Staff Positions –
GHRC/USA seeks Director of Outreach and Development
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 women and 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.
Our human rights work is broadly focused, incorporating indigenous rights, environmental rights, and the impact of international corporate actions. Guatemala’s indigenous peoples constitute the majority of the total population and have preserved their many indigenous languages, religion, culture, and art. Yet they suffer the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in the hemisphere, second only to Haiti. In rural areas, the signs of severe malnutrition are prevalent. Early efforts at government reforms were met with a violent and notorious CIA-sponsored coup in 1954, which placed the military in power and spawned more than 40 years of internal conflict. According to the UN-sponsored Truth Commission’s report, Guatemalan state forces were responsible for 93 percent of the human rights violations, including systematic torture and genocide. The Guatemalan army carried out 660 massacres that wiped out entire Mayan villages. Now large international corporate interests continue to seize rich ancestral lands and destroy them with mining, hydroelectric projects, African palm plantations, and other large-scale projects. The United States continues to work closely with the pro-military government.
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 and can work remotely as health conditions dictate.
Position description
Fundraising
Develop and implement effective fundraising strategies
- Produce and mail out at least three appeals a year (spring, early fall, and late fall/end of year)
- Meet with major donors
- Identify new likely donors, both individual and institutional
- Develop, maintain, and adhere to a grant proposal schedule
- Write grant proposals and submit any necessary reporting
- As conditions permit, organize fundraiser/friendraiser events (at least 2 per year, to coincide with Guatemala staff or defender visits) and organize the annual Alice Zachmann Human Rights Award event.
Communications and Outreach
- As conditions permit, serve as a spokesperson at events to raise the visibility of GHRC
- Participate in relevant coalitions working on human rights
- Organize, promote, and participate in webinars and other online events
- Update and maintain website, manage blog, Twitter, and other social media accounts
- Send out weekly communications to GHRC’s base of supporters, highlighting GHRC’s work and engaging supporters in meaningful action
- Depending on conditions, recruit participants for delegations to Guatemala and help arrange logistics, coordinating with staff in Guatemala
- Depending on conditions, organize meetings, public events, and logistics for human rights defenders visiting Washington
- Depending on conditions, organize and lead speaking tours in the US by partner human rights defenders
Management
- Recruit and supervise interns and volunteers
- Prepare monthly financial reports for the board and prepare quarterly financial statements
- Ensure payment of bills and oversee accounting by bookkeeper
- Enter new contacts into database, keep database current
- Send thank you letters and acknowledgements of donations to GHRC donors
- Provide information and documentation as requested by the accountant, 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
Qualifications
Successful track record in fundraising
At least 4 years of experience in nonprofit work
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced office environment
Ability to work well as part of a team
Commitment to human rights and social justice
Familiarity with current office technology and computer programs, including website management
Proficiency in Spanish
Sound knowledge of Quickbooks
Salary competitive with similar-sized nonprofits; generous vacation policy and excellent benefits package.
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to ghrc-usa@ghrc-usa.org, with the subject line Director of Outreach and Development.
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 and Honduran 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.
