UK Director

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY UK Director Advocacy Department London Office Application Deadline: 21 June 2026 Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a highly strategic and effective leader with compelling communication and interpersonal skills to lead HRW’s advocacy and media in the UK and possibly expand our nascent efforts in the Republic of Ireland and other jurisdictions where appropriate. The UK office plays a vital role in Human Rights Watch’s efforts to encourage influential governments to defend and promote human rights in their foreign policy, as members of the United Nations (including as a P5 member) and the Commonwealth and at home. Serving as the UK Director, you will function as the key advocacy and communications strategist for HRW and the principal HRW representative in UK. You will stay closely attuned to the UK’s political landscape and translate that into clear, actionable opportunities to turn HRW’s research into tangible human rights impact in relation to UK’s foreign and domestic policy and practice. The successful candidate will function as the key advocate and spokesperson for HRW in the UK and other jurisdictions as appropriate, acting as our link to policy- and decision-makers and the media on our global portfolio of issues, as well as on domestic human rights concerns. They will also oversee our London office and bdiuild a culture in which staff from a broad range of backgrounds can thrive. The UK Director will have a strong track record of effectively engaging and cultivating relationships with key stakeholders including high level policy makers and Parliamentarians and working closely and collegiately with other civil society organisations. They will be confident in engaging on mediums that reach the wider public, and have a sophisticated grasp of the media landscape and be a compelling public speaker. This position is based in London. The successful candidate must be willing to work from the office [as needed/2-3 days per week] and reports to the Chief Advocacy Officer (“CAO”). It supervises a London-based Advocacy Officer. Responsibilities : UK Advocacy and Media: Lead HRW’s advocacy in the UK and work with HRW colleagues to develop and implement advocacy and media strategies on a range of foreign policy and domestic issues in post-Brexit UK; Promote the work of HRW in the UK (and Ireland) to influence decisionmakers, mainly key high-level government officials at 10 Downing, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and other government ministries and agencies as necessary, building access to and staying in regular contact with key policymakers and departments, working with Members of Parliament and providing evidence to Parliament, speaking at public events and seminars, influencing think tanks and other policy/advisory bodies, representing the organization in the human rights movement on a national and international stage and otherwise leveraging the UK to be a more consistent actor for human rights worldwide; With the UK Senior Media Officer, strategize on promoting HRW’s work effectively to traditional and social media in the UK, building relevant relationships and contacts with journalists and media outlets to ensure HRW is as influential as possible, writing and speaking on human rights issues, telling compelling stories, crafting succinct soundbites and messages, and deploying diverse and innovative storytelling skills to promote human rights values to the broader public, maintaining leading role in advancing growth and engagement of the UK audience. Help HRW colleagues understand how and when to seize press and advocacy opportunities in the UK, both on global and domestic issues; Coordinate closely with HRW advocates around the globe, at the UN (based in New York and Geneva), at the EU (based in Brussels), in Washington, and elsewhere as well as advocates in regional and thematic teams in HRW. Collaborate with the various parts of HRW, including the Advocacy and Media teams around the globe, to