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Justice Policy Adviser

Location: Remote – Frequent travel to Damascus

Type: Consultancy

Reports To: Executive Director    

About the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre

SJAC is a leading Syrian human rights organization striving to achieve justice for crimes committed during the Syrian conflict. SJAC documents violations, supports criminal cases against Syrian perpetrators, and searches for those still missing. Since December 8, SJAC has been actively engaging with the new Syrian government to support a comprehensive transitional justice process.   

Position Summary

SJAC is seeking a passionate human rights advocate to lead SJAC’s justice policy work in Syria. The Justice Policy Adviser will work closely with the Executive Director, policy, and legal teams in formulating targeted recommendations and communicating them directly to relevant entities in Syria, including the new missing persons and transitional justice committees as well as the Ministry of Justice. The Adviser will also be responsible for representing SJAC at meetings and conferences in Damascus, including with visiting diplomats and UN representatives. The ideal candidate will have a strong network in Damascus and familiarity with transitional justice processes. SJAC will consider candidates based in Damascus, as well as remote candidates willing to travel to Syria up to 25% of the time. 

SJAC anticipates offering a 12-month contract (with a three-month probationary period) for an Adviser to support SJAC’s efforts approximately 19 days per month. Employment contracts may be available for those based in the U.S. or Europe.

General Duties and Responsibilities

  • Connect with Syrian government entities, as well as local civil society and other stakeholders, to provide targeted, technical advice on transitional justice processes and the protection of human rights. Serve as SJAC’s primary representative in Damascus, representing the organization’s work to a variety of local stakeholders.
  • Closely monitor the work of relevant government entities on transitional justice and identify opportunities for engagement. Keep the SJAC team apprised of updates and draft analysis for public articles.
  • Work with the SJAC team to convene in person events in Damascus, including private roundtables with relevant stakeholders as well as technical trainings.

Skills and Experience

  • University degree (Masters preferred) in law, political science, public policy, international affairs, or another relevant field.
  • Full professional proficiency in Arabic; English fluency is a plus.
  • Ability to travel regularly to Syria, Damascus and other locations if deemed safe.
  • Strong professional networks in Damascus, including with the Ministry of Justice. Familiarity with relevant international justice mechanisms, including the UN IIIM and IIMP, preferred.
  • Collaborative team player able to work across SJAC’s various teams to integrate expertise from legal, documentation, and other work into policy positions.

How to Apply:

SJAC is a diverse organization made up of 60+ team members around the globe. We pride ourselves on our ability to implement programming that is inclusive and responsive to the needs of all Syrians and believe that our own team’s diversity of viewpoints and experiences helps us to achieve that goal. We encourage all interested applicants to apply, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

To apply, please send an email with the subject line “Policy Adviser” to [email protected], providing a cover letter, resume, and proposed daily rate. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.