Senior Researcher, Israel/Palestine

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
SENIOR RESEARCHER, ISRAEL/PALESTINE
Middle East and North Africa Division
Multiple Locations Considered
Application Deadline: 26 September 2026

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a Senior Researcher who will document and analyze human rights abuses in Israel/Palestine and advocate for these abuses to end and be redressed. The MENA Division is part of the Program Department, which consists of  14 regional and thematic divisions. The MENA Division works to advance human rights in the region and conducts a wide range of activities, including investigation, report writing, advocacy, and media work. This position reports to a MENA Deputy Director based in Amman. This position will be based in one of HRW’s offices, preferably in the MENA region, but other European office locations will be considered. The successful candidate is expected to take up the role as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:  

1. Develop and implement a research and advocacy agenda that focuses on improving respect for human rights, including civil and political and social and economic rights, in Israel/Palestine;
2. Research, monitor and document human rights abuses and laws-of-war violations by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources including governments, local media, NGOs, survivors of abuses, witnesses, journalists, diplomats, security forces and others in the field;
3. Write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds, and submissions to international bodies to disseminate our research findings and policy recommendations for addressing human rights abuses;
4. Develop recommendations for rights improvements; devise and implement national, regional, and international advocacy strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices;
5. Place human rights and humanitarian law issues within the broader political, social, economic, and historical context and present these concerns to Israeli, Palestinian and foreign government officials, armed groups (to the extent possible), key stakeholders, , inter-governmental agencies, public forums, and the media to promote civilian protection and human rights reforms; 
6. Project Human Rights Watch’s concerns into public debates to generate tangible pressure on human rights abusers and to find innovative approaches in light of the obstacles and resources available;
7. Respond to and anticipate news events in order to press human rights issues; assess when and where to make public interventions such as op-eds; and think creatively about using multimedia and social media to communicate our positions in clear and compelling ways and to advance advocacy; 
8. Conduct media interviews and high-level advocacy on Human Rights Watch’s research findings and recommendations with officials, diplomats, and others;
9. Contribute to internal HRW policy debates on issues relevant to Israel/Palestine;
10. Respond promptly to queries from the media, public, and colleagues in the human rights community and take initiative to project concerns in public debate;
11. Work closely with NGOs and other human rights organizations to ensure that HRW’s work complements and enhances their own work;
12. Liaise effectively with HRW staff in multiple locations throughout the world to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;
13. Oversee the work of junior researchers and research assistants, participate in security meetings, and edit reports and other material by other researchers and assist and advise them on documentation work;
14. Lead, motivate, and mentor direct-reports, including by communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely constructive feedback, ensuring a balanced workload, providing guidance on professional growth, and monitoring staff well-being as it pertains to stress and resilience issues and self-care; 
15. Assist the Deputy Director, MENA Division, and HRW’s Development and Global Initiatives Department in conducting fundraising;
16. Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events;
17. Travel domestically and overseas, as required, to conduct field work and advocacy meetings when necessary;
18. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the MENA division and wider Program Department; 
19. Cover research and advocacy issues on other MENA countries in support of MENA division’s broader strategy; and
20. Perform other tasks as may be required. 

Qualifications:  

Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, Middle Eastern studies, history, or social sciences or equivalent work experience is required. 

Experience: A minimum of seven years of experience working on human rights issues or humanitarian law, ideally in the Middle East and/or North Africa, is required.

Related Skills and Knowledge: 
1. Demonstrated ability to identify, research, analyze, and effectively communicate important human rights developments in Israel/Palestine and the broader MENA region is required.
2. Demonstrated ability to conduct interviews sensitively with a wide range of people, including survivors of and witnesses to rights violations, is required.
3. Ability to identify and advise on strategies to conduct research and advocacy is required.
4. Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights and familiarity with international human rights law and international humanitarian law is required, particularly as it relates to Israel/Palestine and developments in the MENA region.
5. Knowledge of and experience working on rights issues relating to the Israel/Palestine context, including civil and political rights, social and economic rights, business and human rights, rule of law, and crises and conflicts are required.
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including dynamic public speaking skills and the ability to write accurate, persuasive, well-organized, analytical, and timely documents, is required. Proficiency in at least one language relevant to the Israel/Palestine context is highly desirable, including Arabic and Hebrew.
7. Ability to build and sustain partnerships with human rights, community, and regional organizations on shared goals and objectives is required. 
8. Interpersonal skills in order to work positively and collaboratively within HRW as well as with national partners, government officials, media, and other external partners from diverse backgrounds are required.
9. Demonstrated ability to think strategically about the global and national media and policy environments and how to use the media and electronic media to further advocacy goals is desirable.
10. Ability to maintain contacts and meet with officials and experts addressing human rights in Israel/Palestine is required.
11. Ability to multi-task effectively, including good planning and organizational skills and an ability to work under pressure are required.

Salary and Benefits:  HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. HRW offers a relocation assistance package and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization (where possible), if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 26 September 2026 by visiting our online job portal at https://www.hrw.org/careers and attaching a letter of interest and resume or CV, preferably as PDF files. 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 [email protected]. 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 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.
 
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.