We are looking for a committed individual with a passion for and strong command of international humanitarian law (IHL) to join our team in Jerusalem in a role central to our activities in the Palestinian-Israeli context.

WHO WE ARE 

The IHL Centre is an independent expert group that provides rapid and in-depth legal advice, training and advocacy on the laws of war to ensure the protection of people in conflict zones worldwide.

We engage in research, advocacy, and training to foster understanding and respect for IHL and for complementary rules of international law. Our rapid and in-depth analyses enable the humanitarian sector and other stakeholders to respond to urgent needs and to promote the effective implementation of humanitarian standards.  

The Centre is part of the Swedish development organization Diakonia. In addition to its Team working on the Israeli-Palestinian context, the Centre has teams which cover conflicts in the Middle East, West Africa, and emerging crises worldwide. 

Through our progressive and inclusive approach, we aspire to secure the strongest possible protection for every person affected by armed conflict. No one should be left unprotected; no situation is beyond the law. 

THE Israel & Palestine Team 

The Israel & Palestine Team (the Team) advances the IHL Centre’s overall objectives by functioning as a source of expertise on IHL and related areas of international law for actors operating in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) or on issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Team conducts thorough and contextualized IHL-based analysis, and engages in related advocacy, capacity development, and training. In these activities, it combines in-depth understanding of the context with a capacity to respond rapidly and provide IHL analysis of newly unfolding developments. 

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION 

The Team’s Legal Research Specialist, will play a lead role in developing the IHL Centre’s legal analysis of issues pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian context and in forming and implementing the Team’s research agenda. The position is critical to enable the Centre to produce timely expert legal analysis and advice in a context where there are many complex IHL-related issues to contend with often arising in rapid succession.

Objectives, Tasks and Deliverables

Overall objective: To assist in developing the Team research agenda, to conduct legal research, responds to queries about legal issues, produce reports and briefs, and deliver briefings on research outputs.

Specific Tasks:

• Conducting IHL-related legal research and analysis on issues pertinent to the oPt 
• Drafting and reviewing legal documents of various kinds for internal reference and for publication
• Presenting legal briefs to stakeholders from State service, international organizations, and civil society
• Providing clarification on the law to various stakeholders, in the context of the IHL Centre’s “advisory service” function
• Planning and delivering IHL trainings
• Representing the IHL Centre in meetings and public events and fielding questions.
• Contributing to the identification of future research and other activities for the Team
• Contributing to the Jerusalem Team’s strategic planning

Experience and Qualifications

Minimum:

• Advanced degree in law (JD or LLM) with specialization and experience in IHL and related fields of international law, in particular international human rights law (IHRL)
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Demonstrated capacity to conduct advanced legal research and analysis independently
• Demonstrated capacity to draft high-quality legal texts in English
• Demonstrated capacity to engage in teamwork
• Experience and demonstrated proficiency in public speaking
• Experience in teaching IHL or IHRL
• Five years of progressively responsible experience working in the field of IHL
• Advanced Knowledge of the law of occupation

Desirable:

• Experience with networking and stakeholder engagement
• Experience working on legal issues pertaining to the Palestinian-Israeli context
• Knowledge of European Union law
• Demonstrated record of advanced academic research relating to IHL

CONDITIONS AND APPLICATION 

Location: Remote

Position type and duration: Full-time employment / consultancy (depending on the location of the candidate) for 6-months with possibility for extension.

Diakonia offers a competitive benefits package.  

Please submit your CV and cover letter no later than 01 September 2025.

Ideal start date: 01 October 2025

For questions regarding the position, please contact Eitan Diamond at eitan.diamond@ihlcentre.org

Please DO NOT use this email to submit your application.

The IHL Centre is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace, and strives to be representative of all sections of society. We know that different perspectives, experiences, and competences are key for the Centre to be a relevant, capable, and successful organization. The IHL Centre therefore strives to recruit staff with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.