Human Rights Watch Is Hiring an Associate Director, Audience Engagement in Europe

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking an experienced communications and digital media professional to join its Audience Engagement Division as an Associate Director, Audience Engagement.

The position is a senior role within HRW’s Communications Department and can be based in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, or Stockholm. The successful candidate must live within commuting distance of one of these offices and be willing to work from the office when required.

A senior role focused on digital audiences

The Associate Director will work closely with the Director of Audience Engagement to develop and implement an ambitious, data-driven global audience engagement strategy.

The role will focus on expanding the reach and impact of HRW’s investigations, reports and campaigns across multiple platforms, including social media, newsletters, podcasts, websites and other digital channels.

A major part of the position will involve developing HRW’s emerging audience insights function. The successful candidate will help the organization better understand its audiences and identify which content, platforms and technologies are generating deeper engagement and greater impact.

Key responsibilities

The Associate Director will support the development of HRW’s cross-channel audience engagement strategy and identify opportunities to strengthen the organization’s digital presence.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing audience engagement strategies across multiple digital channels.
• Using audience research, analytics and experimentation to inform communication and editorial decisions.
• Identifying opportunities to improve audience journeys and engagement.
• Supervising the Audience Insights Manager and other members of the Audience Engagement team.
• Deputizing for the Director of Audience Engagement when required.
• Helping ensure digital outreach supports HRW’s advocacy and fundraising objectives.
• Embedding audience insights, measurement and experimentation into communications strategy.
• Working with content and social media teams on creative production, design and video.
• Supporting the development and effective use of digital products across HRW’s multilingual websites and social media channels.
• Developing copy and content ideas in partnership with the Associate Director, Social Media.
• Managing agencies, freelancers and other vendors, as well as associated budgets.
• Overseeing the promotional lifecycle of major digital products, from user-journey mapping through production and performance analysis.
• Supporting the measurement and evaluation of major HRW products and campaigns.
• Helping senior leaders, program teams and donors understand audience opportunities and best practices.
• Representing Human Rights Watch at relevant conferences and events.

Qualifications and experience

Human Rights Watch is looking for candidates with significant experience in digital communications and audience engagement.

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in journalism, communications, international relations, media innovation, marketing, social sciences or a related field is required.

Candidates should have at least seven years of experience in areas such as:

• Digital strategy
• Digital campaigns
• Social media
• Digital communications
• Digital marketing
• Audience analytics
• Data visualization and insights

Experience with digital tools such as Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Sprout Social is desirable.

Candidates should also have experience with project management and platforms such as Asana, Monday.com or similar tools, as well as experience working with and negotiating with vendors and sales representatives.

A background in copywriting, creative direction or design would be an advantage.

Strong interpersonal and influencing skills are essential. Fluency in an additional language is desirable, particularly French, German or Spanish.

Work authorization requirements

Applicants seeking to be based in the Netherlands or Sweden must have valid authorization to work in the country where they wish to be employed.

The position offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits.

How to apply

Applications are being accepted until the position is filled, and HRW encourages candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Applicants should submit a resume, preferably as a PDF, through the official Human Rights Watch careers portal.

Human Rights Watch Careers

Instead of a traditional cover letter, candidates are required to submit a short assessment of no more than 400 words.

The assessment should address two questions:

1. What are the most relevant skills you would bring to the Associate Director, Audience Engagement role?
2. How would you promote two Human Rights Watch articles across social media platforms, newsletters and the HRW website?

The assessment must be submitted together with the candidate’s resume as a PDF file.

HRW states that only complete applications will be reviewed and that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Application submissions by email will not be accepted.

Human Rights Watch emphasizes diversity

Human Rights Watch says diversity is an important part of its organization and encourages candidates from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.

The organization states that it 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.

The organization is known internationally for its in-depth human rights investigations, reporting and advocacy campaigns aimed at influencing governments and international institutions.

For professionals with a strong background in digital communications, journalism, social media, audience analytics and online engagement, the position offers an opportunity to work on global human rights issues while helping shape how one of the world’s best-known human rights organizations reaches and engages audiences around the world.

https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/humanrightswatch/jobs/8721078002