Deputy Director of Human Resources

Organization Description

For more than 30 years, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has used science and medicine to document and call attention to severe human rights violations around the world.

A global organization founded on the idea that health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, are uniquely positioned to advocate against human rights violations, PHR shared in the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for its contributions to the international effort to ban landmines.

PHR’s investigations and expertise are used to document mass atrocities, advocate for the protection of persecuted health workers and medical facilities under attack, prevent torture, and hold those who violate human rights accountable.

PHR is poised for even greater growth and impact. As part of that strategy, we are seeking committed activists with a passion for human rights.

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Location: This position is usually located in our Headquarters in New York City, but remote while offices remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Role Description

The deputy director of human resources will report directly to the chief operating officer. This leader will need to be strategic and guide the organization as the senior human resources professional, while also managing many priorities, in this busy, fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone who has seven to 10 years’ experience as a generalist with a proven record as an effective, action-oriented, multi-tasker who achieves results.  

Responsibilities  

• Employee Relations and HR Partnership – You will build relationships with the executive leadership team, departments, and leaders across the organization to increase communication and transparency and to support HR needs. The person in this role will also need to serve as a tactful HR leader for employees to discuss and problem-solve confidential and personal experiences within the organization. 
• Building and Managing Effective Systems, Policies, and Practices – You will evaluate the HR function for continuous improvement and identify and implement effective and efficient solutions.
• Recruiting and hiring top talent – Working with the hiring managers, you will drive the entire hiring process, from securing approvals to posting strategically on external sites, screening the candidates, helping facilitate the hiring decisions, and extending offers on behalf of PHR.
• Managing Total Employee Lifecycle – This will include recruiting, onboarding, talent management, performance management, learning and development, compensation and benefits, transitioning management, and offboarding.
• Leading on Organizational Culture, Equity, and Inclusion – In partnership with senior leadership, you will play a critical role as “culture keeper” to create strategies that promote employee engagement, development, and retention and that fosters a workplace that supports, accepts, and values differences among its people. You will lead and collaborate to evaluate, modify, and implement equitable organization-wide policies and systems that embrace and advance diversity at all levels of the organization – and enable people to thrive.

Skills and Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

While no one candidate will possess all of the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will embody many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences.

• A deep commitment to advancing human rights and the communities affected by social injustice and human rights abuses. 
• Seven to 10 years of experience, with the ability to draw on experience and knowledge in all aspects of the employee lifecycle. 
• Ability to be effective and comfortable in roles that require both strategic thinking and project management, as well as tactical implementation.
• Excellent communication skills, with the intuitive ability to tailor communication style to diverse audiences, including globally.
• Strong EI and the ability to build professional relationships, demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills and sound good judgement with high levels of integrity and accountability.
• Responsive, solutions-focused, and results-oriented.
• Demonstrated success in fast-paced environments, and the ability to prioritize workload in response to dynamic contexts.
• Experience with organizations doing international work a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience. Master’s degree a plus.

Salary and Benefits

Salary for this position will range from $100,000 to $110,000. PHR offers competitive compensation, with options for medical, dental, disability, and life insurance, a retirement savings plan, and generous vacation. PHR observes the last week of the calendar year as an opportunity to refresh, with all offices closed.

How to Apply

Please combine your cover letter and resume as a pdf or word document and send it to resumes@phr.org. Please indicate “Last Name/First Name, Deputy Director of HR” in the email subject line.

A complete application consists of:

• A thoughtful cover letter explaining why you are qualified for/interested in this position with PHR.
• Resume/curriculum vitae.

Only complete applications in the format requested sent to resumes@phr.org will be considered.

Physicians for Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit and hire without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, prior conviction, arrest history, disability, marital status, veteran status, or age.