Research Fellow (f/m/d) in Law (Iraq Project)

Position description

The Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law is looking to fill one project-related position for a Research Fellow in the Iraq project.

Project: Iraq
Location: Max Planck Foundation Office in Heidelberg, Germany
Term: Fixed term (1 year), with possibility of extension
Closing date for applications: 22.09.2023

Background

At the core of the Max Planck Foundation’s mission stands the provision of technical legal assistance to developing countries, particularly to countries in transition or conflict (see: http://www.mpfpr.de). Through legal consulting and legal capacity building activities, the Foundation assists States endeavoring to develop their legal systems and strengthen their institutions. The Foundation also provides legal expertise to the responsible institutions and legal professionals with the aim of enabling them to autonomously carry out necessary changes.

Job Summary

The Research Fellow will implement project activities promoting the rule of law, including capacity building workshops and technical legal advice. Specific focus areas could include legislative drafting techniques, participatory law-making and regulatory impact assessments, as well as compliance with principles and provisions of public international law and constitutional law.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of Project, the successful candidate shall:

• develop training materials (such as manuals on legislative drafting or regulatory impact assessments);
• organise capacity building workshops in the project country for project partners;
• provide technical legal advice and assistance to project partners;
• undertake advanced legal research;
• travel to the project country and liaise with local partners;
• handle the administrative supervision of project components;
• carry out project reporting, monitoring and evaluation duties.

Selection Criteria

Education and Professional Experience

Essential

• Advanced degree in Law (LL.M; Ph.D.) or
• Ideally, 5+ years of demonstrable experience as a Lawyer or Legal Advisor in constitutional law/public international law/legal drafting techniques and law-making processes;
• Extensive knowledge of public international law and comparative constitutional law;
• Familiarity with legal drafting and law-making processes;
• Ability to deliver high-level research and capacity-building training.

Desirable

• Profile of successful candidates must demonstrate an area of specialization or practical experience relating to the relevant regional or topical focus areas;
• Professional experience or research related to constitutional law or law-making in Iraq is highly advantageous;
• Regional or country experience in Iraq is preferable.

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in English and Arabic as a native language is essential (written and oral).

Other Skills & Competencies

• Strong interpersonal skills in a multi-cultural environment, including excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently as well as in a team setting;
• Flexibility, including demonstrated ability to work under pressure, to adapt to changing work and project circumstances and to respond to unforeseen developments;
• Excellent organizational skills, i.e. skilled in setting priorities and meeting deadlines, and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Ability to present high-level research and capacity-building training to non-experts in a service-orientated manner;
• Willingness to travel frequently to Iraq for workshops and related activities;
• Willingness to be based in Heidelberg, Germany, for the period of the contract;
• Computer literacy skills with standard software.

Assessment Method

Assessment of qualified candidates will include a competency-based test (essay of 1,500 words on a specific topic) and interviews.

The Max Planck Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified men and women, including those with disabilities, to apply.

Only candidates eligible for a valid residence and work permit in Germany will be taken into consideration. MPFPR will assist with the visa application process.

Miscellaneous

All positions are contingent upon funding.

Research Fellows are based in Heidelberg, Germany, with frequent travels to the project regions for workshops.

Remuneration will be based on the Collective Agreement on Public Service Wages under German Law (Tarifvertrag des Öffentlichen Dienstes – TVöD).

 

Application instructions

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