Associate Director, DEI & Culture Partner

FIXED-TERM, FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY

Associate Director, DEI & Culture Partner

Global Human Resources Division

Multiple Office Locations Considered

Application Deadline: 30 September, 2025

The Associate Director (AD) for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a critical position advancing our DEI strategy and fostering a culture of belonging, engagement, learning, and organization-wide collaboration on Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) DEI and Culture priorities. The AD will continually refine and implement our DEI strategy in collaboration with the Global Director of People & Culture and serve as trusted thought partner, advisor, and supporter of staff, managers, and senior leadership alike.

The AD will work closely with the People and Culture team to strengthen our practices and partner with the Associate Director of Learning & Development on developing and implementing DEI-related learning, resources, and coaching for staff, managers, and senior leaders. The AD for DEI drives staff engagement on DEI through collaborating with our DEI taskforce, establishing affinity spaces/employee resource groups, and serving as the point person for DEI-related questions and issues.

This is a one-year fixed-term position that will report to the Global Director of People & Culture and will be based in one of the following HRW offices: Chicago, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, or Washington, DC. The successful candidate may have the option to work remotely.

Responsibilities

1. Support the Director of People and Culture in the development of HRW’s DEI strategy by analyzing employee engagement data, working with key internal stakeholders to gather requirements, and synthesizing those into proposed strategies and projects plans.
2. Project manage the implementation of DEI initiatives, including monitoring their impact and iterating based on data;
3. Design, develop, and implement trainings and resources for staff and managers in partnership with the Learning & Development team, other internal stakeholders, and external consultants;
4. Partner with the People and Culture team leadership to integrate DEI best practices into core people-related processes (e.g. talent acquisition, performance management, total rewards;
5. Lead the design and execution of DEI-specific staff engagement initiatives such as inclusive observances and culture/pulse surveys;
6. Serve as a point of contact for managers and staff for guidance and support on DEI issues related to people processes, interpersonal communications, and team culture;
7. Partner with HRW’s DEI Taskforce and Global Staff Council to drive staff engagement on DEI;
8. Proactively identify DEI-related needs and opportunities in workflows and HRW’s culture, and work with relevant colleagues to resolve them;
9. Serve as a trusted advisor to departments and divisions to develop localized DEI strategies and implementation plans;
10. Partner with the People and Culture team, Internal Communications, and others to ensure that messaging is inclusive and culturally competent; and
11. Perform other duties as may be required.

Qualifications

Education: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience is required. 

Experience: A minimum of seven years of global experience and mid-to-senior level DEI or culture-related roles.

Related Skills and Knowledge

• Deep understanding of global and regional DEI practices, regulations, challenges, opportunities, and trends, including related to organizational culture, human resources, and learning.  
• Experience in developing and delivering DEI-related education, facilitating informal dialogues and learning spaces, and providing coaching and guidance.
• Experience with establishing, managing and/or supporting DEI councils, employee resource groups/affinity groups, and other staff engagement initiatives
• Experience incorporating employee engagement, diversity and inclusion and equality in all facets of work.
• Outstanding communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills across cultures, power dynamics, and modalities (remote/in-person).
• High emotional intelligence, integrity, and the ability to navigate sensitive topics with empathy, rigor, and discretion.
• Able to operate autonomy with judgement when to escalate issues.
• A global mindset and a commitment to HRW’s mission and human rights values.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers comprehensive compensation and benefits. 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 102,000 – 112,000.

How to Apply: Please apply by 30 September, 2025 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a letter of interest and CV or 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, 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 is an equal opportunity employer and 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 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.