Research Officer – Mauritania At Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law

The Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law is considering filling a position of Research Officer to focus on its activities in West Africa.

Position: Research Officer

Region of intervention: * West Africa (Mauritania)

Location: Foundation Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany

Limitation of the duration of the employment contract: Fixed-term contract (1 year, with possibility of renewal)

Expected start date: October 1, 2024

Application deadline: September 6, 2024

*NOTE: All positions are subject to funding availability. The successful candidate will be assigned to a position in our project in Mauritania. Multiple selected candidates may be recruited, depending on funding availability and project needs. Reassignment or transfer to an alternative Max Planck Foundation project is possible.

Basic information about the employer

The Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law was founded in 2013 in Heidelberg. It continues the research and training projects as well as legal assistance that were implemented between 2002 and 2012 by the “Transfer of Global Knowledge” group on behalf of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. The Max Planck Foundation can therefore draw on more than ten years of experience in providing legal advice to states undergoing constitutional reform, state reorganization and legal reform. The most representative areas of work of the Foundation are supporting the constitutional reform process and supporting the stabilization of legal systems through the training of state legal cadres (ministerial employees, judges in constitutional and ordinary courts, and other officials). Another important part of its work is to support peace processes, legislative and administrative reform, the fight against corruption, secondary education reform, the defence of legal pluralism and other areas of intervention relating to the prevention or resolution of conflicts.

All projects are carried out with the financial support of various donors in a number of countries and regions. For further information please visit our website: www.mpfpr.de .

Brief job description

The Research Officer will be responsible for implementing activities planned under projects promoting the rule of law, including through capacity-building workshops, legal and technical advisory activities in public international law and constitutional law. Specific thematic areas may include: constitutional law, human rights, administrative law and electoral law.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director of Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, the successful candidate will

• Provide legal and technical advice and assistance to project partners;
• Undertake advanced legal research work;
• Organize and conduct legal training workshops for state actors, members of judicial institutions and other target groups in countries where a project is implemented;
• Travel to countries where projects are implemented and liaise with local partners;
• Take charge of the administrative monitoring of projects or their components;
• Perform reporting, monitoring and evaluation tasks.

Selection criteria

Education and professional experience

An advanced degree (Master’s level) in law and extensive knowledge of public international law and comparative constitutional law are required. Successful candidates must demonstrate an area of ​​specialization or professional experience relevant to the work carried out in the framework of the Foundation’s projects. Previous research work and/or professional experience relating to the West African region are advantages.

Language skills

Proficiency in Arabic and French at a near-native level (written and spoken) is mandatory.

In addition, proficiency in English is essential as the primary working and communication language within the foundation.

Other skills

• Good interpersonal skills in a multicultural environment, including excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• Flexibility, including proven ability to work under pressure, adapt to changing work and project circumstances and deal with unforeseen events;
• Excellent organizational skills, including effective time management and clear prioritization of tasks;
• The ability to present high-level academic work to non-specialists while taking into account the needs of the participants;
• Availability to travel frequently within West Africa, particularly for seminars and other related activities;
• Computer skills related to standard software.

Method of evaluating candidates

Assessment of qualified candidates will include a competency-based test and an interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The Max Planck Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunity and encourages qualified men and women, including people with disabilities, to apply.

Only applicants eligible for a valid German residence and work permit will be considered.

Miscellaneous

Any position is subject to the availability of funding.

The research fellows are based in Heidelberg, Germany, with frequent travel to the West African region.

The remuneration will be based on the collective agreement on public sector salaries under German law ( Tariftvertrag des Öffentlichen Dienstes – TVÖD ).