Regional Director, Americas

Job Title: Regional Director, Americas

Department: Programs

Job Band: Management III

Salary Range:$127,305 - $148,523 (for candidates based in New York City)

Compensation for this position will be based on experience, skills, and location. While this range reflects the expected salary for New York City-based candidates, compensation may be adjusted for candidates in other locations to align with local market conditions and cost of living.

Office Location: New York or DC

Reports to Title: Chief Programs Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Union Represented: No

Submission Instructions: Please submit a letter of interest, résumé, and two professional references.

Application Deadline: 5 pm ET (New York time) on March 24, 2025

Organization Overview:  

Founded in 1981, the Committee to Protect Journalists (“CPJ”) is an independent, non-profit organization defending journalists worldwide without regard to their political ideology. Through its work to safeguard journalists, CPJ protects the rights of all people to have access to diverse and independent sources of information. For nearly four decades, CPJ has helped win the early release of imprisoned journalists, secure convictions in journalist murders, and enable positive legal reform in countries where the climate for free expression has deteriorated. Learn more about CPJ’s fight to defend freedom of the press here: http://cpj.org

At CPJ, we are dedicated to upholding values of equity and free expression in both our internal operations and external endeavors. As an organization headquartered in the United States, we aspire to build a diverse workplace and foster an inclusive and welcoming environment. As an international organization, we strive for our people to be representative of the global community on which we report and to equip them with the opportunities and resources they need to learn and succeed.

Job Summary:

The Regional Director, Americas, is a key leadership role within CPJ’s senior management team, reporting to the Chief Programs Officer. This position provides strategic direction and oversight of all areas of CPJ’s work in the region, including the work in the U.S., guiding the organization’s advocacy, research, and assistance efforts. The Regional Director collaborates with other regional leads to identify global trends, address pressing issues, and develop cohesive strategies aligning with CPJ’s mission. 

This role is responsible for developing and implementing regional strategic plans, managing budgets, and leading a geographically dispersed team operating across multiple time zones. Acting as CPJ’s principal representative in the region, the Regional Director engages with a wide range of stakeholders - from local journalists and civil society partners to heads of state and international institutions - advocating for press freedom and the protection of journalists.

Fluency in English and Spanish is essential, along with extensive regional experience and a deep understanding of press freedom challenges and the needs of local journalists. The role requires expertise in advocacy, crisis management, and collaboration with both regional and global partners. The Regional Director must also balance rapid responses to emerging crises with long-term strategic analysis to identify trends and inform CPJ’s work. 

Through this leadership, the Regional Director ensures CPJ remains responsive to the evolving needs of journalists at risk.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategy Development and Oversight
  • Develop and oversee the successful and timely execution of annual and multi-year plans (research, assistance, and advocacy) in line with CPJ’s strategic plan and according to budget
  • Communicate effectively priorities to team members and others within the organization
  • Identify gaps and opportunities for impact within the region and flag them to upper management  

• People & Culture, Talent Development and Succession Management
  • Manage and support all the members of the regional team, who are working part-time or full-time, to closely monitor, research, document, and respond to attacks on the press and issues affecting press freedom in the Americas
  • Delegate powers and/or responsibilities to senior members of the regional Program to ensure its effective functioning
  • Work collaboratively with other departments and ensure the program’s work is aligned with the organization's overall strategy

• Management Excellence and Accountability
  • Lead and/or oversee the regional program’s advocacy, assistance, research, and reporting on press freedom violations and attacks throughout the region
  • Lead the regional program’s strategy on emblematic cases and journalist assistance, including the undertaking of prison visits and family support in coordination with the CPJ Emergencies team
  • Personally advocate for the release of jailed journalists and an end to impunity in the murder of journalists at the highest levels of national and regional government and at relevant international bodies, in coordination with the CPJ Advocacy and Communications team. Devise and support other advocacy efforts in line with CPJ’s broad organizational goals 

• Advocacy and Representation
  • Conduct high-level advocacy
  • Represent CPJ with regional authorities, including heads of state

• Data Management
  • Own the regional program’s strategy to use CARTA (internal knowledge management system) as a tool for research and advocacy 
  • Leverage CARTA to drive data-informed strategies, ensure cross-departmental collaboration, and regularly review insights for emerging risks and opportunities in the region
• Budget and Resource Management
  • Manage an annual budget, including planning and approving trips and hiring contractors
  • Collaborate closely with the Finance and HR departments to ensure budgetary planning and personnel decisions to support CPJ’s broader operational and financial goals

