Manager, Civic Space
 Amnesty International USA (USA HQ) | |
 United States, California, San Francisco | |
 May 08, 2026 | |
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Amnesty International USA (AIUSA)is the global organizations presence in the United States. We engage people in the U.S. to fight injustice all around the world, while we also work to protect peoples human rights here in the U.S. Amnesty International USA has more than one million members and activists in all 50 states, who are part of a larger global movement of10 million peoplein 150 countries. We are a democratically governed, grassroots membership organization, which means that our members vote on key policy issues and elect our Board of Managers. Amnesty International USAs elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead theorganization. Job Summary The Manager, Civic Space,(Manager)hasa leadership role in the Programs and Research unit.Programsare ongoing bodies of work on human rights issues staffed by experts who create and implement strategies to win human rights victories and make long-term human rightsimpacts. Programs help build the foundation for successful campaigns, which are shorter-term, highly focused, time-bound, and winnable projects that advance long-term programmatic work. The Managerwillprovide leadership in strengthening and safeguarding civic spacein the United States,creatingandexecutingstrategies to protect the rule of law andagainstauthoritarian practices that seek to limitfreedom ofexpression,assembly,journalistic freedom,the work ofhuman rights defendersin upholding international human rights law,andtheundermining ofdemocraticandlegalinstitutions. The Managerwillhelplead AIUSAs human rights work, in partnership with human rights defenders to protect civic space through advocacy, coalition building, supporting grassroots activism, and other effective tactics. This role is a union position and covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), Local 1180. Essential Responsibilities Strategic Program Leadership Developsandimplementsstrategy and execution to protect civic space, including freedom of expression, peaceful protest, assembly, and press freedom in the US Serve asprimarycontact on all civic space issues, tracking policy changes, legislative trends, and risks at national, state, and global levels Drive advocacy, coalition engagement, activism support, and media strategies to reinforce civic space protections Oversee the creation and dissemination of public education, research products, and campaign materials on civic space issues Stakeholder Engagement & Public Representation Represent AIUSA in media, public forums, coalitions, and policy circles on civic space topics Develop andmaintainrelationships with government officials, policymakers, NGOs, academic and community leaders, and civil society organizations Advise on and implement tactics for advocacy, coalition-building, media and social media outreach, and grassroots mobilization Coordinate with researchers on high-impact casework and advocacy for at-risk individuals, communities, or organizations Partnerships & Development Recruit, train, and mobilize members, fellows, and activists to advance civic space goals Manage or support planning, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of program and campaign progress Collaborate with other AIUSA staff, the International Secretariat, and relevant international and domestic partners Support broader programmatic initiatives and fundraising related to civic space and AIUSA priorities Other duties as assigned Qualifications & Success Profile To succeed in this role, candidates must bring both the technicalexpertiseto execute the work and the interpersonal and behavioral competencies that align with AIUSA's mission-driven, collaborative culture. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Demonstrated interest and understanding of human rights legal frameworks and systems Experience in human rights policy advocacy, including drafting and analyzing legislation, writing Congressional testimony, and leading coalitions Demonstrated ability to translate policy analysis into clear, actionable campaign strategies and advocacy tactics Strong public speaking experience, including Congressional hearings, Hill briefings, press conferences, academic conferences Superb writing and research skills, with ability to produce high-quality writing in fast-paced environment Ability to produce high-volume,accuratework in rapidly changing environment, with attention to detail Ability to work in highly collaborative and consultative environment Excellent communicator with strong written, verbal, and presentation skills Excellent team and project management skills Ability to embed inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) best practices into both strategy and operations Education and Experience BA/BS and at least 7 years relevant experience or MA/MS and 5 years relevant experience and/or sufficient relevant work experience Knowledge of international relations, human rights, law, or another relevant/related field Public speaking experience, including Congressional hearings, Hill briefings, press conferences, academic conferencespreferred Ability to produce high-volume,accuratework in rapidly changing environment, with attention to detail Proventrack recordof success in advocating for policy changes, building coalitions, and engaging with diverse stakeholders Ability to work in highly collaborative and consultative environment Experience serving as a subject matter expert with media (print, TV, social media) Experience working in a grassroots and/or member-based organization with shared leadership principles Physical Requirements Prolonged periods of sittingand/or standingat a desk and working on a computer Travel Requirements, Weeknight or Weekend Work Ability to travel domestically and/or internationally ifrequired, e.g., staff retreats, membertrainings/convenings, annual and regional AIUSA conference Some weeknights or weekendsarerequired, as needed recblid 975wrexl9tepol0j2kwthbl0e5mqq7 | |