Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is the global organization’s 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 people’s 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 of 10 million people in 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 USA’s elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead the organization.
Department: Strategy and Impact
Reports To: Senior Director, Authoritarian Practices
Number of Direct Reports: none
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Throughout the U.S.
Remote/Hybrid: Remote
Category: Full-time, Regular
Position Type: Union
Travel Required (%): 5%
Deadline to Apply: 5-29-26
Job Summary
The Manager, Civic Space, (“Manager”) has a leadership role in the Programs and Research unit. Programs are 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 rights impacts. 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 Manager will provide leadership in strengthening and safeguarding civic space in the United States, creating and executing strategies to protect the rule of law and against authoritarian practices that seek to limit freedom of expression, assembly, journalistic freedom, the work of human rights defenders in upholding international human rights law, and the undermining of democratic and legal institutions.
The Manager will help lead AIUSA’s 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
- Develops and implements strategy and execution to protect civic space, including freedom of expression, peaceful protest, assembly, and press freedom in the US
- Serve as primary contact 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 and maintain relationships 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 technical expertise to 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, accurate work 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
Core competencies define how we work at AIUSA. The Manager, Civic Space position is expected to model these behaviors consistently.
- Execution: Delivers results by planning, prioritizing, and managing resources to meet goals efficiently. Transforms strategic objectives into practical, measurable actions.
- Problem-Solving: Creates inclusive solutions by analyzing challenges from multiple perspectives. Applies critical thinking to develop innovative and practical approaches.
- Communication: Exchanges information clearly and effectively, adapting communication to diverse audiences. Ensures understanding through active, respectful dialogue.
- Collaboration: Builds effective teamwork by leveraging diverse strengths and fostering trust. Develops relationships internally and externally to achieve shared goals.
- Adaptability: Navigates change with flexibility, embracing new opportunities. Adjusts strategies, learns continuously, and supports others through transitions.
- Accountability: Owns actions and outcomes transparently. Follows through on commitments, acknowledges challenges, and acts with integrity.
Functional Competencies: These competencies reflect the technical practices required for this role.
- Develops programmatic innovations and comprehensive strategies that measurably enhance engagement and advance specific human rights objectives.
- Creates evaluation frameworks demonstrating effectiveness and identifying strategic improvements.
- Successfully manages resources to optimize impact across multiple initiatives and adapts implementation plans based on insights.
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 conferences preferred
- Ability to produce high-volume, accurate work in rapidly changing environment, with attention to detail
- Proven track record of 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 sitting and/or standing at a desk and working on a computer
Travel Requirements, Weeknight or Weekend Work
- Ability to travel domestically and/or internationally if required, e.g., staff retreats, member trainings/convenings, annual and regional AIUSA conference
- Some weeknights or weekends are required, as needed
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS/ ACCOMMODATIONS
Please visit our AIUSA Careers page and our Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) section for additional information on our hiring process, benefits, and accommodations. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require accommodations during the application process, please email [email protected]
AIUSA does not assist employees or applicants with obtaining or maintaining employment authorization or employment-based nonimmigrant status. This includes, but is not limited to, sponsorship, financial assistance, preparation of documentation for an application for a visa or nonimmigrant status, preparation of training plans, or any other form of support required to obtain work authorization. Candidates must already have authorization to work in the United States that does not currently or in the future require AIUSA’s intervention.
OUR EEO STATEMENT
Amnesty International USA is an equal opportunity employer. AIUSA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.
We recognize the valuable skills that can be gained through internships, fellowships, volunteer work, and non-traditional work experience. This experience helps build competencies and knowledge that may translate to our job openings. We seek a diversity of experience and skills for our workplace and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our openings.
OUR COMMITMENT AS AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION AND TO INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY (IDEA)
Dismantling white supremacy is central to the fight for human rights in the United States and around the world. As we mobilize staff and activists and work with partners to help transform the multiple systems where oppression operates in the world around us as part of our human rights mandate, anti-racism must be integral to our work. To learn more about how we integrate IDEA into our programs and workplace, visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/idea/