Law and Security Program Director

Washington, D.C. or New York Office

For more than 30 years, Human Rights First has worked in the United States and abroad to create a more secure and humane world by advancing justice, human dignity and respect for the rule of law. Human Rights First believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence.

Human Rights First protects people at risk: refugees who flee persecution, victims of crimes against humanity or other mass human rights violations, victims of discrimination, human rights advocates who are targeted for defending the rights of others, and those whose rights are eroded in the name of national security.  Human Rights First is practical and effective. We advocate for change at the highest levels of national and international policymaking. We seek justice through the courts. We raise awareness and understanding through the media. We build coalitions among those with divergent views. And we mobilize people to act.

Almost immediately after the events of September 11, 2001, Human Rights First began working to ensure that civil liberties and human rights were not compromised in the rush of fear and anger that followed the attacks. As the magnitude of this work became clear, we designed a permanent Law and Security program to address areas in which counterterrorism laws and policies violate or erode human rights. The goal of our Law and Security program is to challenge these laws and policies and, more broadly, to promote a greater understanding of and respect for human rights in national security policy, through a combination of policy-relevant research, analysis, and advocacy. Drawing on the insights of experts in law and security from diverse backgrounds and across the political spectrum, we are committed to promoting a U.S. security policy that operates within the rule of law.

Over the last 8 years, Human Rights First has become one of the leading policy advocacy organizations working in this field.  One of the most notable features of our advocacy has been our work with retired military leaders and other recognized experts on national security and law enforcement matters. Over the last several years, Human Rights First mobilized a group of more than 40 retired senior military officers to speak out against torture and official cruelty. Many of these generals and admirals stood with President Obama as he signed executive orders to end inhumane treatment and close Guantanamo. Human Rights First has also brought together former federal prosecutors and experienced interrogators to join forces with us to press for policy changes aimed at increasing reliance on the federal courts to prosecute those accused of terrorism-related crimes. In addition, we have engaged more broadly in a public education campaign aimed at changing the way torture is portrayed in popular culture, including on television shows such as “24.” This is part of our broader effort to build a strong bipartisan consensus against torture and official cruelty.

The director of the Law and Security program will be responsible for conceiving of, executing and managing the work the organization does to ensure that civil liberties and universal human rights are protected in the context of counter-terrorism strategies pursued by states, including the United States.

The Law and Security program director reports to the director of Policy and Programs. He/she will work in regular and close consultation with the Communications and Development departments. The program director will be responsible for designing and overseeing investigative reporting projects, legal and policy analysis, targeted advocacy, and communication with policy makers, security officials, the media, experts and popular audiences. He/she will supervise and develop capabilities of staff and consultants working on these efforts.

Primary responsibilities will include:

Leadership and Program Development and Direction

• Lead and direct the Law and Security program activities, staffing, and operations.
• Set program objectives and priorities and develop projects and activities based on an analysis of opportunities where Human Rights First can make a unique, recognizable and meaningful impact on states’ approaches to countering terrorism.
• Develop concrete and practical policy recommendations for ensuring that national security policies and practices are in conformance with international legal standards; develop and implement strategies to advance those recommendations at the international, regional and national levels.
• Define and develop a strong public profile for Human Rights First’s work in this area, including the production of news generating reports and materials and the development of strategies aimed at educating and engaging the U.S. public with respect to these issues, in close consultation with Human Rights First’s Communications department.
• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships, coalitions, and partnerships to enhance the scope and effectiveness of program efforts, including regular outreach to military, the intelligence community, law enforcement, government, Congress, press, international bodies, legal professionals and academics and expert consultants.
• Develop and implement projects and activities with former military leaders, interrogators, prosecutors and national security policymakers in order to advance program goals.
• Develop an annual plan for the program, and work plans for its staff, ensuring that program activities are result-oriented and advance Human Rights First’s overall goals, and set clear program performance objectives linked to program and annual plans.
• Monitor and identify new trends and developments regarding issues at the core of current program concerns and in emerging issues at the intersection of law and security, in order to identify emerging opportunities for impact.

