Human rights are the basic rights everyone is owed, like the right to food, shelter, and healthcare, but social justice addresses whether or not opportunities, wealth, and privilege are fairly distributed. Thriving societies need both human rights and social justice. For those who want to make the world a better place, a career in social justice or human rights is a powerful way to address inequalities and injustices. You can find job opportunities in virtually every sector of society, but here are 15 specific examples:
| Job Title | |
|---|---|
| #1 | Grants Manager |
| #2 | Program Director |
| #3 | Fundraiser |
| #4 | Social Worker |
| #5 | Translator |
| #6 | Policy Analyst |
| #7 | Photographer/Videographer |
| #8 | Immigration Lawyer |
| #9 | Community Health Worker |
| #10 | Victim Advocate |
| #11 | Researcher |
| #12 | Civil Rights Investigator |
| #13 | DEI Consultant |
| #14 | International Aid Worker |
| #15 | Sustainability Professional |
#1. Grants manager
Grants are funds or financial awards given by governments, organizations, foundations, and individuals. They’re used to support initiatives and specific projects, but unlike loans, they don’t need to be repaid. There are countless grants available for nonprofits, schools, free clinics, and more, so a grant specialist’s job is to identify what grants their organization or program is eligible for. A manager is also typically responsible for writing grant proposals, which explain the organization’s project, goals, budget, and expected outcomes. These proposals are submitted to the entity awarding the grant as part of an application. If their organization receives the grant, managers make sure the organization complies with all the terms and conditions.
Check out our article on becoming a grants manager.
#2. Program director
Program directors work for a variety of organizations, but in the social justice and human rights field, program directors often work for nonprofits. They’re responsible for tasks such as setting goals, leading teams through program creation and implementation, organizing training and fundraising, and approving budgets. As a higher-level position, directors oversee every aspect of the programs they’re assigned to, so the job is a mix of creativity, long-term development, and administrative tasks. Organizations look for individuals with skills in communication, time management, leadership, budgeting and problem-solving.
#3. Fundraiser
Fundraisers work for nonprofits, foundations, political campaigns, educational institutions, social service agencies, and other organizations. Like grant managers, they’re responsible for identifying funding opportunities, but they’re not limited to grants. A fundraiser can look to individual donors, foundations, corporations, philanthropic programs, and so on. They’re responsible for developing fundraising strategies and cultivating relationships with donors. They use a variety of fundraising tools, like events, digital fundraisers, direct mail campaigns, and much more. Fundraisers are also excellent communicators as they’re responsible for describing the organization’s mission, funding needs, and impact at any given moment.
To learn more about fundraising, check out our list of the five fundraising books everyone should read.
#4. Social worker
Social workers work with individuals, families and communities. While their tasks vary depending on the specific role, all social workers work to support and advocate for vulnerable groups like children, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and so on. They’re found in sectors like child and family services, the healthcare system, the education system, the housing system, and so on. They often work as case managers who help coordinate services and resources for clients, while they can also provide counseling and therapy. Some social workers focus on community organizing, as well.
#5. Translator
Translators work for governments, nonprofits, hospitals, schools, and other locations where the public congregates for services and resources. Translators are necessary for proper communication, cultural sensitivity, inclusivity and accessibility. They need to be fluent in at least two languages. Their tasks vary, but many translators need to do spoken and written translation and interpretation. They’re involved in research, proofreading, editing, and so on. Some researchers specialize in certain fields, such as law, medicine, technology or science. Specializations help a translator access more career opportunities.
#6. Policy analyst
Policy analysts work for governments, nonprofits, think tanks, educational institutions and other entities. Their job is to analyze and evaluate public policies, programs and legislative proposals. Using their expertise, policy analysts conduct research, run data analysis, make recommendations and shape public policy. They often specialize in policy areas like labor, climate, energy, finance, healthcare and more, which makes them very valuable to the social justice and human rights field. Successful policy analysts are excellent researchers, communications, critical thinkers and problem-solvers.
