Country Conditions Expert

Communitology; Deutschland; Remote; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A human rights consultancy in Germany is looking for qualified country experts to conduct independent research and provide expert testimony in humanitarian legal cases. You will prepare reports and affidavits impacting case outcomes, ensuring justice in complex situations such as persecution and human rights violations. Remote position with flexible commitments and payment on a case-by-case basis.

Qualifikationen

• Demonstrated peer-reviewed or technical research publications relevant to selected countries.
• Long-term in-country ethnographic research and local language capacity are required.

Aufgaben

• Conduct independent, case-specific research into country conditions.
• Draft structured country conditions reports or expert declarations.
• Provide oral or written expert testimony when required.

Kenntnisse

Independent research

Excellent writing skills

Translating complex knowledge for legal audiences

Ausbildung

PhD in social sciences, law, or area studies

Jobbeschreibung

Communitology is recruiting qualified country experts to support courts, tribunals, immigration authorities, and NGOs through independent research and testimony in humanitarian legal cases.

About the Role

Communitology is a human rights consultancy and legal services provider that facilitates social science, country-specific, and ethnographic expert participation in immigration, asylum, and humanitarian legal proceedings. We are seeking qualified regional experts, researchers, and analysts to join our consultant roster to support legal teams by preparing country conditions reports, affidavits, and expert declarations in cases filed in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, European Union, and Asia.

Country experts serve courts, tribunals, and immigration authorities as neutral, impartial, and independent experts who provide social science research and analysis to support determinations in asylum and humanitarian protection cases. These reports address complex and evolving conditions related to conflict, persecution, political repression, discrimination, criminal justice, structural inequality, migration and displacement, gender-based violence, state and non-state violence, land and resource disputes, customary law, family and kinship systems, religious or ethnic marginalization, political instability, and other anthropologically relevant social risk factors. The inclusion of expert evidence can significantly influence case outcomes, helping to ensure informed and just decisions. Our team supports both direct service legal providers and private law firms in building stronger evidence bases for humanitarian protection.

Key Responsibilities

Expert contributions have a direct impact on case outcomes and can play a pivotal role in ensuring protection for clients facing serious risks. This role supports the delivery of life-saving legal determinations in complex humanitarian cases.

• Conduct independent, case-specific research into country conditions using a wide range of sources (scholarly, institutional, open-source)
• Draft structured country conditions reports or expert declarations aligned with legal criteria and evidentiary standards
• Provide oral (typically virtual) or written expert testimony, when required, in coordination with legal teams and Communitology case managers
• Revise and finalize reports in response to attorney or court feedback (up to two rounds per case)
• Adhere to Communitology’s internal style, structure, and quality standards
• Maintain neutrality and objectivity in all expert contributions
• Typical project turnaround is 4–8weeks, with expeditedoptions available upon mutual agreement

Training & Support

Communitology provides consultants with structured onboarding and ongoing professional support. All consultants have access to:

• A comprehensive Consultant Orientation Guide and onboarding checklist
• Sample reports, templates, and past rulings to inform best practices
• A consultant handbook outlining expectations, workflows, and FAQs
• Internal peer review, case-specific feedback and editorial guidance from Communitology case managers
• Optional workshops and resource briefings on special topics, legal standards, andbest practices in current contexts

Our goal is to support consultants in producing high-quality, court-ready materials while enabling autonomy and clarity across all engagements.

Qualifications

We are specifically seeking country specialists with deep expertise in particular national or subnational contexts. While we value broad knowledge of global migration and humanitarian trends, this role is not suited for generalists or those focused exclusively on Global North systems or macro-level migration flows.

• PhDin social sciences, law, or area studies (degree completion required)
• Demonstrated peer-reviewed or technical research publications and research relevant to selected countries
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex social knowledge for legal audiences
• Long-term in-country ethnographic research and local language capacity are required
• Remote position. U.S. citizenship or residency is not required

Compensation

Experts are contacted on a case-by-case basis and may accept or decline assignments based on availability and interest. There are minimum case commitments. Participation is voluntary and flexible. Payment is per case on a flat-fee basis, and depends on jurisdiction, complexity, and testimony requirements. This employer does not offer employment benefits to domestic partners of employees.

How to Apply

Submit a CV and brief cover letter outlining your country areas of expertise and interest in the role to [e-mail]. Qualified candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis to discuss case availability and next steps.

EEO

Communitology is an equal opportunity contractor. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including those with lived experience relevant to country conditions work. This employer prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation/preference and gender identity/expression.