Research, Policy Analysis and Advocacy

• Lead program efforts to make significant, regular and substantial contributions to the debates on these issues through ground-breaking field and investigative reports, specific and practical policy recommendations, written products that generate media, and public attention; participation in carefully targeted and strategic litigation (including occasional amicus briefs); and communicating sophisticated and pragmatic legal and policy analysis to a wide range of audiences including senior decision makers, the media and both professional and popular audiences.
• Serve as a public spokesperson for Human Rights First on issues related to national security and human rights to a variety of professional and general audiences, including the press.
• Serve as an advocate for Human Rights First with all branches of the federal government, international bodies, the media, and professional and other public audiences.

Management, Program Administration, and Organization

• Recruit and effectively manage a team of 4-5 highly skilled professionals between the NY and DC offices; define and oversee the full scope of program work; delegate tasks and assignments; foster teamwork, collaboration, and innovation; inspire excellent performance.
• Mentor and develop staff by setting clear expectations and work standards; provide needed information, resources, and tools for skill development; and actively work with staff to review and revise research, writing, and advocacy projects.
• Develop and manage the annual Law and Security program budget, track financial performance, and adjust spending as necessary.
• Ensure that the Law and Security program structure and staffing are aligned with Human Rights First goals, strategies and expectations.
• Work closely with Human Rights First’s Development department to identify sources of funding for Law and Security program work, support fundraising efforts through grant writing and editing, and outreach to key donors and foundations to ensure long-term sustainability of the Law and Security program advocacy activities as well as public advocacy campaigns associated with it.
• Engage and work closely with Human Rights First’s Communications department to further develop Human Rights First’s website’s coverage of these issues.

Candidates must have the following qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills; demonstrated abilities to translate highly technical material for a variety of audiences and effectively edit the written work of others.
• Proven ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure; to work successfully across organization lines and with a diverse team of colleagues; to work in a variety of U.S. and international settings (including governmental, legal, advocacy and the media).
• Strong strategic, organizational and analytical skills; good judgment; a high degree of initiative; and the desire and ability to thrive in a demanding, fast-paced, multi-taskingprofessional environment. 
• Law degree and significant knowledge of relevant U.S. law, international law and enforcement mechanisms; demonstrated excellence in policy and legal analysis; familiarity with the legal and political developments relevant to the human rights impact of national security policy and practices.
• Knowledge and experience in U.S. government policy development and decision making, and in the workings of one or more branches of the federal government; sound policy judgment.
• Substantial, successful leadership experience in the management of a team of highly skilled professionals, including in setting department direction, and organizing, delegating and managing the work of others.
• Excellent interpersonal skills

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• Fundraising experience including a demonstrated ability to develop fundraising proposals and budgets and to cultivate relationships with individual donors.
• Strong professional profile, credibility and experience in making or influencing government policies and practices in the areas of human rights, national security, and counterterrorism.
• Experience working with the press to achieve advocacy goals.
• Judicial clerkship, law review, or comparably significant experience in legal scholarship.
• Advanced masters of law degree in appropriate public international law sphere, or other documented knowledge of international human rights or humanitarian law.
• Extensive public speaking experience in domestic and international settings.
• Significant international work and competence in at least one foreign language.

SALARY: Competitive, Excellent benefits.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Cover letter & resume
• Names and contact details for three (3) references
• Three (3) writing samples

TO APPLY: send materials to settleson@verizon.net, subject line: HRF, CODE 000

Only selected applicants will be contacted for phone or in person interviews. NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.

HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.  WE CONSIDER APPLICANTS FOR ALL POSITIONS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, CREED, GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, MARITAL OR VETERAN STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR ANY OTHER LEGALLY PROTECTED STATUS.
www.HumanRightsFirst.org