Legal & Policy Officer, MENA Region

About the Human Rights Foundation

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Our mission is to ensure that freedom is preserved and promoted worldwide. We seek, in particular, to sustain the struggle for liberty in those areas where it is most under threat.

HRF produces the Oslo Freedom Forum, an annual human rights conference in Norway. For more information on HRF and its work, please visit our website at www.hrf.org. To learn more about the Oslo Freedom Forum, please visit www.oslofreedomforum.com

Position Summary:

The Legal & Policy Officer, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, reports to the Director of Policy and Research and provides support for the planning and execution of the organization’s research initiatives, legal cases, campaigns, advocacy, and events as they pertain to the MENA region. This individual works closely with various internal departments and external partners to help ensure adherence to the organization’s mission and goals for the region. Additionally, this role interacts with many HRF programs, projects, and events such as but not limited to: HRF’s Political Regime Research Project, Impact Litigation, Sportwashing, Art in Protest, and the Oslo Freedom Forum in relation to the MENA region. This position requires knowledge and demonstrated interest in human rights, democracy, and a deep familiarity with the MENA region.

Responsibilities and Expectations:

Specific duties include, but may not be limited to...

• Proposing and spearheading MENA-region campaigns, programs, research, and writing, including reports, policy notes/academic articles, op-eds, petitions, Universal Periodic Reviews, and legal petitions;
• Acting as a spokesperson for the organization’s work on the MENA region
• Assisting with speaker and panel coordination, including award nomination (Maseko and Havel Prizes) and guiding talk development for the Oslo Freedom Forum with special attention to the MENA region;
• Supporting HRF’s political regime research project team on the MENA region by reviewing summaries and full reports;
• Collaborating with Freedom Fellows, grant recipients, and other community members toward executing public events, campaigns, and projects as it pertains to ongoing MENA region developments.
• Building and managing a team to execute HRF’s work on the MENA region in the long term

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• Education: An undergraduate degree and/or master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies, History, Human Rights, International Relations, Political Science or a related field is required.
• Mid-level experience working on the MENA region is required.
• An understanding of the non-profit space in the MENA region and the human rights situation and geopolitics of the region is required
• Exposure to democratization and authoritarianism-related field is strongly preferred
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
• Professional experience with social science research methods is a plus.
• Language Skills: Arabic is required and French and/or Farsi is a plus.
• Strong time management and leadership skills
• Strong communication skills
• Detail-oriented
• Strong social media skills preferred

Compensation

$75,000–$90,000 per year, commensurate with experience

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by emailing their application materials to jobs@hrf.org.

Please include a resume/CV, cover letter, and 1–2 writing samples demonstrating your MENA region expertise.