Front Line Defenders seeks to recruit staff, interns and volunteers in an open and transparent manner. Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting cultural diversity within the Front Line Defenders staff. All positions are advertised via this website as well as through other media or networks appropriate to the position being advertised.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of requests we receive, it is not possible to keep general applications or CVs on file. During a recruitment process we do not generally review applications received until after the closing date. Shortlisting can take some time given the volume of applications we receive for some posts.
For any questions or queries, or if you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@frontlinedefenders.org. Please note applications submitted by email cannot be accepted.
Front Line Defenders is currently recruiting for the following positions:
Seek
Expressions of Interest:
HR Manager
Front Line Defenders is seeking expressions of interest from exceptional candidates for the post of HR Manager. This permanent role will be based in our Dublin office and will report to the Director of Finance and Operations.
Overview
The role of the HR manager is to provide HR guidance and strategy to the management and employees of Front Line Defenders (FLD). We currently have nearly 90 staff globally, with over 40 based in Dublin.
The successful candidate will lead on the HR and organisational practices to ensure the continued success of FLD and the fulfilment of its ambitious strategy to ensure that FLD values and competencies are embedded in organisational policies and employee culture. Leading the HR team to guide and inform on employee relations practices, learning and development strategies and overall organisation and culture development. The HR Manager acting as partner to the wider organisation is responsible for implementing the HR Workplan and leading in delivering a People Strategy that supports the Strategic plan.
The role involves direct management of one HR Officer.
Background
Front Line Defenders is an international organisation based in Ireland that works exclusively for the protection of human rights defenders at risk. Human rights defenders are people who are persecuted because of their peaceful work for the rights of others. Front Line Defenders provides practical help through protection grants, physical and digital protection training, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning.
Role responsibilities
- Leading on the development and implementation of a HR strategy which aligns with and supports the delivery of the overall Strategic Plan of FLD.
- Preparing workforce plans for approval in partnership with programmatic and operational functions and operating within agreed frameworks and budgets
- Preparation of board / managerial reports when required, specifically relating to HR KPIs and metrics.
- Contributing to periodic organisational risk reporting
- Leading, managing and developing the HR function to ensure their continued success and utilisation and supporting the development and contribution to the organisation.
- Ensuring the HR team is focused on emerging best practice and can bring these insights to FLD management for consideration and identify enhancements for service provision.
- Ensuring that all HR policies and practices are compliant with legislation
- Support the provision of benefits through managing the staff health insurance policies, supporting staff in accessing pensions, promoting the well-being supports and benefit uptake throughout FLD etc.
- Support the development and implementation of an organisational DEI plan.
- Leading organisational development initiatives from concept through planning and implementation, drawing on experience and skills in project and change management.
Salary & Benefits
- €52,962 - €72,886 per annum
- 26 annual leave days
- Pension
- Paid Health Insurance
- Income Protection & Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Scheme (EAP)
- Monthly Well-Being Provisions
Requirements
Interested applicants must have:
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience in busy, progressive HR environment, ideally within the not-for-profit sector
- Experience of working within a global organisation
- Degree or equivalent in HRM or Business-related area. (Level 8)
- A good working knowledge across multiple HR disciplines including – Recruitment, Management Development, Organisation Development, Employee Engagement, Employee Relations, Performance Management, HRIS, Change Management
- Ability to work and influence in a progressive, open and supportive manner.
- Excellent communication, report writing, presentation and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a dynamic and changing environment.
For further information, please view https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/hr_manager_jd-1.pdf
Closing Date
Applicants must submit their applications (CV & cover letter) by midnight (local Irish time) on Monday, 13th April 2026 via the ‘Apply Now’ button as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
Seek
Expressions of Interest:
MEL Officer
Front Line Defenders is seeking expressions of interest from exceptional candidates for the post of MEL Officer. This permanent role will be based in either the Dublin or Brussels office and will report to the MEL Manager.
Overview
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team at Front Line Defenders supports the organisation in planning, monitoring, reporting on, evaluating, and learning from its work by developing and implementing MEL systems, frameworks, and processes. The team works closely with program, regional, and development teams to support data collection, analysis, and learning, and contributes to the development and monitoring of the organisational Strategic Plan.
The MEL Officer supports the operations of Front Line Defenders’ MEL system by implementing MEL frameworks, supporting regional and program teams in the application of monitoring tools and processes, conducting data analysis to inform reporting and learning, and contributing to evaluation and learning processes. The role works closely with the Database Administrator and the MEL Manager.
