Deputy Director, Arms

Deputy Director, Arms

The Crisis, Conflict and Arms (CCA) Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) documents, exposes, and seeks to prevent or end violations of human rights and the laws of war during armed conflicts and severe social or political unrest. The Arms Program within the division works to advance humanitarian disarmament and enhance protections for civilians from various weapons that are indiscriminate or inflict unnecessary harm. The Arms Program focuses its research and advocacy on the establishment, strengthening, implementation, and enforcement of international treaties and norms.

The CCA Division is seeking a Deputy Director for Arms to manage and lead the work of the Arms Program within the division. Key responsibilities will include coordinating a team of highly experienced Arms experts, joining Arms staff members in international advocacy related to disarmament norm-setting, and representing HRW on leadership committees of humanitarian disarmament campaigns. The Deputy Director for Arms will also help develop and implement the broader strategy of the division with an eye to Arms issues. The individual will ensure that CCA and HRW respond to conflicts and crises in timely, effective, and strategic ways that take into account Arms as well as other relevant issues.

The Deputy Director will oversee and support individuals who are often involved in stressful and disturbing work and who may be conducting research in high-risk security environments. The Deputy Director should help to ensure respect for security protocols; encourage resilience, well-being, and a healthy work / life balance; and work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the division and broader organization.

The full-time position will preferably be based in one of the following HRW offices : Amman, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Johannesburg, Nairobi, New York, So Paulo, Stockholm, Toronto, or Washington DC. This position reports to the Director of the Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division based in Washington, DC.

Responsibilities :

• Develop, oversee, and implement the Arms Program's strategy and identify innovative new opportunities and approaches to advance humanitarian disarmament and to prevent or restrict the use of weapons that inflict unnecessary harm to civilians, including related to emerging technologies.
• Lead HRW's continued high-level engagement in the international coalitions and networks focused on landmines, cluster munitions, explosive weapons, and killer robots, including by playing roles on governance bodies.
• Coordinate and participate actively in our advocacy and media work, especially during relevant treaty, convention, and declaration meetings, in order to create, strengthen, implement, and enforce humanitarian disarmament norms.
• Conduct rigorous reviews of the division's research products and other publications, ensuring that the highest research standards are adhered to while also working to improve the quality of the writing and serving as a sounding board for staff working on projects.
• Draft own opinion and analysis pieces as possible.
• Guide and advance HRW's broader work on crisis, conflict, and arms including by supporting with the design of strategic projects and work plans and by editing and reviewing different products.
• Act as a senior representative and advocate internally for Arms Program priorities, including by participating in various coordination meetings.
• Act as a senior spokesperson and liaise with external actors to advocate on the work of the division, including the Arms Program.
• Assist the Director in regularly monitoring the budget and ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately.
• Assist the Director in developing and implementing effective systems for team coordination and communication.
• Work with the Director and HRW's Development and Outreach Department in identifying and cultivating new fundraising opportunities for the division's work.
• Undertake other responsibilities as required.

Managerial Responsibilities :

Qualifications :

Education : An advanced (graduate) degree in law, international relations, journalism, social science or other relevant field, or equivalent work experience, is required.

Experience : A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant work experience with at least four (4) years in a management position is required.

Required Skills and Knowledge :

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 where we have the ability to do so if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply. If based in the United States, the salary range for this position is USD 121,000-133,000. Salary ranges outside of the United States vary based on location.

How to Apply : Please apply immediately or by November 2, 2025, by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter and resume. 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 a disability related accommodation, 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 based anywhere 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.

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