China Research and Advocacy Fellow (11-Month Fixed Term)

 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 Directors. Amnesty International USA’s elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead the organization. 

Job Summary 

AIUSA’s Government Relations (GR) and Advocacy team educates, advises, and lobbies U.S. government (USG) officials on human rights issues around the world. Leveraging Amnesty’s research and grassroots power, GR creates and implements advocacy strategies to push for U.S. government policies that contribute to positive human rights outcomes. We build and maintain close relationships with policymakers in Congress and across the federal government. GR identifies influential stakeholders in the USG, including potential supporters and opponents, and takes advantage of political opportunities to push forward organizational goals.  

Fellows at AIUSA gain experience in human rights research and advocacy including but not limited to developing and implementing advocacy strategies and materials, contact with governmental bodies and officials, conducting legislative research, drafting memoranda and blogs, managing databases, analyzing emerging areas of relevant law and government policy, tracking the progress of legislation in the United States Congress, and learning about the international human rights framework. Fellows will also be responsible for researching and documenting issues related to U.S. foreign policy and human rights in their area of focus, as well as attending and summarizing briefings, hearings, and other NGO events. 

The China Research and Advocacy Fellow (11-Month Fixed Term) will have the opportunity to work on federal and congressional advocacy on human rights issues in the Washington, D.C. office of AIUSA. The Fellowship is full-time position with a fixed term of 11 months, starting February 2, 2026 and will focus on human rights issues and US foreign policy related to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its relationship with the US government. 

The Fellow will analyze research produced by Amnesty and other organizations regarding the human rights conditions in the PRC and advance advocacy with the US Congress and administration to address these human rights issues. Further, the fellow will provide the GR team with analysis regarding the human rights impact of escalation of tensions between the PRC and the US government and will assist the GR team in designing advocacy strategy to influence the United States to take a rights-based approach to its PRC policy and engagements. This will include analytic work to situate the US-PRC relationship in a global context and to look beyond the frame of the US-PRC relationship to understand how other governments’ view, engage with, and impact both US and Chinese authorities (this international perspective will include analysis of transnational repression). 

The Fellow will work closely with the Asia Advocacy Director, as well as with other Amnesty staff, members, and volunteers. In particular, the Fellow will interact with the Amnesty coordination group, which mobilizes Amnesty’s membership base to take action and plans events to promote greater awareness of human rights conditions in the PRC. Additionally, the Fellow will work with other civil society organizations, members of the diaspora, and activists based in the US to ensure Amnesty’s work is in alignment with the wider human rights movement.  

The ideal candidate will have: 

• Strong written and analytical skills, experience working on human rights issues related to the PRC or with civil society and grassroots organizations from the region, understands the Washington policy environment regarding the PRC and can work to advance a human rights-first approach to United States government policy on PRC/US relations; 

• Knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law, United States law and institutions related to foreign policy and human rights, and key regional and country-level laws and legal frameworks;

• Experience working with Congressional offices, has knowledge of US law, policies, and practices and international human rights and humanitarian law, and has creative ideas about how to mobilize US policymakers to act in ways that promote international human rights. 

Essential Responsibilities  

• Collaborate closely with the Asia Advocacy Director and other Amnesty International staff and members on issues related to human rights in the PRC and the human rights implications of US/PRC relations 

• Help build coherent human rights strategies to push the US government on its human rights policy related to the PRC, with input and collaboration from allies and activists, diaspora communities, and other civil society organizations 

• Work with the Asia Advocacy Director to implement strategies for AIUSA engagement with the US government to advance a consistent human rights agenda on related to the PRC and PRC/US relations 

• Working closely with other GR staff, provide analysis and guidance on how a human rights agenda on the PRC can include a strong approach to multilateralism 

• Support the development of outreach plans with government bodies and officials, including drafting letters, participating in meetings, and providing briefing materials 

• Conduct legislative research, drafts memoranda and blogs, analyzing emerging areas of relevant law and government policy 

• Track the progress of relevant legislation in the United States 

• Participate and represent AIUSA in coalitions and advance advocacy strategies with coalition partners 

• Liaise with other NGOs working on related issues 

• Engage with Members of Congress and administrative agencies as needed 

• Other duties as assigned  

Qualifications and Experience 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities 

• Legal and policy research and analytical skills, with the ability to digest and summarize data and policy related to human rights, foreign policy, and political and economic affairs and history related to the PRC and its relationship to the US 

• Knowledge of PRC foreign policy, especially in Latin America,Southeast Asia, and multilateral spaces. 

• Experience working with the US Congress 

• Demonstrated familiarity with human rights and US foreign policy in the PRC 

• Proven ability to write comprehensive legal and policy memos, issue briefs, and other advocacy and human rights documents 

• Experience in public speaking and presenting human rights topics and analyses to diverse audiences 

• Experience working on issues related to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to inspire and motivate staff and partners 

• Demonstrable ability to initiate, develop and sustain positive working relationships over long periods of time with a wide range of individuals and groups, including those from different cultural backgrounds 

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple and detailed tasks and produce high-quality work under short and fixed deadlines 

• Ability to objectively assess situations to determine action-oriented solutions 

Education and Experience 

• B.A./ B.S. and 3-5 years of relevant experience 

• Law and public affairs graduates encouraged to apply 

• Experience working in hybrid/remote organizations preferred 

• Experience with grassroots organizations a plus, particularly those working on the PRC 

• Experience working in a collaborative environment and with a team desired 

• Proficiency in Mandarin is highly preferred but not required 

• Must live near, and be able to attend meetings, in Washington D.C.  

• Must be available to start February 2, 2026 

Physical Requirements 

• Prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk and working on a computer 

Travel Requirements, Weeknight or Weekend Work 

• Potential, but minimal travel, up to 15% 

• Some weeknight and weekend work may be required 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS/ ACCOMMODATIONS  

All applications must be completed online as a PDF document through our application portal, and we do not accept submissions via email.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted due to the high volume of applicants. Please monitor your emails from Paycom, where you can check your application status. Please review our Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) section for additional information on our hiring process. 

AIUSA does not assist employees or applicants for employment 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. 

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require accommodations during the application process, please email talentacquisition@aiusa.org 

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.