Background
Front Line Defenders is an international organisation based in Ireland that works exclusively for the protection of human rights defenders at risk. Human rights defenders are people who are persecuted because of their peaceful work for the rights of others. Front Line Defenders provides practical help through protection grants, physical and digital protection training, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning.
Role responsibilities
- Support the implementation of regional, program, and donor MEL frameworks
- Develop monitoring and tracking tools and sheets aligned with program, regional, and donor MEL frameworks – in coordination with MEL Manager, program and regional teams, and the development team
- Work closely with program and regional teams to support the systematic collection of monitoring data
- Contribute to the preparation of narrative reports by analysing compiled information and data from regions, programs, and partners
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis of monitoring data to inform reporting and program reflection
- Produce data summaries and visualisations to support internal reporting, reviews and evaluations, and donor reporting
- Work closely with the research team to ensure monitoring data supports research reports, providing clean, structured and analysed datasets
- Support the consolidation of monitoring findings, lessons learned, and programmatic insights across regions and programs
- Contribute to the documentation of case studies, stories of change, and othe qualitative evidence of impact
- Support planning for and documenting the outputs of internal learning workshops and reflection processes
- Provide support to external consultants conducting evaluations or learning paper including facilitating connections with internal and external respondents
- Contribute to the compilation and organisation of monitoring data and documentation required for evaluations
Salary & Benefits
- €36,241 - €66,700 per annum
- 26 annual leave days
- Pension
- Paid Health Insurance
- Income Protection & Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Scheme (EAP)
- Monthly Well-Being Provisions
Requirements
Interested applicants must have:
- At least 3 years of professional experience in MEL within human rights, humanitarian, development, or philanthropy sectors.
- Advanced university degree in human rights, social sciences, development or humanitarian studies, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience supporting the design and implementation of MEL frameworks, indicators, and monitoring tools
- Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills, including the use of data analysis tools or software
- Ability to develop and use monitoring tools such as surveys, evaluation forms, and tracking sheets
- Experience in compiling and analysing monitoring data for internal reporting and donor reports
- Knowledge of intersectional approaches in human rights programming, monitoring, and reporting
- Familiarity with the HRDs protection ecosystem and the key issues affecting human rights defenders
For further information, please view https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/jd.melofficer.final_.march_2026.pdf
Closing Date
Applicants must submit their applications (CV & cover letter) by midnight (local Irish time) on Sunday, 19th April 2026 via the ‘Apply Now’ button as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
Consultancies and tenders
None at the present time.
Fellowships and internships
Front Line Defenders annually recruits for two positions that are part of the organisation's commitment to strengthening international mechanisms supporting human rights defenders:
Internship at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul)
Front Line Defenders and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) invite applications for an Internship at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa. It is a 12-month position based in Banjul, under the supervision of the ACHPR Secretariat. Candidates should be able to work in both English and French. Candidates who have experience as a HumanRights Defender in Africa will be prioritised.
Frank Jennings Fellowship (Dublin & Geneva)
The Frank Jennings Fellowship was set up to give an opportunity for dedicated and talented individuals to gain experience working for the protection of human rights defenders in an international NGO and at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is named after Front Line Defenders former Head of Research who died after a long illness in 2005. Frank made a huge contribution to the development of human rights activism in Ireland and candidates who have some experience of human rights work in Ireland will be given priority.
The Frank Jennings Fellow spends three months at Front Line Defenders where he/she will be trained in relation to Human Rights Defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the Mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur; the procedures and methodology of the mandate; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in the support and protection of Human Rights Defenders. The Fellow will then move to Geneva for a period six months before returning to Front Line Defenders for a further three months.
Volunteering at Front Line Defenders
We greatly appreciate the valuable contribution of volunteers who support the work of Front Line Defenders.
The best way to get involved is to help Front Line Defenders raise awareness about the risks faced by human rights defenders around the world and to help raise much needed funds to increase their security and protection.
When human rights defenders visit Ireland on rest & respite, it is important to provide a network of support to them. This community of support includes volunteers interested in accompanying the human rights defender sightseeing, to music and cultural activities, sharing about Irish history and current affairs or other hobbies/activities that may be of interest. Language support is especially useful to visiting human rights defenders. The working languages of Front Line Defenders are English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian but sometimes we also need support with other languages.
If specific additional volunteering opportunities arise, they will be posted here.
