Rule of Law Advisor

Assignment period: 01.05.2026 - 30.04.2027Location: DamascusType of contract: National contract based on Syrian labour lawType of employment: FulltimeGIZ has been operating in Syria since 1976. It has thus established valuable contacts in civil society and garnered experience that is now crucial for supporting the country. From 2013 onwards, it worked without government involvement with the assistance of local non-governmental organisations. Despite the difficult conditions, GIZ has consistently contributed to improving people’s living conditions.In view of the developments since December 2024, which have led Syria into a decisive phase of transformation, GIZ plans to reopen its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing ten projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office (FFO), with co-financing from the European Union and other donors. From 2026, the portfolio is planned to be expanded by several new projects.The project “Strengthening the Rule of Law in Syria,” funded by the BMZ, aims to reinforce and sustainably anchor the principles of the rule of law within the Syrian justice system. The project supports the professionalisation of judicial institutions by assisting training institutes and courts in improving their institutional structures, technical competencies as well as transparency and efficiency. At the same time, access to justice for the population is being expanded, through local legal counselling services as well as information and awareness raising campaigns. In addition, the project promotes independent civil society reporting that monitors compliance with international human rights standards and helps bring relevant developments to public attention.Your tasks* Provide continuous technical and process-oriented advice to selected judicial training institutions on organisational development, internal procedures, and mandate implementation. * Support judicial training institutions in the development, adaptation, and implementation of practice-oriented training curricula and professional development measures, including judicial ethics, transparency, and procedural standards. * Provide technical advice to selected courts of first instance on organisational development measures aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, accessibility, and citizen-centered service delivery. * Support judicial training institutions in the development, adaptation, and implementation of practice-oriented training curricula and professional development measures, including judicial ethics, transparency, and procedural standards. * Support courts in reviewing and improving internal workflows, case management processes, record-keeping, and coordination mechanisms, including the development of SOPs, procedural manuals, and internal framework documents. * Contribute to monitoring of activities and indicators, prepare technical inputs for reports, and documenting good practices and lessons learned. * Where appropriate and reasonable, performing additional tasks upon request of the management.Your profile (required qualifications, competencies and experience)* University degree (Bachelor or higher) in law, public administration, political science, judicial studies, or a closely related field. * At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the justice sector, rule of law programming, judicial administration, or governance-related advisory work, preferably within development cooperation or reform contexts. * Proven experience working with judicial institutions, courts, legal training bodies, or comparable public institutions, including familiarity with post-conflict or transition environments. * Solid understanding of the Syrian legal and judicial system, including courts of first instance, judicial training structures, and administrative procedures. * Practical experience in organisational development, process optimisation, or institutional reform within public sector or judicial institutions. * Experience in supporting or designing professional training and capacity development measures, ideally for legal professionals or civil servants. * Strong analytical, advisory, and facilitation skills, with the ability to work constructively with diverse stakeholders in politically and institutionally sensitive contexts. * Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic, knowledge of German is an asset.HOW TO APPLYThe following minimum requirements for applications need to be fulfilled:1. Only application documents in English will be accepted. Documents in Arabic cannot be considered during the selection process. 2. Mandatory documents are CV and application letter in English stating your qualifications and previous professional experiences.The deadline for application is 28.02.2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.GIZ is committed to diversity and gender balance. It is encouraging persons with disabilities to apply for the position.Please submit your application to [email protected] indicating in the subject line the respective title of the position.