Advocacy Director

Position Announcement: Advocacy Director, Hindus for Human Rights

Location: Washington, DC

Deadline to apply: January 15, 2021

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) is a young organization dedicated to defending human rights and religious freedom in the U.S., India, and other South Asian countries. We bring a progressive Hindu voice to advocacy with the U.S. government, international human rights organizations, and interfaith communities.

The guiding principles behind our mission are:

• Equality under the law of all citizens
• Social equality of all communities in public spaces
• Challenging oppression wherever it comes from, especially in the context of minority communities
• Speaking truth to power with fact-based information 

A full-time Advocacy Director in D.C. will play a central role in fulfilling that mission. 

Your Role:

You are going to be a pioneer in the world of D.C. advocacy, as there is a real hunger for a vibrant Hindu voice that challenges bigotry and oppression. HfHR has been energized by over eighteen months of great engagement with leaders in D.C and you will take us to a new level of efficacy and creativity. 

HfHR shapes narratives and engages with civic, religious, and thought leaders to make change possible. We want you to accelerate this work, shape new relationships, create content that can generate fresh conversations with allies and adversaries alike, and can create new constituencies of engaged, active stakeholders, especially in the Indian American community.

Your Responsibilities:

• Regularly engage with congressional offices and organize/participate in congressional briefings
• Engage with the Biden-Harris administration’s State Department, esp. with respect to India policy
• Provide regular written India related updates to lawmakers and the State Department
• Coordinate with the offices of the USCIRF and the State Department’s IRF Roundtable
• Extend your voice to local governments in their efforts to promote human rights and religious freedom
• Participate in interfaith groups and other alliances involved in policy-making advocacy
• Help provide a framework for a uniform and high quality HfHR communications strategy
• Regularly brief the HfHR board about your work progress

Your Skills:

You are professional, personable, innovative, open to critique, with the ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders. Your open-minded approach to situations, focusing on problem solving and collaboration, and a sense of humor are vital in creating a welcome space for HfHR in D.C. and elsewhere. 

Learning and communication are critical skills you bring. You obviously have excellent interpersonal skills, self-motivation, and a thriving passion for social justice. Your ability to lead a diverse portfolio of tasks is a critical strength. 

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor/Masters degree. Exposure to South Asia studies or international relations will be a plus.
• Minimum of 2 years experience working/volunteering for a political or issue-based campaign, in government, or leading strategic advocacy efforts.
• Working knowledge of the federal government and strong grasp of the political process. 
• Strong understanding of U.S. South Asia policy.
• Familiarity with Indian history and current events, and passion for HfHR’s mission.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite. Familiarity and comfort with social media platforms and web design.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Public speaking and presentation skills are a must. 
• Proficiency in one or more Indian languages an added plus.

Deliverables and Success Elements

• Influence a change in the direction of US-India policy, which gives importance to human rights and religious freedom
• Develop a good working relationship with various congressional committees and caucuses
• Establish a good reputation with the people and organizations that you deal with so they become dependent upon reliable and timely information that you provide
• Gradually replace the lone voice of the Hindu right in D.C. with HfHR’s alternative progessive Hindu voice

How to Apply 

• Send a cover letter explaining how you are well qualified for the position; a CV; an academic, journalistic, or policy writing sample; and three professional references to info@hindusforhumanrights.org before end of day Jan 15, 2020
• Salary range: $60K - $65K plus benefits, commensurate with experience
• Candidates must be based in Washington, DC, or willing to move there