The Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) is seeking to
fill the new position of Country Director, China. Leading candidates will be
lawyers with demonstrated expertise and interest in legal reform and public
interest law in China, as well as strong project management skills.

PILI has two major objectives in China: 1) to promote the
provision of pro bono legal services to public interest organizations by
developing a clearinghouse to match them with law firms; and 2) to encourage
strategic litigation and other advocacy tools for advancing the rights of
women, migrants and other vulnerable populations. For more information on
PILI’s work, see their website at www.pili.org.

[Language below is taken from the PILI job announcement]

Founded at Columbia University in 1997 and now
headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, the Public Interest Law
Institute (PILI) is an international NGO whose mission is to advance human
rights around the world by stimulating public interest advocacy and developing
the institutions necessary to sustain it. Through its five main programs, Legal
Aid Reform, Legal Education Reform, Promoting Pro Bono, NGO Advocacy, and
Public Interest Law Fellowships, PILI increases access to justice for poor and
marginalized communities, strengthens public interest advocacy, and nurtures
the next generation of civil society leaders. PILI has two major objectives in
China: 1) to promote the provision of pro bono legal services to public
interest organizations by developing a clearinghouse to match them with law
firms; and 2) to encourage strategic litigation and other advocacy tools for
advancing the rights of women, migrants and other vulnerable populations. 

PILI is seeking to fill the new position of Country
Director, China. Leading candidates will be lawyers with demonstrated expertise
and interest in legal reform and public interest law in China, as well as
strong project management skills. The position offers a competitive salary and
benefits package. 

Key responsibilities

Program

– Work closely with PILI senior staff on strategy and
program development and contribute to the drafting of proposals to potential
donors

– Oversee implementation of PILI projects in China,
including: 

– Working closely with NGO partners on planning and
organizing workshops on public interest  litigation and advocacy.

– Organizing events on pro bono legal services

– Soliciting pro bono needs from public interest NGOs and
matching them with law firms offering pro bono services

– Monitoring partners’ progress on preparing
publications.

– Managing additional projects
as they develop.

– Liaise regularly with headquarters staff on status of
projects and conduct internal monitoring, evaluation, and report writing

– Provide technical assistance to partner organizations,
particularly outside Beijing

– Draft reports to donors

– Represent PILI to donors, international and local NGOs,
other partners, and government officials

– Assist in the recruitment of Chinese applicants to PILI’s
Public Interest Law Fellowship Program

Finance & Administration

– Hire and supervise local staff as need arises

– Maintain regular contact with PILI senior staff on
operational and programmatic matters

– Prepare financial reports for review by the PILI
Administrative Director

  Qualifications

– A law degree

– At least 5 years relevant work experience

– Significant project management experience

– Demonstrated expertise and interest in legal reform and
public interest law in China

– Superlative communication skills, including fluency in
English and Mandarin, both written and spoken.

– Willingness to travel regularly within China, as well
as make regular visits to other PILI offices

Application instructions 

To apply: Please email a resume, brief cover letter and
two writing samples, to [email protected]. Please
include salary requirements.

Deadline: December 17, 2007

Start Date: February 18, 2008   

Only those offered interviews will be contacted. No phone
calls, please.   

PILI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages
candidates of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds to apply.
Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual
orientation.