#7. Photographer/videographer
Visual storytelling is a powerful tool for social justice and human rights. Without photos or video, many human rights abuses would be easier to sweep under the rug. News outlets, governments, nonprofits, universities and other entities hire photographers and videographers. They often travel with journalists or by themselves to document interview subjects and major events. Many photographers/videographers work as freelancers, as well.
Curious about human rights photography? Here are eight tips to remember.
#8. Immigration lawyer
Immigration law is complex and difficult to navigate, so lawyers specializing in this field play an important role in protecting human rights and achieving social justice. They represent a wide range of clients, including those seeking asylum, those trying to get visas and those facing deportation. Immigration lawyers advocate for their clients, help them understand the intricacies of the system and protect their human rights. To practice law, all lawyers must get a law degree and pass any required certifications and licensure. There’s no specific immigration law degree, but lawyers interested in this field can choose a concentration or specialization.
#9. Community health worker
Social service programs, nonprofits, medical clinics and other institutions hire community health workers. These professionals serve as bridges between healthcare providers and the community. They’re essential to building trust within the community and establishing strong partnerships between providers, patients, and other stakeholders. Community health workers are often hired from within the community, so there’s already a relationship there. Their responsibilities can include providing health education, conducting surveys, advocating for human rights, performing health assessments and helping communities prepare for emergencies.
Health equity is a major goal for community health workers. Check out our article on Health Equity 101.
#10. Victim advocate
Victim advocates are professionals who provide victims of crimes or traumatic events with emotional support, safety planning and other assistance. What that assistance looks like varies, but it often includes helping people find services like housing, food, healthcare and legal representation. Victim advocates work in a variety of settings, such as government agencies, law enforcement offices, hospitals, social service organizations and nonprofits. Many advocates come from social work or criminal justice backgrounds.
#11. Researcher
All social justice and human rights organizations, including governments and nonprofits, depend on good research. Without good data, it’s extremely difficult to monitor a problem and develop strategies on how to deal with it. Researchers include data analysts, field officers, civil society members and others. They work at nonprofits, universities, government agencies and other locations. They have excellent communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving. Researchers frequently present their work through detailed reports, press releases, articles, and other written material.
Check out our guide on human rights research jobs.
#12. Civil rights investigator
Local and national government agencies are the largest employers of civil rights investigators. These professionals are responsible for fielding civil rights complaints, investigating cases and resolving any issues. They work on a variety of cases involving employment, housing, public services, education and other sectors. Their role is to ensure civil rights law is upheld and that no one is being discriminated against. Investigators need excellent research skills, communication, legal knowledge, critical thinking and the ability to work with people from a range of backgrounds.
#13. DEI consultant
DEI – which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion – has become an important goal for many organizations. Nonprofits, government agencies, schools, hospitals and other institutions hire consultants to help them identify problems, improve their DEI strategies, and create healthier, more inclusive working environments. Organizations often have specific goals when they hire a consultant, but activities can include intakes, tailored trainings and improved monitoring and evaluation systems. Most consultants come from fields like human rights, social justice, communication, social science, psychology or interdisciplinary studies. There are also professional certificates in DEI.
To learn more about what DEI consultants do, check out our article.
#14. International aid worker
International aid workers provide support and relief to communities experiencing crises like natural disasters, war and other emergencies. Workers can be deployed for short or long periods, depending on the project. They work in a variety of sectors, such as agriculture, education, and health. Responsibilities vary depending on the aid worker’s position and location, but they work on things like research, project reports, fundraising, strategy and budget management. They often work for nonprofits and intergovernmental organizations, but governments employ international aid workers, too. These professionals typically have a lot of volunteer experience, as well as fluency in at least two languages, excellent teamwork skills and the ability to solve problems.
#15. Sustainability professional
Many corporations, governments, educational institutions and other entities are deeply concerned with their ecological impact, as well as their impact on human rights. They hire sustainability professionals, who help them develop and achieve goals related to energy usage, climate change, ethical supply chains, waste management and so on. Sustainability professionals work in a variety of fields as consultants, environmental engineers, sustainability managers, sustainability directors and more. Their tasks can include performing assessments, preparing and analyzing sustainability reports, and developing policy recommendations.
To learn more about corporate social responsibility, here are 10 courses available online.
