Institutional Development and Judicial Reform Advisor

GIZ 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 organizations. 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 reopens its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing 14 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.

Project description

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, including 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 and provide actionable recommendations to the Syrian government on its’ obligation under International Human Rights Law.

Your tasks

• Provide technical and process advice on organizational development within state judicial institutions, universities and bar associations.
• Support selected first-instance courts in improving internal organization and daily operations.
• Draft institutional framework documents, procedural manuals, and internal organizational guidelines.
• Formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) to streamline case processing and file management.
• Advise on restructuring administrative setups, internal civil service rules, and personnel management workflows.
• Guide the integration of digital systems and IT management tools for court processes.
• Facilitate technical organizational development workshops for senior court administrators and judicial managers.
• Manage external institutional contractors, legal experts, and technical service providers.

Your profile

• Advanced University degree (Master’s or higher) in Law, International Law, or an equivalent legal discipline
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience directly managing or advising on rule of law initiatives, public sector institutional capacity building, or justice sector reform projects within international development contexts.
• Proven professional background practicing as a certified lawyer or serving as a judge within a formal court system, ensuring first-hand operational insight into judicial proceedings, courtroom dynamics, and the practical application of the law.
• Active or former membership in a national or regional bar association, and/or extensive professional experience in court administration, case management, or organizational restructuring, and/or a strong background lecturing or conducting institutional training at a judicial academy or law faculty.
• Profound context knowledge of the civil law system, public administrative structures, and transitional challenges in Syria or the wider Middle East region, allowing for the culturally sensitive implementation of institutional reforms
• Strong soft skills and core competencies, including excellent interpersonal communication skills for high-level dialogue, meticulous attention to detail and analytical rigor in drafting, high operational flexibility to adapt to volatile environments, a strong ability to follow through on long-term institutional commitments, as well as high integrity and conflict sensitivity.
• Native or professional fluency in Arabic and full professional proficiency in English; knowledge of German is an asset.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication, adaptability in fragile contexts, and strong diplomatic skills

Additional information

The 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 09.09.2026. 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.