AI Strategy and Solutions Lead

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. We’re seeking an AI Strategy and Solutions Lead to build the foundation for responsible AI adoption across our organization. This role balances strategic planning with hands‑on implementation, delivering solutions that demonstrate value while establishing governance frameworks, partnerships, and capacity‑building processes. The position is a one‑year fixed‑term, based within commuting distance of selected HRW offices and reporting to the Chief Information Officer in Berlin. You will work closely with the Information Security and Technology (IST) Leadership team. Responsibilities Contribute to AI strategy and assess organizational readiness. Work alongside the CIO, IST Leadership team and stakeholders to build a comprehensive AI strategy that includes data foundation requirements, infrastructure gaps, and readiness assessment. Assess current state and inform roadmap development balancing quick wins with long‑term capacity building. Research peer organizations in the nonprofit, humanitarian, and human‑rights space to identify collaboration opportunities. Identify and deliver flagship solutions. Work with departments to discover high‑impact use cases and translate business needs into technical approaches. Build and deploy AI/ML solutions that demonstrate measurable value (time saved, efficiency gained, improved outcomes). Develop solutions using Microsoft AI ecosystem (Copilot Studio, Azure AI, Power Platform) and other appropriate tools. Oversee consultants and vendors to extend delivery capacity where needed. Balance tool adoption with capacity building. Design approach that balances onboarding staff to AI tools with identifying use cases where custom solutions amplify what we do best. Create training materials tailored to different work areas and skill levels on effective prompting and responsible use. Support working groups and communities of practice. Build playbooks and guides that make AI accessible to non‑technical staff. Coordinate governance and cross‑organizational alignment. Partner with IST leadership to develop risk assessment frameworks and ensure solutions align with security, infrastructure, and architecture requirements. Contribute to AI policy development and operationalization. Create standards for POC and MVP evaluation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Engage with business units to understand priorities and build co‑ownership of outcomes. Balance innovation with practical constraints around data quality, security, and resources in alignment with HRW’s core values and mission. Qualifications Education: A bachelor’s degree or relevant work experience in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, AI/ML implementation or related technical field is required. Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant work experience is required including 2‑3 years working on AI. Required Skills 2‑3 years implementing AI/ML solutions in production environments. Experience contributing to technology strategies and assessing organizational readiness for new technology adoption (AI‑specific experience strongly preferred). Strong coding skills in Python with experience in ML libraries and frameworks. Hands‑on experience with predictive modeling, data science, and statistical analysis. Experience building solutions with low‑code/no‑code AI platforms (Microsoft Copilot Studio, Power Platform, or similar). Demonstrated ability to identify use cases, scope projects, and deliver working solutions under resource constraints. Strong understanding of both generative AI and traditional ML approaches. Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear language for diverse audiences. Strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to build relationships across organizational boundaries. Experience supporting and leading business change and technology adoption, ideally as an internal partner to business teams. Preferred Skills Experience in nonprofit, humanitarian, or human‑rights organizations. Understanding of data privacy, security, and ethical AI considerations. Familiarity with responsible AI frameworks and governance models. Vendor and consultant management experience. Background working in politically sensitive or high‑risk environments. Pay range and compensation package HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer‑paid benefits. The salary range for this position if based in the US is USD 102,000 – 112,250 plus benefits. Salary ranges outside of the US vary based on location and are determined by local market conditions rather than being a direct translation of US salaries. Equal Opportunity Statement 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. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer. How to Apply Please apply by January 5, 2026 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter and resume, preferably in PDF format. No calls or email inquiries, please. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Information Technology Non‑profit Organizations #J-18808-Ljbffr