MECAM Outreach & Transfer Manager / Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d)

The German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) / Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien is an independent social science research institute based in Hamburg. It analyses political, social and economic developments in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, and links this knowledge to questions of global significance. It combines region-specific analysis with innovative comparative research on accountability and participation, peace and security, globalisation and development, and global orders and foreign policies. The GIGA seeks to appoint a

MECAM Outreach & Transfer Manager / Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) 

Applications are invited for an 80% position at the GIGA in Hamburg, with a contract until    31 March 2029, starting 15 April / 1 May 2024. The salary is commensurate with EG 13 TV-AVH / TVöD.

The successful candidate will work in the project MECAM – Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb: https://mecam.tn/?lang=en , funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The successful candidate’s tasks will include:

• Planning and organisation of four so-called “Rencontres Ibn Khaldoun” (RIK) events per year, in cooperation with MECAMs Coordination Office in Tunis; RIKs are public outreach events in Tunisia aimed at reaching broader, also non-academic audiences;
• Planning, organisation and possibly moderation of one “MECAM Policy Talk” per year (2024-2028); this format is held in Berlin and aims to bring Maghrebi political themes and perspectives in conversation with German policy- and opinion-makers;
• Representation of MECAM at national and international scholarly conferences in the field of Middle Eastern Studies; organisation of MECAM-related panels or roundtables and dissemination of MECAM findings;
• Undertaking own social science research with a focus on the contemporary Maghreb, leading to publications in SSCI-ranked journals or peer-reviewed book series.

Mandatory qualifications:

• A doctoral degree in political science, sociology, economics, or other social science;
• Fluency in English and French;
• Active research agenda with proficiency in theoretical and methodological debates;
• Very good knowledge of political, social and economic developments in the Maghreb, including knowledge of state and non-state institutional landscape;
• Experience in outreach and transfer  

Desired qualifications:

• At least basic reading and speaking proficiency in German;
• At least basic reading and speaking proficiency in Standard Arabic and/or one Maghrebi dialect;
• Experience of living and working in the Maghreb

At the GIGA, the MECAM project is embedded in the Institute for Middle East Studies (IMES) and the Research Programme 1 “Accountability and Participation”. There are sufficient BMBF funds available for the successful candidate to regularly travel to Tunisia for MECAM meetings and events (around 3-4 times per year), to Berlin for the MECAM Policy Talk (1-2 times per year) and to 1-2 (inter)national academic conferences per year.  

Part-time options will be considered, if so desired by the successful candidate. Diversity and the reconciliation of work and family life are of great importance to the institute. The GIGA promotes the equality of all genders. Additionally, we actively encourage applications from persons with disabilities.

Please fill out the GIGA application form (found at https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/career ) and send it with your full application (Ref.-No. GIGA-24-03) including relevant supporting documentation (cover letter, CV, credentials/diplomas/certificates, two letters of recommendation, list of publications, max. two work samples) as one document (except for the completed GIGA application form) to:

German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)

IMES Secretariat

Neuer Jungfernstieg 21, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

Email: jobs-imes(at)giga-hamburg.de (email applications are particularly welcome).

Screening of applications will begin on 3 March 2024.

For further information, please visit the GIGA homepage (www.giga-hamburg.de ) or contact Dr. André Bank (email: andre.bank(at)giga-hamburg.de , phone: +49 (0)40/428 25 584).