Associate Director, Research Training and Standards

This is a full-time position and will require some travel. The Associate Director, Research Training and Standards, will report to the Program Director, the department head who leads our human rights research teams, and work closely with subject matter experts in the Program Office, and with other departments, including Advocacy, Media, Security, Human Resources, and the Chief Technology Officer. A key partner will be the Associate Director of Learning & Development on the Human Resources team to ensure a consistent and integrated approach to training. 

Candidates with experience working in the Global South are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates located in Asia (including the Middle East), Africa or Europe, in particular those close to an HRW office, but candidates in any time zone will be considered.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Training Design and Delivery

• Build on existing plans and work with internal stakeholders to launch a mandatory ongoing research training program to be delivered in-person and online, synchronously and asynchronously.
• Assess HRW’s current research training curriculum and develop and implement plans to strengthen it.
• Design, coordinate and deliver onboarding research trainings twice per year for new staff and ongoing trainings to promote continuous learning.
• Coordinate and monitor follow-up training support to new staff members.
• Coordinate the researcher mentoring program as part of continuous learning, collaboration, and support.
• Coordinate and develop the internal roster of trainers, currently eight people, expanding it as necessary to ensure a diverse set of profiles and expertise.
• Identify and engage relevant external trainers; help staff find external training opportunities to advance their skills.
• Supervise the senior editor in their work running writing trainings and coordinating editing functions among research staff.
• Cultivate spaces for innovation in research methodologies.

Internal Partnerships

• Work with stakeholders to promote a culture of reflection, learning and professional development.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Learning and Development (L&D) on the Human Resources team to ensure organizational training alignment, curriculum management, cross-departmental coordination, and learning evaluation.
• Collaborate with our Digital Investigations Lab to ensure that staff are trained in the basics of digital research methodologies, and, with the full Technology and Rights division and Information Security team, develop standards for technical research.
• Collaborate with other departments and teams, such as the Global Strategy, Advocacy, Media, Collaboratory and Legal teams, to ensure that research training is change-oriented and supports the implementation of our Global Strategy.
• Work with the Associate Director of Learning and Development, Chief Information Officer, and others to develop plans and content for our Learning Management System

Research Standards

• Keep HRW’s research guidelines relevant and up to date.
• Follow developments and debates in human rights research methodologies and help HRW present its research methodology in public.
• In collaboration with the Program Director, Deputy Program Directors, Program Office Senior Officer and Senior Editor, assess capacity strengthening needs among research staff and develop and maintain initiatives to socialize research standards and respond to needs.
• Engage colleagues around a shared commitment to rigorous, impact-driven research methodologies and standards.
• Participate in fundraising activities as needed.
• Carry out other duties as required

QUALIFICATIONS:

• We welcome applications from people who can perform the essential functions of this role even if they do not meet all the desired qualifications – particularly if they are from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the human rights sector.
• Education: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent level of work experience in human rights, social science or other related fields.
• Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in human rights training, including research methodologies and other applied skills, training design and instruction or equivalent experience. Experience with designing and conducting online and hybrid trainings is advantageous.

Related Skills and Knowledge: 

• Deep knowledge of core human rights research methodologies is required.
• Familiarity with digital research methodologies, such as open-source techniques and quantitative methods is required.
• Experience in designing, coordinating, and delivering trainings for programmatic professionals from a wide range of identities, backgrounds, geographies, expertise, and tenures, both in-person and online, is required.
• Knowledge of diverse and up-to-date training methodologies and techniques, including ensuring that they are accessible, meet different learning needs, and create inclusive and intentional learning spaces is required.
• Fluency or near-fluency in English is required.
• A deep commitment to human rights, research accuracy and credibility, and building staff capacity is required.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including a high degree of self-awareness, and the ability to listen, assess, provide coaching and support, build trust, and model Human Rights Watch’s values is required.
• Strong organizational skills, including time and project management, coordination, people management, administration, and knowledge management is required.
• Comfort working in a diverse, international, and cross-cultural setting is required.
• Familiarity designing and developing learning courses using a Learning Management System or similar online platform is beneficial.