Director, Development and Outreach

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
Director, Zurich
Development and Outreach Department
Zurich Office
Application Deadline: April 10th, 2026

The Development and Outreach Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for the position of Zurich Development Director to lead our fundraising and outreach in Zurich and German-speaking Switzerland. The Director will oversee a small, dynamic team in the Zurich office and will report to the Managing Director of Development and Outreach, Europe, based in Zurich.

The successful candidate will mobilize support from leadership-level donors and prospects in Zurich and German-speaking Switzerland including the Zurich Committee – a group of close supporters – at a truly critical time. The Director will be charged with nurturing, stewarding, and growing HRW’s donor base and presence in close collaboration with the Zurich-based Development staff.

The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Zurich office at least 2 or 3 days per week. 

Responsibilities

1.    Develop and oversee the strategic plan, budget and income forecast for a fundraising strategy focusing on Zurich and German-speaking Switzerland;
2.    Seek and secure philanthropic commitments from a portfolio of individual, trust and Foundation donors, prioritizing those with multi-year and high capacities;
3.    Identify and develop strategic fundraising and outreach initiatives, fostering engagement and cultivation of prospects with the potential to donate at leadership donors’ level, including cultivation events to enhance program visibility and increase fundraising results;
4.    Work in collaboration with the Zurich Committee leadership to implement initiatives geared toward maximizing fundraising results, including assisting the Zurich Development staff with the execution of an annual fundraising event;
5.    Represent the work of HRW to existing and prospective supporters;
6.    Explore the potential to further expand HRW’s donor base into Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland as well as Liechtenstein;
7.    In partnership with the Institutional Giving Team, research, identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit prospective foundations and existing foundations that have the ability and affinity to contribute six-figure gifts to HRW;
8.    In partnership with the Planned Giving team, educate donors about the option to also support HRW through a gift in their will;
9.    Deliver sustainable growth in line with the financial targets;
10.    Oversee income tracking, projections, expenditure budgets, event expenses, and revenue, ensuring appropriate allocation of resources within the budget; and
11.    Perform any other responsibilities as required.

Managerial Responsibilities:

1.    Provide leadership, motivation, and mentorship to the Zurich Development team, setting clear expectations, performance objectives, and providing regular and constructive feedback;
2.    Foster an inclusive, creative, and positive work environment, encouraging diverse perspectives and participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, while proactively addressing biases, discrimination, and microaggressions;
3.    Model inclusive behavior and consistently adhere to HRW's internal values; and
4.    Collaborate with staff to develop initiatives aimed at movement-building 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. An advanced degree in philanthropy, business, finance, communications/marketing, or law is desirable.

Experience: A minimum of ten years of fundraising experience with high-level donors, including at least five years of management experience, is required.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1.    Demonstrated success in 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 is required.
2.    Demonstrated experience with managing small teams is required. Experience overseeing a fundraising strategy around events is preferred.
3.    Excellent oral and written communication skills in both, German and English, including strong presentation abilities in both languages are required. Fluency in Italian is an asset.
4.    Proven experience in budgeting, revenue tracking, and revenue projections is required.
5.    Strong commitment to human rights and/or international issues, with the ability to represent and advocate for the mission and programs of the organization is required.
6.    Strong technological skills, including familiarity with Salesforce or other relational databases are highly desirable.
7.    Outstanding interpersonal skills for effective collaboration within the organization and with external partners is required.
8.    Entrepreneurial mindset with self-motivation, independence, and the ability to work both individually and as part of a development team and within a global organization is required.
10.    Willingness to travel locally and internationally as required.

Other:  
1.    Fluency in German, ideally Swiss German, and English is required.
2.    Proficiency in Italian is also desired but not required.
3.    Applicants for this role should possess valid Swiss work authorization, HRW cannot guarantee the ability to sponsor work authorization for this role.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers comprehensive compensation and benefits. 

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by April 10th, 2026 by visiting our online job portal at https://careers.hrw.org and attaching a letter of interest and a CV or resume. No calls or email inquiries, please. 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 large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of 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 kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span 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.