Human Rights Watch is looking for a Senior Researcher, Technology And Human Rights

Application Deadline: January 5, 2025

Human Rights Watch’s Technology and Human Rights (THR) team is seeking a highly qualified Senior Researcher to investigate, analyze, and advocate against human rights abuses facilitated by technology. The THR team, which is housed in the Technology, Rights, and Investigations (TRI) Division, investigates how companies, governments, and other powerful actors develop and use technology in ways that impact peoples’ rights globally. We conduct research that helps to establish and vigorously defend the rights, norms and rules that govern powerful technologies and their use.

The THR team’s work focuses on three key domains where technology has significant repercussions for rights everywhere: 1) the Digital Public Sphere, with work on challenging platform power, data exploitation, and other threats to democratic institutions and healthy civic spaces; 2) The Digital State, with work on ending tech-driven repression and exclusion from the provision of essential public services; and 3) the Digital Economy, with work on ending tech-facilitated labor abuses. Across all this work, the team aims to advance norms, laws, and regulations that increase transparency and accountability around how technology is used by governments, companies, and international organizations.

The Senior Researcher will collaborate with other team members in the THR team, based in multiple locations, as well as the Digital Investigations Lab, within the TRI Division, and colleagues in regional and thematic divisions, who research technology-related abuses, and other relevant departments of HRW, including media, legal and policy team, and the advocacy department. This full-time, permanent position will report to the Deputy Director of the Technology, Rights and Investigations Division who is based in New York, USA. The position may be based in any of the following HRW Offices: New York, Washington DC, Sao Paulo, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Amman, Nairobi, or Johannesburg. However, the successful candidate will have the option to work remotely.

Candidates from and with experience working in the global majority are strongly encouraged to apply. The anticipated start date of this position is April 1, 2025.

Responsibilities:

• Research, monitor and document human rights abuses related to human rights and technology in line with the three pillars of THR’s strategy, and HRW’s global strategy by collecting, analyzing and presenting information from a wide variety of sources including victims, witnesses, governments, local media, NGOs, journalists, companies, relevant experts and online (open source) information;

• Identify human rights abuses, policy trends and reform opportunities related to technology and the private sector’s role, and place abuses or potential for abuses within broader political, social and economic contexts. Develop intersectional analysis, paying particular attention to the impact on specific populations, such as women, racial and ethnic minorities, older people, LGBT people, human rights defenders, and people living in poverty;

• Develop a plan for strategic research and advocacy projects, in consultation with colleagues and partners, to change or prevent abusive government laws, policies and practices, and promote new laws or regulations that protect rights online; Press companies to end abusive practices and build human rights protections into their products, services and operations; Articulate how existing human rights standards should apply to emerging technologies;

• Write accurate, unbiased, comprehensive, and timely research products, media outputs and advocacy documents, including reports, op-eds, press releases, briefing memos, statements, testimony and other materials;

• Work collaboratively with an international team of researchers, media experts and advocates and contribute to a supportive and diverse team environment;

• Deliver outputs in a timely manner and be consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the team;

• Advise and support HRW colleagues regarding the technology-focused issues that they should cover, and review and edit the work they produce;

• Keep abreast of pertinent advocacy and policy developments and contribute to relevant internal HRW policy debates;

• Work with colleagues in the advocacy department to change or prevent abusive laws, policies, and practices, by governments and companies;

• Work with colleagues in the communications division to develop innovative multimedia and social media strategies to communicate our positions in clear, compelling and impactful ways;

• Build partnerships across key communities, including other human rights NGOs, groups representing vulnerable populations, data scientists, computer scientists, technologists, industry leaders and academics;

• Contribute to the shaping of public debates on technology around human rights internationally through clear and prompt responses to queries from policy makers, the media, and social media, and representing Human Rights Watch in public forums;

• Travel domestically and internationally, as required, to conduct research, media work, fundraising and advocacy;

• Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing events;

• Occasionally assist the Division and HRW’s Development and Outreach Department to conduct fundraising; and

• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Candidate Profile :

Candidates who are traditionally underrepresented in the technology and/or human rights sectors (such as people who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, migrants, people with disabilities, or people who have other related lived experiences) are enthusiastically encouraged to apply if they feel they have the ability to succeed in this role, even if they do not have all the skills and qualifications listed below.

Education:

An advanced degree in international relations, journalism, law, history or social sciences is preferred. Equivalent work experience will also be considered

Experience:

A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in human rights research related to technology and rights is required. Relevant experience may include, among other things, work as a researcher, journalist, or lawyer on issues related to technology; analysis and advocacy for nonprofit advocacy or impact litigation organizations; or work in government or the private sector on policies relating to technology and human rights.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge and experience researching the intersection of human rights and technology is required. Expertise on one or more of the following topics is desirable: internet infrastructure, platform accountability, commercial data exploitation, or labor rights in the tech sector.

• Commitment to understanding how technology can impact the rights of women, racial and ethnic minorities, children, older people, people with disabilities, people living in poverty and low-wage workers, and other populations whose rights may be disproportionately impacted by technology is required.

• Proven track record of producing timely and high-quality writing, research, analysis, and editing is required.

• Experience conducting challenging investigative research in multiple countries or regions is required, as is the ability to dig deep and tenacity in finding hard-to-get information, sources and records is required.

• Ability to quickly read up on and synthesize new information is required.

• Solid knowledge of research methods, and research design, specifically about researching large-scale socio-technical systems is required.

• Capacity to strategically plan and prioritize and to manage multiple, sometimes competing demands efficiently in a challenging, fast-paced environment under pressure are required.

• Strong communication in English, including public speaking skills and writing, is required; proficiency in other languages is highly desirable.

• Ability to present and defend complex technology-related issues and positions to officials in governments, companies, and other bodies and institutions is highly desirable.

• Experience conducting interviews with TV, radio, print, and other media is highly desirable.

• Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with colleagues, develop constructive relationships with NGO partners, and liaise with company and government officials are required.

• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds in a positive, collaborative, and inclusive environment and demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations are required.

Salary and Benefits:

HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance. HRW offers a relocation assistance package and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required; people of all nationalities are encouraged to apply. The salary range for this position if based in the US is USD 88,000-96,000. Salary ranges outside of the US vary based on location.

How to Apply:

Please apply by January 5, 2025, by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter and 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 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 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.