We provide a forum for reflecting on law. We explore its theory and history in a comparative and global perspective. We address societal challenges by contributing to a deeper understanding of law.

The (mpilhlt) in Frankfurt/Main is a world leading research institute with a staff of more than 150 persons. Its three departments with more than 70 scholars, the unrivalled collections of its specialized library and its numerous national and international co-operations make it the central research hub for a global scientific community investigating the past, present and future of legal regimes.

The Department “”, under the directorship of , is looking to recruit, from January, 1st, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter, one

Scientific Coordinator (m/f/d)

for its newly established Max Planck - USP Law Center for Normativity Regimes for Societies in Transformation (MP–USP Law Center), led by Director Thomas Duve (mpilhlt) and Samuel Barbosa (Universidade de São Paulo/USP).

The MP–USP Law Center is a joint initiative between the two institutions that aims to become a global hub for researching how law and other regimes of normativities evolve, with a strong emphasis on perspectives from the Global South. Its research focuses on three key areas—Global Socio-environmental Legal Studies, International Law, and Transnational Law—while also developing innovative methods for studying normativity regimes from a global perspective through international collaboration, fellowship and training programs for early-career scholars, fostering a more globally inclusive legal research community.

The advertised position will be based in Frankfurt am Main and report to the Director at the mpilhlt. The coordinator will work in close and regular exchange with both teams in Frankfurt and São Paulo (time difference: 4-5 hours). The role includes active collaboration with internal service units of the mpilhlt as well as with external partners and collaborators. The position makes a substantial contribution to the establishment and continuous development of the Center's structures and to its public presence.

Your responsibilities

• coordination of recruitment and academic personnel (application procedures, on- and offboarding of scholars and guests)
• coordination of scientific program and facilitation of collaborative research formats
• organization of conferences, summer/winter schools, teaching and training programs for early-stage career scholars
• coordination of the building up and curating an innovative web-platform for multi-media publications
• external communication and public outreach (website, social media, events, etc.)

Your Profile

• university degree (minimum Master's) in law, social sciences, or cultural sciences
• experience in research management and research administration, preferably in an international context
• knowledge of the German academic system and international research collaborations
• excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively and independently across academic, administrative, and external stakeholders in an international environment
• willingness to travel especially to Brazil for short-term stays
• excellent command of German and English; knowledge of Portuguese is desirable
• proficiency in MS Office applications and use of AI tools

What we offer

• A full-time appointment (39 hours per week); a part-time appoint is theoretically possible
• Fixed-term appointment for five years in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal for a further fixed-term period (up to five years)
• Mobile working and flexible work hours in accordance with our works agreement
• 30 days of holiday per year; starting 2027: 31 days; paid leave on Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year's Eve (December 31)
• Annual salary before tax will be on a scale from €62,000 (E 13 band 1) to €89,500 (E13 band 6) for a full time position. The salary is based, depending on your qualification, on the German Civil Service Collective Agreement (TVöD); the social benefits for public workers are awarded, including a pension plan (‘VBL’). Previous work experience is taken into account in determining the pay level.
• Access to the wide range of training courses offered by the MPG's Planck Academy
• Close contact with all research and research-support units with the opportunity for direct, personal dialogue
• An international setting with staff and guests

The Institute belongs to the Max Planck Society, Germany’s most successful research organization. Since its establishment in 1948, no fewer than 31 Nobel laureates have emerged from the ranks of its researchers, thus outperforming many of the most prestigious research institutions worldwide. The mission of the Max Planck Society is to conduct fundamental (i.e., non-applied) research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences and the humanities at the highest possible level. Its 84 Institutes are scattered across Germany and beyond, and they focus on research fields that are particularly innovative and resource-intensive.

The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Your application

Please submit your application with complete documents through our application portal. Include cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of qualifications and employment references (in a single PDF file) via the application form on our homepage by the closing date of October, 25th, 2026. Your application should be written in English.

Strong applicants will be invited for an online interview, and, as the case may be, to a further interview at the Institute at a later stage. Please note that we can only accept electronic applications submitted through the application portal.

Contact

Questions as to the terms and conditions of employment may be directed to .