Human Rights Watch is looking for an Associate Director, Special Projects

Application Deadline: January 6, 2025

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking a Associate Director, Special Projects to support the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) in managing projects that impact the work performed both by the teams under the CFO (Financial Operations, Financial Planning & Analysis, Global Accounting, General Counsel, Information Technology and Information Security) as well as across other departments to facilitate the timely flow of information and alignment of necessary inputs.  These include documenting and revising key processes and  internal controls both within the Finance and Accounting teams and cross organization processes, as well as working closing with the Finance, Accounting, Development and Information Technology teams to support projects to better leverage the systems (NetSuite, Salesforce, Concur, etc.) that we use so as to improve and streamline our financial reporting.

This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer and will manage various initiatives and work closely with key stakeholders to drive projects forward in line with organizational and departmental goals.

The successful candidate may have the option to work remotely and will be based near one of the following of HRW’s major offices that allow for easy collaboration with colleagues in Africa, Europe, and the East Coast of the United States: New York, Washington DC, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Nairobi, or Johannesburg.

Responsibilities

1. Liaise with the CFO and senior leadership to identify the priority initiatives and in identifying effective approaches to implement these;

2. Be able to provide input and/or represent finance colleagues’ during project lifecycle;

3. Facilitate cross-functional and cross-departmental projects. Some example projects include, but are not limited to: developing and documenting a procurement process and coordinating with the IT team on the integration of financial technology systems (such as NetSuite) with fundraising technology (Salesforce);

4. Lead teams in developing project plans, including goals, objectives, milestones, timelines, budgets and resource allocation;

5. Lead and manage special projects from inception through completion to ensure that they are delivered on time, within scope and within budget;

6. Support project teams where necessary including but not limited to coordinating meetings, gathering documentation and documenting required next steps;

7. Identify key risks to achieving project objectives, and communicate to the project lead and/or CFO;

8. Ensure timely and effective communication including status, bottlenecks and risks;

9. Provide regular status meetings and reporting to senior management on key projects;

10. Identify and document lessons learned and share these with relevant stakeholders; and

11. Perform other tasks as may be required.

Qualifications

Education:

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in finance, business administration, project management or a related field is required.

Experience:

A minimum of seven years of relevant project management experience is required.  Prior experience working in nonprofit/NGO finance is preferred.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Experience managing cross-departmental projects from inception to completion is required;

2. Leadership skills and the ability to manage with influence rather than authority is required.

3. Deep experience working with, or managing projects with, financial and operational teams.

4. Deep experience in either Accounting or Financial Planning & Analysis

5. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities are required. Experience communicating and reporting out to senior leadership is required. 

6. Time management skills, and the ability to prioritize tasks while maintaining attention to detail, are required.

7. Self-motivation and the ability to take initiative, prioritize with minimal supervision, and work independently as well as function as a member of a team are required.

8. Effective oral and written communications skills in English are required.

9. Excellent computer knowledge, including advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel is required. Proficiency in project management software is preferred.

10. Ability to work well under pressure while juggling multiple tasks simultaneously is necessary.

11. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required.

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 are able to do so, if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply. If this position is based in the United States, the salary range will be USD 102,000 – 112,000.

How to Apply

Please apply immediately or by January 6, 2025 by visiting our online job portal at 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 a disability-related 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.