Director of Development and Outreach
The Development and Outreach Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for the position of Director, The Netherlands, to lead our fundraising and outreach efforts in Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands. The Director will oversee a small and dynamic team in the Amsterdam office and will report to the Managing Director of Development and Outreach for Northern and Central Europe, based in Zurich.
The successful candidate will mobilize support from high-level donors and prospects in the Netherlands, including the Netherlands Committee—a network of close supporters—at a truly critical time. The Director will be responsible for nurturing, stewarding, and growing HRW’s donor base and presence in close collaboration with the Amsterdam-based Development staff.
The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Amsterdam office three days a week, with the option to work remotely the rest of the week.
Responsibilities
- Develop and oversee the strategic plan, budget, and revenue forecast for the fundraising strategy, with a focus on Amsterdam and the Netherlands more broadly;
- Seek and secure philanthropic commitments from a portfolio of individual, trust, and foundation donors, prioritizing those with multi-year and six-figure giving capacities;
- Identify and develop strategic fundraising and outreach initiatives, fostering engagement and cultivating prospects with the potential to donate at the leadership donor level, including cultivation events to enhance program visibility and increase fundraising results;
- Work in collaboration with the leadership of The Netherlands Committee to implement initiatives aimed at maximizing fundraising results, including assisting the Amsterdam Development staff with the execution of a biannual fundraising event;
- In partnership with the Europe Institutional Giving Team, research, identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit prospective and existing foundations that have the capacity and interest to make six-figure donations to HRW;
- In partnership with the Senior Director of Planned Giving, educate donors about the option to also support HRW through a bequest;
- Promote the work of HRW to current and potential supporters;
- Achieve sustainable growth in line with the financial targets;
- Oversee income tracking, projections, expenditure budgets, event expenses, and revenue, ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately within the budget; and
- Perform any other duties as required.
Managerial Responsibilities
- Provide leadership, motivation, and mentorship to the Amsterdam Development team, setting clear expectations and performance objectives, and providing regular and constructive feedback;
- Foster an inclusive, creative, and positive work environment, encouraging diverse perspectives and participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, while proactively addressing biases, discrimination, and microaggressions;
- Model inclusive behavior and consistently uphold HRW's internal values; and
- Work with staff to develop initiatives aimed at building a movement and expanding partnerships with diverse clients, donors, stakeholders, and partners.
Qualifications
Education: A bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a relevant field, such as international relations, social sciences, or related studies, is required.
Experience: A minimum of ten years of fundraising experience with major and leadership-level donors, including at least five years of management experience, is required.
Related Skills and Knowledge
- Candidates must have a proven track record of creating and managing major and leadership gift programs, as well as extensive experience in building and maintaining high-level donor relationships and personally soliciting six-figure gifts.
- Proven experience leading and managing teams is required. Experience overseeing fundraising strategies for events is preferred.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in both Dutch and English, including strong presentation skills in both languages, are required.
- Proven experience in budgeting, revenue tracking, and forecasting is required.
- A strong commitment to human rights and/or international issues, along with the ability to represent and advocate for the organization’s mission and programs, is required.
- Strong technical skills, including experience with Salesforce or other relational databases, are highly desirable.
- Excellent interpersonal skills are required for effective collaboration within the organization and with external partners.
- An entrepreneurial mindset, along with self-motivation, independence, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a development team, is required.
- Willingness to travel locally and internationally as needed.
Other
This position will be required to work occasional nights and weekends to support fundraising events.
Salary and Benefits
HRW is looking for exceptional candidates and offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. HRW can provide a relocation assistance package and immigration support for this role if needed, and people of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Please apply immediately or byMay 15, 2025, byvisiting our online job portal and attaching a cover letter and a CV or resume. Please do not call or email us. 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 accommodations during the application process, please email recruitment@hrw.org. Due to the high volume of responses, applications submitted via email will not be accepted, and inquiries regarding the status of applications will not be answered.
Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse pool of applicants and encourage candidates from 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 forms of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and non-parents, the self-taught and university-educated, and from a wide range of socioeconomic 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.