• Representation, Research, Stakeholder Engagement 
  • Lead the regional program’s work with national, regional, and international partners in a manner sensitive to local partners' needs
  • Oversee the research into attacks on journalists and production – as needed – of daily and long-form reports on press freedom conditions, including identifying unique research areas in conjunction with the CPJ Editorial team
  • Serve as CPJ’s spokesperson with the media, governments, multilateral institutions, partner organizations, and civil society and delegate to the program coordinator and team members as deemed fit

• Cross-Team and Partner Collaboration
  • Proactively communicate with other teams (Research, Advocacy, Assistance) to support the work and ensure alignment with strategic goals
  • Liaise with local partners, including proactive outreach and feedback gathering on the impact of CPJ’s work 
  • Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders

• Leadership and Team Management 
  • Recruitment: Select high-caliber candidates 
  • Performance Management: Ensure staff is provided clear goals and regular performance feedback (including performance reviews)
  • Development: Provide staff with appropriate career and professional development opportunities and meaningful coaching and mentoring 
  • Engagement: Ensure staff is effectively connected and motivated to perform at their highest levels of achievement and contribute to creating a positive organizational culture 
  • Administration: Oversee budgets and administrative processes (e.g., time off, expense reports, travel plans, employee data/records, etc.)

Perform all other duties, as requested, based on department and/or organizational needs

Education/Qualifications & Work Experience: 

Required:

• At least 15 years of combined experience doing reporting and/or advocacy, with extensive experience across the region
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish
• A firm understanding of geopolitical issues with the ability to analyze and relate these to press freedom as needed
• A deep understanding of how media works and its specific press freedom challenges in the region
• Extensive network of relations with local journalists and media organizations  
• Proven skills in writing succinct and high-quality reports, including the capacity to digest, interpret, and accurately summarize reports and data
• Proven skills in providing direct support (legal, financial, and others) in the region and building partnerships to advance this work
• Proven ability to interact with senior leadership in government and other national, regional, and international organizations

Additional Qualifications, Characteristics, and Competencies:

• A deep understanding of leveraging regional and international bodies to advocate for journalists and press freedom 
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Google Workspace applications is essential
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills
• Impeccable organizational skills and keen attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality
• Ability to lead a team and work collaboratively with senior managers to guide the organization

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification and are reflective of work in a typical office setting.  Absent undue hardship, reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the job. 

• Remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods
• Occasionally move about in the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. (applicable to employees who work in the NYC office)
• Operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and printer
• Communicate information and ideas so others will understand - must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
• Observe details at close range
• Carry objects weighing up to 20 pounds
• Work in an office setting where the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate (applicable to employees who work in the NYC office)
• Occasionally, evening and weekend work is required, including on-call weekends approximately once a month
• Travel requirements - The typical percentage of travel required is 25%, including international travel primarily to the region: conferences, meetings, and networking

Vaccination Requirement:

Employees who work in the NYC office must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they qualify for reasonable accommodation for medical or religious reasons. Accordingly, new employees must submit proof of vaccination before the commencement of employment unless a reasonable accommodation is granted.

Location:

We promote a flexible working environment with hybrid and flexible work schedule opportunities. Our NYC office, located in midtown Manhattan, was designed to be a place where we can work effectively and collaboratively, bringing energy, inspiration, commitment, and deep learning to our mission. The NYC office is currently working on a schedule of two days in-office (Wednesday and one other day of the employee’s/manager’s agreement), with the option of working up to three days remotely, subject to adjustment based on business needs. 

Benefits:

• Health Care Plans (100% employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision plans for employee coverage)
• Health Reimbursement Account (employer-funded HRA of $5,000 annually) 
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer contribution of 4%. Additional employer dollar-for-dollar match of elective employee contribution up to 3%)
• Life Insurance and AD&D Plans (100% employer-sponsored with the option to elect additional voluntary plans)
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and paid holidays)  
• Short Term & Long Term Disability (employer-sponsored with the option to elect additional voluntary plans)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pre-Tax Flexible Spending Accounts (medical, dependent care, and commuter expenses)
• Voluntary benefits plans (life, accident, hospitalization, critical Illness, pet, identity theft protection, and legal insurance)
• Extended remote work flexibility, allowing up to 60 days of remote work annually

Equal Employment Opportunity:

CPJ provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Salary : $127,305 - $148,523