Progress & Change Action Lab is looking for a Legal Specialist, passionate about human rights and environmental law, to undertake analytical research on legislation and policy, revision of policy documents, and legal drafting on the interconnection between human rights and the environment, with a specific focus on Council of Europe law and its member states.

Responsibilities

• Follow legal developments at Council of Europe level on the right to a clean environment and human rights in relation to the environment and climate, and keep Progress & Change Action Lab abreast of such
• Conduct legal assessments of national legislation, policy and practice, including through constitutional comparison and in regard to relevant Council of Europe and international law, and coordinate peer-reviewing of such assessments as appropriate for specific project implementation
• Draft legal analyses, reviews, and opinions about national legislation in regard to its alignment with the legal, regulatory framework and jurisprudence of the Council of Europe and international standards, and coordinate peer-reviewing of such assessments as appropriate for specific project implementation
• Through undertaking the above, identify trends and patterns in regard to the implementation by Council of Europe member states of their human rights and the environment. Further identify gaps in Council of Europe law and standards in regard to human rights and the environment
• As appropriate, represent Progress & Change Action Lab with relevant state and Council of Europe interlocuters.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree in international and European law and human rights (Master’s degree or equivalent), with a preference for a PhD in law
• Research and publication in human rights and the environment, with a focus on European legislation and practice
• Demonstrated experience in conducting legal drafting, analytical research, revision of policy documents, and comparative research, and in presenting and detailing them to partners and stakeholders
• Experience working with civil society in the field of human rights and the environment is an asset.

Competencies

• Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues, in particular in relation to the development of human rights law related to the protection of the environment. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes to human rights problems in European societies and systems
• Demonstrated willingness to have a gender perspective at the heart of the legal analysis, paying particular attention to women’s human rights and structural discrimination against women
• Work in a collaborative manner with colleagues and see value in a culture of feedback and peer review
• Experience in engaging with national and European stakeholders, including state representatives
• Demonstrated ability to independently research legislation from Council of Europe member states
• High degree of ability to work independently, report on the development of tasks, and facility to liaise with colleagues. Accustomed to work remotely and to interact online with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders. At ease at connecting and interacting online and ability
• Languages: English and French are the working languages of the Council of Europe. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French and other national languages of Council of Europe member states is an advantage.

What we offer

This position will be a part-time consultancy position (exact amount of work to be determined and agreed upon) through which the Legal Specialist will support Progress & Change Action Lab in advising its partners. Progress & Change Action Lab wishes to partner with a Specialist throughout the duration of its partnership with its stakeholders (October 2024 through December 2028).

Applications:

Please submit a motivation letter (1 page), a CV (max. 2 pages, Europa’s Format) and two relevant writing samples (material you have already published or written) to lab@progress-change-actionlab.org (subject: Legal Specialist, human rights and environment) by 22 August 2024, 12.00 CET.

For any further information, please contact P&C Action Lab's President, Florian Irminger, at florian@progress-change-actionlab.org.