Junior Programme Officer

Are you a motivated young professional eager to put human rights and human security into practice? Do you want to support young people to address human rights challenges at local level and inform policymaking? If you’re passionate about applying your knowledge and skills in human rights through hands-on projects with young people and policymakers in the Netherlands and abroad, then we’d love to hear from you.

HSC is looking for a Junior Programme Officer (24 hours per week) starting from the 1st of October 2026 to support our work ensuring that people are heard, feel secure and have agency. In this role, you will contribute to HSC's mission to bridge the gap between citizens and security, empowering civil society organizations and communities to play an active role in decision-making within the security domain.

As a Junior Programme Officer, you will facilitate participatory processes with young people to address human rights challenges, create spaces for all voices to be heard, and foster an inclusive and safe environment. In practice, this means you will design and implement workshops, coach participants, and help organize events. Additionally, you will liaise with partner organizations and educators to co-create new initiatives and assist in meeting reporting and administrative requirements. You will also contribute to our visibility through communication materials and outreach to engage new groups of young people in our programs.

This position will initially focus on our Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) project, Rechten in Actie/Rights in Action, where we encourage young people to defend human rights in the Netherlands, through conducting participatory research, implementing small-scale initiatives and engaging with policymakers, private sector, and NGOs. Rights in Action is a consortium in which we partner with civil society organizations, educational institutions, and local policymakers, to integrate human rights practice into the classroom and outside, working towards a just and secure world where individuals can speak, connect, associate, and assemble freely and without fear.

Tasks

• Facilitate group processes with young people working on human rights and human security
• Design, plan and organise events and activities
• Coordinate with partners and other stakeholders
• Network with decision makers, and other relevant stakeholders
• Manage administrative tasks and assist with reporting
• Support with communication about activities and projects
• Co-design trainings with team members and young people participating in projects

Requirements

• 24 hours per week on average (some weeks may require more or less time, depending on events and workload)
• Working a minimum of two days per week from our office in The Hague, with the flexibility to work from home on the remaining days
• Good knowledge of Dutch society, preferably you have a network in civil society organisations, youth movements, education, and/or municipalities, or you are eager to build one
• Languages: Proficiency in Dutch and English. Proficiency in French or Arabic is a plus
• At least 2 years of relevant experience

Skills & qualities

• Able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Is flexible, able to prioritize between assignments and takes initiative
• Passion for human rights and for the facilitation of group processes
• Strong communication skills, empathetic– is good at building bridges
• Critical thinking skills
• Champions participatory decision-making and fosters environments where all voices are heard

How to apply?

Interested in this role? Please send your CV and motivation letter by the 23rd of August 2026 to: yasmine.haloui@hscollective.org

We will process applications on a rolling basis.