Dinner Assistant

FIXED-TERM, PART-TIME JOB VACANCY
DINNER ASSISTANT
Development and Outreach Department
Silicon Valley Office
Application Deadline: February 1, 2026

The Development and Outreach Department of Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking an Assistant based in the Bay Area to support the Silicon Valley team in the Development and Outreach Department. This position is fixed term and part-time (10 hours per week) and is anticipated to start as soon as possible and end in late May 2026. This position will report to the Associate Director of the Silicon Valley Office. 

For the Silicon Valley Office, the Dinner Assistant will focus on providing administrative support, especially through Salesforce data entry and upkeep. This role is best suited for individuals interested in learning about HRW’s work and contributing to our development and outreach efforts for Silicon Valley, with an emphasis on maintaining our donor database, writing donor communications, conducting prospect research and briefings, and supporting event planning for our major April 21st  fundraiser. 

The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Silicon Valley office located in Menlo Park 2 days per week in person, as well as on the evening of April 20th and April 21st for the major fundraiser.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide administrative support to the Silicon Valley team, including office management tasks, scheduling meetings, assisting with mailings, and other tasks;
2. Provide support for Silicon Valley’s major fundraiser in April, as well as smaller community events, meetings, briefings, and other activities throughout the spring;
3. Write email communications to Silicon Valley donors including HRW impact updates, invitations to our local events, follow-up emails to guests after events, thank you notes, and more;
4. Coordinate hotel arrangements and create itineraries for visiting staff, speakers, and honorees invited to local Silicon Valley events;
5. Maintain up-to-date detailed guest lists for Silicon Valley events, including tracking dietary restrictions, mobility requirements, etc.;
6. Conduct prospect research on potential donors by drafting research profiles of Silicon Valley event guests, prospective supporters from the broader Silicon Valley community, and/or prospective institutional donors. This includes updating our donor database with any outcomes gleaned from prospect research;
7. Track incoming gifts and draft acknowledgement letters for Silicon Valley’s and Foundation’s portfolio of donors;
8. Assist with the administration of Silicon Valley and Foundations’ donor information, including ensuring accuracy of information in the donor database; and
9. Perform other responsibilities as may be required.

Qualifications:

Education: Currently enrolled undergraduate/graduate students over 21 years of age are encouraged to apply. Candidates who have graduated are also welcome, but a degree is not required for this position.

Experience: One year of relevant work or internship experience is desirable. 

Related Skills and Knowledge:
1. Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail are essential for success in this role.
2. Self-motivation and the ability to prioritize and work independently as well as function as a member of a team with staff in multiple global locations are required.
3. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.
4. The ability to work well under pressure and to manage multiple priorities, working effectively toward deadlines is required.
5. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including donors and external partners are required.
6. Prior office or administration experience and proficiency in computer programs including MS Office applications, especially Excel, are required; experience with Salesforce or other donor databases is a plus!
7. Strong interest in or experience with human rights issues is desirable.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance. The pay rate for this position is US$ 22.76 per hour. 

How to Apply: Please apply by February 1, 2026 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter and resume, preferably in PDF format. 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 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.