Associate Director, Development and Outreach

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH
Development and Outreach Department
Los Angeles Office (Santa Monica)
Deadline: April 12, 2026

The Development and Outreach Department of Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking applicants for the position of Associate Director to focus on fundraising and outreach events and initiatives in the Los Angeles area. This full-time position will be based in our Los Angeles office and will report to the Los Angeles Director in the Development and Outreach Department. 

This is a full-time position that will report to the Los Angeles Associate Director. The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Santa Monica office 4-5 days a week during busy season (around 8 months per year) but may have the option to work remotely 1-3 days during slower times. Some evening and weekend work will be required for events.

Responsibilities:

1. Work in partnership with the Los Angeles Director on the fundraising strategy and its implementation;  
2. Represent the work of HRW to existing and prospective supporters and maintain financial support by managing their own portfolio of donors and soliciting major gifts and general support funds;  
3. Collaborate with the team to expand and diversify support for the organization by researching, identifying, cultivating, servicing and soliciting new prospects, existing donors, and local Committee members;  
4. Supervise the Associate with the support of the City Director to oversee and lead fundraising, outreach and cultivation events in the city, including the annual Voices for Justice celebration, briefings, and private dinners and receptions;  
5. Oversee Committee communications and initiatives, including advocacy, outreach and fundraising projects, in close partnership with the Associate; 
6. Oversee and manage the development and implementation of a strategic plan for the Committee in conjunction with the Executive Committee;  
7. Manage the Committee and liaise with event consultants;
8. Oversee gift processing and donor support services in Salesforce, including but not limited to: mailings, gift tracking and acknowledgments;  
9. Oversee the maintenance of donor lists, fundraising reports, and office and event expenses;  
10. Oversee fundraising-specific team processes, including regular team meetings and prospect research;
11. Lead, motivate, and mentor direct-reports, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely constructive feedback, ensuring balanced workload, providing guidance on professional growth, and monitoring staff well-being as it pertains to stress and resilience issues and self-care; and
12. Perform other responsibilities as may be required.  

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in international relations, social sciences, communications/marketing, or equivalent work experience is required. 

Experience: A minimum of 7 years of donor management, philanthropy or fundraising experience and demonstrated success in managing large-scale events is required. 

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Demonstrated commitment to human rights issues and the capacity to master and represent the mission and programs of HRW are required.
2. Creativity, initiative, follow-through and excellent organizational skills are required.
3. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required.
4. Ability to effectively build donor and volunteer relationships is required.
5. Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with external partners are required. Track record of effective team work is highly desirable.
6. Ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work well under pressure are required.
7. Strong computer skills are required. Experience with Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, Canva, and knowledge of social media are highly desirable.

Other: Candidates should possess valid US work authorization and should not require sponsorship in the future; HRW cannot guarantee the ability to sponsor work authorization for this role. 

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. The salary range for this position is US $102,000 – 112,000.

How to Apply:  Please apply immediately or by April 12, 2026 by visiting our online job portal at http://careers.hrw.org and attaching a letter of interest and a CV or 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 if you require accommodations during the application process, 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.