MENA Director

Responsibilities include providing leadership, vision, and setting priorities for the MENA division. In collaboration with relevant internal and external partners, oversee and develop research, advocacy, and communications plans on human rights issues in MENA countries and across the region, ensuring clear goals and benchmarks that align with the organization’s strategic goals and programmatic priorities.

Oversee and manage the production of research products and other advocacy materials, ensuring they generate domestic and international pressure to curb human rights violations, adhere to the organization’s standards, and are appropriately vetted; collaborate with MENA staff to address challenges and opportunities. Work with the Program Office and Operations Department to support the management of MENA‑based staff and operations across several countries and time zones. Manage budget setting and spending priorities in cooperation with the Finance Department and regularly monitor the MENA budget to maximize impact.

Collaborate with the Development Department on fundraising, providing requested information, drafting donor reports, promoting HRW’s work, and actively soliciting and following up with potential new donors to achieve program‑specific fundraising goals. Respond to or anticipate relevant news events, framing developing stories through a human rights prism, advising senior management on effective responses and advocacy, and projecting an HR perspective into coverage of global, regional, and national events.

Represent the organization in international media on MENA issues and advocate with high‑level officials from governments, the UN, and other relevant international and regional organizations. Foster and strengthen partnerships with other human rights actors, leading collaboration in the movement at international, regional, and national levels. Ensure staff and office security by providing training in security policies, holding staff accountable, identifying risks, and partnering with the security team; model responsible risk‑taking and facilitate incident responses.

Lead, motivate, and mentor direct reports, communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing constructive feedback, ensuring balanced workloads, and guiding professional growth.

Education: An advanced degree in international relations, law, journalism, social sciences, or a related field is required.

Experience: A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience is required, with at least five years in a management position.

Required Qualifications / Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of human rights issues in the MENA region, excellent political judgment, and ability to identify trends.
• Relevant international field experience and familiarity with human rights research methodologies.
• Recognized management experience, including supervising a team of professionals in multiple global locations.
• Ability to identify critical human rights challenges and opportunities and formulate strategy.
• Track record of dealing with the media and cultivating relationships with journalists.
• Ability to defend and explain complex issues and positions to intergovernmental bodies, senior officials, and staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within HRW and with local partners, government officials, and external media partners.
• Track record of measurable successes in managing and advising on complex projects, implementing operational change, monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring high‑quality deliverables.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Fluency in Arabic or another major MENA language is strongly preferred.

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. The salary range for this position, if based in the US, is USD $150,000 – 165,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location and are not a direct translation from USD.