CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY
Research Consultant, Gender Equality in Poland
Women’s Rights Division/LGBT Division
Poland
Application Deadline: July 6, 2022
The Women’s Rights Division and the LGBT Rights Program of Human Rights Watch (HRW) are seeking a Research Consultant to provide short-term support for its work on the rights of women and LGBT people in Poland. The Research Consultant will make key contributions to research and advocacy by HRW on the impact of government rhetoric and policies undermining gender equality, including through attacks on “gender ideology.” As well as assisting in organizing and conducting meetings and interviews with a range of stakeholders, the Research Consultant will play a pivotal role in monitoring and analyzing fast-moving legislative and policy developments. This is a part-time position for fifteen (15) hours a week and a fixed-term position for five (5) months, based in Poland. The research assistant reports to the Women’s Rights Division’s Senior Researcher on Europe and Central Asia, based in London (GMT/BST). The research assistant will work remotely and must be based in Poland.
Due to Covid-19, many of our global offices are currently closed or operating in reduced capacities. The successful candidate may be required to work remotely until offices fully re-open. We recognize that this moment, during the pandemic, is a uniquely difficult time for most people, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities, and we aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Provide research and advocacy assistance and administrative support to colleagues within the Women’s Rights Division and LGBT Rights Division with regards to work on Poland;
2. Develop contacts with activists, experts, officials and other local actors in Poland, including through use of pre-existing networks among local rights activists and organizations to expand HRW’s monitoring capabilities and access to information; establish and maintain contact with relevant organizations, activists and potential interviewees in Poland, including via e-mail, telephone and WhatsApp/Signal;
3. Facilitate meetings with NGOs, officials, and individuals able to provide information regarding human rights violations related to women’s and LGBT rights; conduct meetings as needed and with support and guidance from Senior Researchers in the Women’s and LGBT Rights Divisions;
4. Assist in monitoring and documenting developments and reforms related to women’s and LGBT rights and gender equality in Poland by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources including government agencies, authorities, local media, NGOs, journalists, social media, and online sources;
5. Conduct desk research to locate necessary reports and background information, especially in Polish, and provide overview or analysis of documents;
6. Assist the Senior Researchers in following up on specific cases of individuals who have experienced or are experiencing rights violations;
7. Under the guidance of the Senior Researchers, provide written analyses and write-ups of meetings and interviews, and, when appropriate, first drafts of literature review, policy briefs, letters, etc.;
8. Be a full partner with Women’s Rights Division and LGBT Rights Division colleagues in managing local logistical issues, such as finding local contacts, hiring drivers or organizing other transport, arranging meetings, and acting as interpreter as needed;
9. As appropriate, translate documents from Polish to English and from English to Polish and interpret for the Senior Researchers during meetings and interviews held in Polish;
10. Proofread translations of documents by other translators to ensure that all HRW documents produced in Polish for this project are polished, accurate, and up to HRW’s standards;
11. Potentially, security permitting, travel within Poland with colleagues, and possibly independently, to conduct research;
12. Support colleagues in planning and implementing virtual meetings and discussions on issues related to gender equality as needed.
13. Operate in compliance with organizational regulations and rules, including the policies of applicable employee agreements; and
14. Perform other tasks, as may be required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: A bachelor’s degree in law, journalism, social sciences, or studies relating to Poland and/or gender equality issues.
Experience: A minimum of one (1) year of relevant work experience conducting or assisting with qualitative or human rights-related research or documentation is required. Individuals with personal experience working on rights of women and LGBT people in Poland are strongly encouraged to apply.
Related Skills and Knowledge
1. A deep knowledge of issues pertaining to the rights of women and LGBT people in Poland. A network of contacts on this topic is a plus.
2. Experience navigating legal and government archives and conducting legal research and review of legal and policy documents.
3. Excellent oral and written communication skills in Polish and English. Fluency in other languages (especially Ukrainian) is beneficial.
4. Ability to multi-task effectively, including good planning and organizational skills and ability to work under pressure.
5. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively within HRW as well as with external partners; ability to interact and engage comfortably and respectfully with people of diverse ages, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations and gender identities, and other characteristics.
6. Self-motivation and the ability to take initiative, think creatively and problem-solve, and prioritize with minimal supervision.
7. Good judgment, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment on security issues.
8. Experience working for an international human rights organization is highly desirable.
Other: Candidates must possess valid Polish work authorization; we are unable to provide work visa sponsorship for this role.
Duration: This is a five month part-time (15 hours per week) position without the possibility of extension.
Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation.
How to Apply: Please apply by July 6, 2022 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attach a cover letter and resume/CV, preferably in PDF format. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
If you have difficulty completing your application submission, or if you require a disability-related accommodation to submit your application, please contact recruitment@hrw.org.
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.
