Job Description

Officer, General Counsel's Office

Join to apply for the Officer, General Counsel's Office role at Human Rights Watch.

This range is provided by Human Rights Watch. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$66,000.00/yr - $68,000.00/yr

Location

Washington, DC

Application Deadline

January 27, 2026

Responsibilities

General Counsels Office (60%)

• Provide administrative and paralegal assistance to the GC office and support the offices professional positions. Administrative responsibilities include, but are not limited to, coordinating meetings, managing calendars, assisting with travel arrangements and follow-up, recording and processing divisional finances, monitoring tasks and timelines, taking minutes at meetings, and processing mail;
• Create and maintain filing and knowledge management systems to organize and track legal information, including for international and domestic litigation;
• Support GC attorneys in fielding legal questions from HRW staff;
• Assist HRW staff with legal compliance and policy requirements, including sanctions and lobbying reporting, copyrights, and other matters;
• Provide support on the legal registration of HRWs international offices and affiliates;
• Contribute to the monitoring and protection of HRWs trademarks and other intellectual property;
• Assist with research into a variety of legal and programmatic topics, such as intellectual property law, and federal and state statutes, regulations and case law;
• Draft and edit legal correspondence, legal applications, contracts, memoranda, and other documents, and prepare presentations;
• Support HRWs compliance efforts with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and global privacy laws;
• Assist with developing and maintaining HRWs pro bono legal counsel network and liaise with outside counsel;
• Coordinate key legal services for HRWs global staff, including training programs;
• Assist HRW management in collective bargaining matters;
• Recruit and coordinate services from legal volunteers and interns;
• Carry out special projects and other duties as required.

Washington Office Administration (20%)

• Ensure the smooth and effective functioning of the Washington DC office; handle all office maintenance and facilities issues; liaise with the landlord on issues relating to the premises;
• Maintain and ensure staff compliance with office security protocols and staff training; ensure office safety standards are in compliance with HRW policies, landlord requirements and local regulations; administer local instance of the office access control system and video surveillance system;
• Provide administrative and operational support to the office, including processing visitors, supporting events held in the office, and maintaining records;
• Conduct the onboarding, orientation and departure of local staff, fellows, consultants and interns related to DC office protocols;
• Occasionally help set up for events at the DC office during after work hours;
• Carry out other duties as required.

Qualifications

Education: A bachelors degree, or equivalent working experience, is required.

Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience is required. Prior experience in a legal office setting, including paralegal and administrative experience, is highly desirable.

• Outstanding organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail are required.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, handle sensitive information and security matters is required.
• Research and analytical skills are required.
• Sound judgment, and an ability to problem-solve are required.
• Intellectual curiosity, an eagerness to take on responsibilities, and an ability to self-teach new topics are required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required; proficiency in other language is a plus.
• Interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively with HRWs talented, multi-national and diverse staff, as well as with external partners, are required.
• Self-motivation and an ability to prioritize tasks with minimal supervision, work well under pressure, and manage multiple priorities while working effectively toward deadlines are required.
• Ability to work well independently as well as function as a member of a team is required.
• Proficiency in various computer packages, including MS Office applications, and ability to quickly learn other applications 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. The salary range for this position is USD 66,000 68,000.

How to Apply

Please apply immediately or by January 27, 2026, 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 to submit your application, 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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

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