive Director/Chief Programs Officer (DED/CPO) that oversees the organization’s research, advocacy, media, and legal work, supervising a staff of almost 300 professionals in more than 50 countries.

This is a full-time position based in the Washington DC office. The successful candidate must be based within commuting distance of the Washington DC office and will be expected to keep a hybrid (in-office/remote) working schedule determined by the DED/CPO’s needs. The Officer reports to the DED/CPO and supports other members of the DED/CPO’s office as needed.

The Executive department at HRW plays a pivotal role in providing strategic leadership and direction to the organization. They oversee the overall management, decision-making, and coordination of HRW's programmatic activities.

The Officer will be responsible for facilitating (departmental) processes and operations, executive support to the CPO, and for providing both project and administrative support to the Program Leadership Team (PLT) and other bodies that are led by the CPO.

Responsibilities

1. Manage the calendar of the Deputy Executive Director/Chief Programs Officer (DED/CPO) in order to promote the most effective internal and external use of the DED/CPO’s time, with a thorough understanding of the strategy of the departments and priorities of the CPO;
2. Manage sensitive and confidential interactions between key internal and external individuals, maintaining discretion and absolute confidentiality;
3. Coordinate domestic and international travel schedules, including all logistics and appointments, of the DED/CPO;
4. Liaise, advise and maintain effective communication and working relationships with staff across the organization and high-level external stakeholders, including facilitating cross-divisional operations in coordination with administrative Officers in the Executive Director’s Office, Program, Development, Operations and the General Counsel’s Office;
5. Work proactively with the Development & Outreach department to maximize the fundraising and other external roles of the CPO Office: liaise with our Development team for securing appointments, maintaining major donor contact and providing follow-up, including handling significant acknowledgment letters;
6. Review, draft and prepare documents, presentations, and other materials for internal or external use;
7. Organize and ensure the completion of processes and projects, as well as arrange the logistics, preparations, production, and budgeting of meetings and events from start to finish, including team retreats and other in-person staff convenings. In addition,
   • Plan and coordinate key internal and external meetings, including preparing agendas, minutes, documents, reports, and presentations, and coordinating follow-up on actions.
   • Ensure the CPO is fully prepared ahead of meetings, including liaising with key interlocutors to prepare briefing notes as appropriate.
   • Lead PLT meeting preparations and follow up. Facilitate decision-making processes, providing administrative support to the PLT annual planning cycle.
8. In collaboration with the CPO, identify opportunities, to contribute to departmental efforts and strategy discussions and monitor departmental goals and progress;
9. Ensure all data and relevant systems are maintained and up to date. Implement and manage digital filing systems, document and content management systems, or other databases as needed;
10. Provide support in recruitment, onboarding and mentoring of CPO office staff globally;
11. Process the DED/CPO’s expenses and other relevant expenses and invoices; assist with tracking of the CPO Office’s finances; and
12. Perform administrative tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience or training, preferably in business administration, nonprofit management or a related field, is required.

Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of high-level administrative experience, preferably providing administrative and project support to a senior level executive in a global organization. Experience and/or interest in international affairs and human rights is highly desirable.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Ability to perform administrative tasks at the executive level and work independently on self-directed projects are required.
2. Excellent organizational, administrative, project management and analytical skills are required.
3. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required including the ability to flex to meet audience needs, and empathetic active listening skills. Fluency in another language is an asset.
4. Make sound decisions consistent with function, complete tasks and responsibilities in a timely manner, and the ability to maintain both discretion and confidentiality are required.
5. Strong computer skills are required and an innovative and proactive approach to improving existing internal process and structures are highly appreciated.
6. Excellent interpersonal skills are required to interact collegially and collaboratively within the team and across HRW as well as diplomatically with high-level individuals including Board members, donors, media, government, and other external contacts.
7. Ability to self-motivate, function under pressure, prioritize competing demands with minimal supervision and handle numerous tasks simultaneously and with accuracy are required.
8. Demonstrate ability to work successfully and collaboratively with a team of talented executive support professionals in multiple global locations is required.
9. Contribute to a positive, supportive, and inclusive team culture in interactions with others and demonstrate care and commitment to the wellbeing and safety of themselves and their colleagues.
10. Ability to operate with cultural humility/curiosity and a global mindset to facilitate inclusive collaboration is essential.
11. Demonstrate commitment to personal learning and development and participate in enhancements to systems and processes related to function.

Other: Candidates must possess valid US work authorization, HRW is unable to sponsor work authorization for this role. 

Salary and Benefits: HRW offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. The salary range for this position is USD 66,000 – 68,000.

How to Apply: Please apply by December 17, 2025, by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter and 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 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.