ABOUT IREX:  

IREX is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $140 million, work in more than 100 countries worldwide with offices in over 20 countries, and a global staff of over 600.  

POSITION SUMMARY:  

IREX seeks a qualified Legal Advisor candidate to lead the five-year Strengthening Civic Engagement project in Kazakhstan. The new activity is guided by the following goal: to cultivate independent and effective civil society to achieve more expansive rights for the citizens of Kazakhstan. The project has three objectives: (1) Strengthen public engagement through collective action to advance Kazakhstan’s reform priorities.  (2) Support civil society to apply innovative solutions to help people claim their fundamental rights. (3) Enhance the regulatory environment to allow civil society to maximize their contributions to society.  

Based in Almaty or Astana, the Legal Advisor will serve as the technical lead for Objective 3 of the project, and will also provide legal analysis and guidance when needed to achieve the other objectives of the activity. The Legal Advisor will collaborate closely with the Chief of Party (COP) and Program Manager (PM), particularly on Objective 3, to support legal analysis of the regulatory environment and ensure CSOs are supported to effectively operate. 

Citizens or residents of Kazakhstan are strongly encouraged to apply.  This position is contingent on project award. 
 

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Supports the Program Manager in providing day-to-day management oversight of Objective 3. Serves as Acting Program Manager in the Program Manager’s absence. 

• Manages and supervises Objective 3 team and provides technical expertise across project activities relating to legal analysis and guidance. 

• Provides legal oversight of all day-to-day operations undertaken by IREX staff, as well as activities undertaken by partner organizations and subgrantees. 

• Monitor and report on any significant changes to legislation which would impact the operating environment for project staff, subgrantees, and local partner organizations. 

• Analyze laws, regulations, court rules and policies/policy proposals. Prepare memoranda, speeches, and articles, including for publication, on international human rights law and policy. 

• Other duties, as assigned. 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• A law degree, preferably one that can be transferred to Kazakhstan’s legal context. 

• A minimum of 3 years' work experience with policymaking and law‐drafting in Kazakhstan. 

• Experience in collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society, think tanks, government agencies, international donors.  

• Demonstrated ability to conduct legal analysis and produce high‐quality but easy to understand written material for a variety of audiences.  

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English, orally and in writing. Ability to speak Russian and/or Kazakh is preferred. 

• Kazakhstan citizenship or residency with work authorization strongly preferred.