Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in International Law and Comparative Law University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa invites applications for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in International Law and Comparative Law.

Overview

We are looking for an exceptional researcher who leads a globally recognized research program on international law and comparative law. The goal of this chair is to increase the intensity and impact of research in the fields of international law and comparative law while developing wide-ranging international partnerships with researchers, international organizations, and civil society actors, notably within the Francophonie. The successful applicant will hold a permanent regular position in the Civil Law Section of the Faculty of Law, where they will be called upon to play a leading role in research, including interdisciplinary research, and in the education of graduate students (LL.M., Ph.D.).

Depending on their proposed areas of research, the successful applicant could contribute to the activities of one or more of the following research centres at the University of Ottawa: the Human Rights Research and Education Centre; the Centre for International Policy Studies; the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Citizenship and Minorities; the Research Centre on the Future of Cities; the uOttawa Public Law Centre; the Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability; the Centre for Law, Technology and Society; the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics; and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health. The successful applicant could also participate in the activities of the University’s chairs on the Francophonie (particularly the Senghor chair and research chairs on international Francophonie).

There are also several opportunities to partner with other units in the Faculty, including the Centre sur les cultures juridiques et le droit civil; the University Research Chair on Accountable Artificial Intelligence in a Global Context; the JuriGlobe World Legal Systems Research Group; the Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory on the Rights of the Child; and the International Law Group, which is jointly managed with the Common Law Section.

Located on the unceded ancestral lands of the Omamiwiiniwug Algonquin nation, the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa boasts 35 full-time faculty members in its Civil Law Section and 75 in its Common Law Section, which combined with its six research centres, 15 chairs, and three laboratories, fosters an exceptional intellectual environment for study (or learning), research and teaching. Our graduate programs include a general master’s degree (LL.M.) and master’s degrees with the following concentrations: international humanitarian and security law; global sustainability and environmental law; international trade law and foreign investment; feminist and gender studies; health law, policy and ethics; and law and technology. We also offer a doctoral program in law (Ph.D.).

Our faculty is located within walking distance of many major public and international law institutions in Canada, with which we enjoy close ties and privileged relationships, including Canada’s Parliament, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, and Global Affairs Canada, as well as several embassies and the headquarters of major international organizations, such as the UN High Commission for Refugees, Amnesty International, the International Development Research Centre, and the Canadian Red Cross. The Faculty is an ideal place to teach and conduct research in international law and comparative law.

Tier 1 Chairs, tenable for seven years and renewable once, are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. For each Tier 1 Chair, the institution receives $200,000 annually for seven years. Nominees for Tier 1 Chair positions must be full professors or associate professors who are expected to be promoted to the full professor level within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. New CRC nominees are also eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work.

Selective hiring

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. In accordance with the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, the selection will be limited to members of the four designated groups such as Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and women, as defined in the Employment Equity Act. Candidates from these groups who wish to be considered for this position must complete the confidential self-identification form during the application process online (go to My profile / Employment Equity section). The objective of this measure is to increase the representation of the four designated groups (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and members of visible minorities as defined in the Employment Equity Act) in the allocation of Canada Research Chair positions. Internal and external candidates are eligible.

Skills requirements

  • Education: Ph.D. in Law or a related discipline.
  • Required Qualifications: outstanding independent research achievements in the CRC’s identified area(s), evidence of interdisciplinary and international collaborations; a solid record of sustained commitment to teaching and training of students at the graduate level, a substantial record of securing external research funding, excellent aptitude to teach and conduct research in French and within the Francophonie; and at least a passive knowledge of English.

Rank and salary

Regular tenure-track faculty position in the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section. The salary range for a full professor is $118,864 to $207,511 (based on the May 1, 2023, scale of the collective agreement between APUO and the University of Ottawa). The salary is competitive and commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience. A salary supplement is possible upon obtaining the Chair.

Benefits package

The University of Ottawa provides a complete benefits package which includes long-term disability, basic group life insurance, supplementary health insurance, University of Ottawa Pension Plan and optional life insurance, as well as relocation expenses.

Location of work

Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5

Application package

  • A cover letter;
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae (Please include any personal circumstances and/or career interruptions such as parental or sick leaves that may have impacted your research trajectory. These will be taken into consideration in the selection process);
  • A research plan (2 to 3 pages);
  • A statement of teaching interests (1 to 2 pages);
  • A statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion philosophy and concrete practices (1 page);
  • The names of three people who may be contacted by the University for letters of reference which will follow the Canada Research Chairs guidelines (Tier 1: all three arm’s length with no conflict of interest and one international but not from the same country as your own); and
  • Self-identification: Complete the confidential Employment Equity section online (go to My profile / Employment Equity section) during the application process online.

Submission process

Deadline: November 29, 2022

Applications should be submitted electronically through the University of Ottawa Academic Careers website at the following link: J0922-2150

The selection process will begin immediately after the closing date and will continue until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please address your cover letter to the following person:

Dr. Sylvain Charbonneau, Vice-President, Research and Innovation
University of Ottawa
550 Cumberland St., room 246
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CANADA

For questions, please email: [email protected]

According to government policy, all qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at [email protected]. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.

 Ad posted on September 29, 2022