Guatemala Human Rights Commission

Director of Outreach and Development

The Director of Outreach and Development position is a Co-Director position, responding directly to the Board of Directors. The position incorporates fundraising, management, and outreach to our grassroots base and allies so that we amplify our advocacy work and increase our support for human rights defenders in Guatemala.

Our work

GHRC analyzes the structural causes of human rights violations and the impact those abuses have on the population, with a particular focus on human rights defenders, women, and other vulnerable communities. We provide reports and educational materials to the international community related to human rights in Guatemala and offer ways in which allies can effect positive change. We advocate for government policies in Guatemala and the United States that promote human rights, protect those Guatemalans striving to uphold those rights, and contribute to positive, systemic change. We also provide accompaniment and support to human rights defenders and indigenous communities threatened or attacked for their work in defense of human rights.

Our current areas of focus include militarization; women’s rights; truth, justice and historic memory; criminalization and impunity; and access to land and natural resources.

GHRC is based in Washington, DC and has an office in Guatemala City. The Director of Outreach and Development will work from the DC office.

Primary duties:

Fundraising

• Produce and disseminate three major grassroots fundraising appeals a year (spring, early fall, and late fall/end of year)
• Identify new likely donors, both individual and institutional
• Develop, maintain, and adhere to a grant proposal schedule
• Write grant proposals and submit necessary reporting
• Cultivate dynamic relationships with major donors
• Develop and implement creative fundraising strategies, including regular communications with our base of supporters
• As conditions permit, organize fundraiser events (at least 2 per year, to coincide with Guatemala staff or defender visits) and organize annual Alice Zachmann Human Rights Award event.

Management/Administration

• Recruit and supervise interns and volunteers
• Prepare monthly financial reports for the board of directors
• Ensure payment of bills
• Manage/oversee accounting
• Ensure that supporter database is kept current
• Send thank you letters and acknowledgements of donations to GHRC donors
• Provide information and documentation as requested by the accountant, bookkeeper, auditor and/or board treasurer
• Ensure timely filing of all DC and federal statements, including the payment of payroll taxes and completion of Form 990 and any other relevant DC, state, or federal requirements

Communications and Outreach        

• Develop and implement a plan of strategic outreach to increase the impact and reach of our work
• As conditions permit, and in coordination with the Director of Advocacy, serve as a spokesperson at pertinent events to raise the visibility of GHRC
• Participate occasionally in relevant coalitions working on human rights
• Organize, promote, and participate in occasional webinars and other online events
• With the assistance of volunteers, interns, and the Director of Advocacy, update and maintain the website and social media accounts
• In coordination with the Director of Advocacy, assist in preparing and disseminating  regular communications to GHRC’s base of supporters, highlighting GHRC’s work and helping to engage supporters in meaningful action
• Depending on conditions, recruit participants for delegations of US-based activists to Guatemala and help arrange logistics, coordinating with staff in Guatemala
• Depending on conditions, organize meetings, public events, and logistics for GHRC partners visiting Washington
• Depending on conditions, organize and help lead speaking tours in the US by partner human rights defenders

Required Qualifications

Basic knowledge of accounting principles (knowledge of Quickbooks is a plus!)

Excellent writing and interpersonal skills

Proficiency in Spanish

Demonstrated commitment to human rights and social justice issues

Organizational skills, including close attention to detail

Ability to work well as part of a team in a small, fast-paced office

Ability to take direction from the Board of Directors

Familiarity with current office technology and computer programs

The ideal candidate will have experience in writing grant proposals,  exposure to human rights work, experience living or working in Latin America, a successful record as a fundraiser, and copy editing, social media, and website management skills.

Salary: $57,000

Excellent benefits include 4 weeks paid vacation, 12 days sick leave and 9 paid federal holidays per year
Paid maternity/paternity leave
Employer-provided health insurance
3% employer retirement match after 1 year of employment

To apply, please send a cover letter, writing sample, and resume to board@ghrc-usa.org.

Internships

The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA (GHRC) offers unpaid fall, spring and summer internships. We are regularly seeking interns to work with our Washington, DC and Guatemala City offices. Interns are integral to our work, providing substantive support to our publications, research on key human rights topics and program and campaign development. Depending on their interests, additional tasks may include translation and editing, speaker tours and delegation organizing, monitoring of the Guatemalan press and assisting staff with affidavits for political asylum cases. Interns are expected to become full staff members during their time with us, including facilitating and taking notes during meetings and assisting with general office duties. The minimum internship length is three months, and interns are asked to commit a minimum of 20 hours per week, preferably in the morning and early afternoons.

For information on applying for an internships, please click here.