Are you interested in contributing to the academic and practical excellence of organising international moot court competitions?
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is an internationally recognised institution combining academic excellence with impactful advocacy to advance human rights, particularly in Africa. The Centre organises and coordinates leading international and regional moot court competitions – the Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Competition and the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition – which form a core component of its teaching, training and advocacy mandates.
The Centre invites applications for the position of Moot Court Competitions Assistant Coordinator, to start at the beginning of the 2026 academic year. This position is intended for a doctoral candidate (LLD or PhD)who will be starting his or her doctoral studies in 2026 at the University of Pretoria. The role offers a valuable opportunity to gain project management experience alongside doctoral studies.
The position will be based at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. The successful candidate will work closely with the Moot Court Coordinator and the Centre’s academic staff to support the effective planning, preparation and execution of the Centre’s moot court activities.
Key Responsibilities
The postholder will:
- Provide administrative and logistical support for the Centre’s moot court competitions, including ensuring compliance with applicable competition rules, timelines and submission requirements.
- Support academic staff and coaches in the preparation of teams for competitions.
- Assist with competition-related correspondence with organisers, judges, partners and participating institutions.
- Support the organisation of travel, accommodation and logistical arrangements for moot court competitions, where applicable.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of institutional memory, records and resources related to moot court participation.
- Travel to and assist with logistical arrangements during the moots.
- Perform other reasonable duties related to the Centre’s moot court programme, as required.
- Make substantial progress of doctoral studies.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Admission or confirmed registration for doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria, at the beginning of the 2026 academic year.
- Demonstrated interest in international human rights law and/or moot court / debate competitions.
- Prior participation in moot court / debate competitions will be a strong advantage.
- Prior experience with project implementation / management
Key Competencies
Planning and Organising
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines concurrently.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills.
- Effective time management and attention to detail.
- Knowledge of basic budgeting processes, including tracking expenditure and supporting financial reporting.
Communication and Teamwork
- Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills in English. Knowledge of French or Portuguese, or both, is an advantage.
- Ability to work collaboratively with academic staff, students and external stakeholders.
- Confidence in coordinating and supporting participating teams.
Technical and Administrative Skills
- Competence in database management and record-keeping.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet software programmes.
- Ability to manage data accurately and generate basic reports as required.
- Familiarity with online collaboration and communication platforms, including shared document repositories and virtual meeting tools.
Problem Solving and Initiative
- Ability to identify and resolve routine administrative and logistical challenges.
- Proactive approach to improving processes and supporting the smooth running of moot court activities.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
Additional Information
The position is compatible with full-time doctoral studies and is structured to support the academic development of the postholder. Further details regarding workload, remuneration and duration will be communicated to shortlisted candidates.
For application-related enquiries, please contact Yusuf Sayaad – yusuf.sayaad@up.ac.za
Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae to chr@up.ac.za by 20 February 2026.
