Position Summary

SJAC seeks a staff member with a deep understanding of human rights in the Syrian context to draft articles and reports based on primary documentation and communicate findings with policymakers.

General Duties and Responsibilities

Closely follow news from within Syria, including attending weekly documentation team calls
Collaborate with the Executive Director to select thematic topics relating to ongoing violations to prioritize publication
Review Arabic language interviews as well as open-source information related to prioritized violations, and work with documenters inside Syria to receiving additional information as needed.
Draft short articles and a quarterly report on human rights violations inside Syria, with support from the documentation team. Draft responses to requests for information from policymakers and government agencies.
Collaborate with partner organizations publishing on Syrian human rights documentation, ensuring that SJAC’s work is not duplicative and is creating added value.
Connect with policymakers in the U.S. and EU to disseminate SJAC’s recommendations and provide briefings on the current human rights situation in Syria.
Convene private round tables with stakeholders focused on priority issues.
Track and participate in global policy discussions on Syria and transitional justice, to identify opportunities to elevate SJAC’s goals and influence policy and decision making among governments.
Skills and Experience

University degree (advanced degree preferred) in human rights, law, international affairs, or another relevant field.
Knowledge of the Syrian conflict, associated human rights violations, and transitional justice processes.
3+ years of professional experience in research, policy and government affairs, or related fields.
English and Arabic (Syrian dialect) proficiency, written and spoken.
Pay and Benefits:

Salary: Salary will be dependent on the location in which a candidate is hired, based on education and experience within established bands of compensation. For SJAC’s DC office, starting salary will range between $70,000 and $90,000.

Other Benefits and/or Policies include:

The below describes SJAC’s benefits package in its DC office. Precise benefits will differ for remote employees.

SJAC has a hybrid work policy. While employees are occasionally expected to report to the office for in person events or meetings, they are otherwise free to split their working time between our DC office and their home within the Washington metropolitan area according to their preferences

Vacation Leave: 15 days in years 1-3 of employ; 20 days in years 4+; Flex Fridays, every other Friday
Family and Sick Leave: 10 days/year
Annual Holidays: At least 13 holidays including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Parental leave: 20 days of paid leave + 40 days of unpaid leave
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Savings and Retirement Plans: automatic 2% employer contribution, and up to 7% matching contribution
Pre-tax commuter benefits
Short-term disability and life insurance
Worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment insurance

Candidates should send their CV, cover letter, and a writing sample, subject line: Research & Policy Officer.