Chair in Countering Illicit Trade & Transnational Organized Crime

About the role

The University for Peace seeks a senior academic leader to head a new Chair focused on countering illicit trade and preventing transnational organized crime. The incumbent will drive teaching, research and international collaboration from the UPEACE headquarters in Costa Rica.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate and teach postgraduate and professional courses in English and Spanish, supervise theses and provide student mentoring.
• Lead research aligned with UPEACE’s mandate, produce peer‑reviewed publications, policy briefs and secure research funding.
• Build strategic partnerships with universities, international organisations, governments and the private sector, and represent the Chair in global forums.
• Advise university leadership on security, illicit economies and organized‑crime policy, preparing briefing materials and contributing to strategic planning.
• Organise conferences, workshops and executive‑education events, linking academic output with policy communities.
• Identify funding opportunities, develop project proposals and mobilise resources to sustain the Chair’s activities.

Required profile

• PhD or equivalent doctorate in International Relations, Political Science, Law, Economics, Peace and Conflict Studies, Security Studies, Criminology, Development Studies or a related social‑science discipline.
• Minimum five years of higher‑education experience combining academic, policy and institutional engagement with international organisations or governments.
• Proven university teaching and curriculum‑development experience in the thematic areas of illicit trade and organized crime.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct, coordinate and publish high‑quality academic and policy research.
• Experience developing strategic partnerships and managing international research or capacity‑building projects.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish.