Job Description

MENA Project Manager, TrustLaw - Thomson Reuters Foundation
Join a team which leverages media, legal and data-driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business.
We are the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, one of the world's leading content and technology companies. A registered charity in the UK and the USA, our expertise is embedded across the globe.
For more than 40 years, we have promoted the highest standards in journalism by training reporters around the world to cover issues relevant to their local context, accurately and impartially. Today, we aim to foster free, fair, and informed societies by harnessing the power of the media, the law, and data intelligence.
Our global pro bono legal network, TrustLaw, works with leading law firms and corporate legal teams to facilitate free legal support, research and resources for civil society organisations, social enterprises and non-profit independent media around the globe. As the largest pro bono legal network in the world, TrustLaw draws on the expertise of more than 120,000 lawyers in 190 countries. We leverage the power of the law to protect, support and empower organisations at the frontlines of social or environmental change, and to strengthen and defend independent media and the civic space.
We are seeking a MENA Project Manager to join the TrustLaw team in Dubai.
This dynamic role will combine the opportunity to pilot a groundbreaking pro bono engagement initiative in UAE and the broader region (approx 60%), as well as expand our portfolio of programming in MENA (approx 40%), with a specific focus on supporting independent media with legal tools and training.
Please note, this is a fixed term contract for 12 months, with potential for extension.
About the Role
As a MENA Project Manager, TrustLaw at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, you will:

• Build and manage relationships with civil society organisations (CSOs), independent media and law firms across the MENA region (with focus on UAE and likely Lebanon), through targeted outreach, network building, and in-person or virtual meetings.
• Build and activate strategic partnerships across the broader MENA region.
• Develop and run a needs assessment to map and understand the legal challenges and pro bono capacity in the UAE and MENA region, and identify opportunities, resources, etc to fill the gap.
• Support organisations to access pro bono legal services and coordinate its delivery, leveraging the TrustLaw platform and international expertise.
• Organise and facilitate in-person and virtual workshops, trainings, and capacity-building events in partnership with participating law firms.
• Scope and oversee development of legal guides, training materials, and research outputs that serve both pro bono clients and the broader ecosystem, leveraging the pro bono support of participating law firms.
• Maintain our CRM/database system (Salesforce) to track project activities, stakeholder engagement, and reporting.
• Prepare reports for both internal and external stakeholders, including donors.
• Represent TrustLaw and the Thomson Reuters Foundation at relevant external meetings, events, and forums in the UAE.

About You
To be our Project Manager, TrustLaw, you will likely have:

• Significant project management experience, ideally in the legal, CSO and/or media freedom sectors within the UAE and wider MENA region.
• A good understanding of the legal and non-profit sectors in the UAE and wider MENA region, and ideally, prior exposure to legal pro bono.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage multi-stakeholder networks. Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Experience working on donor-funded projects, including monitoring, reporting, and compliance.
• Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building workshops or legal training is desirable.
• Proficient in using databases or CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) for project tracking and reporting.
• Ability to work collaboratively with international colleagues, including occasional meetings outside standard working hours.
• Willingness to travel within the UAE as required; must have the right to work in Dubai.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is essential.
• A legal qualification (or significant experience in a legal/pro bono environment) is preferred.

Please note, the deadline for applications is 17 October at 11.59pm Gulf Standard Time.
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What's in it For You?
Global Perspective and Impact: Interested in working for a dynamic global organization with a focus on social impact? With hubs all over the world from Bangkok to Madrid to Rio de Janeiro, join a truly international team with a shared goal of helping to build societies around the world that are free, fair, and informed.
Unique Approach: Our expertise in media and the law is world class. We combine the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.
Our Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, our work has never been more needed than right now.
Industry Competitive Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.
Learning & Development: We are dedicated to the continual professional development of our employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.
About Thomson Reuters Foundation
The Thomson Reuters Foundation is corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and the USA, we work to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and convening initiatives, we combine our unique media and legal services to drive systemic change.
About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. We serve professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Our products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news.
We are powered by the talents of 26,000 employees across more than 70 countries, where everyone has a chance to contribute and grow professionally in flexible work environments. At a time when objectivity, accuracy, fairness, and transparency are under attack, we consider it our duty to pursue them. Sound exciting? Join us and help shape the industries that move society forward.
As a global business, we rely on the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all employees to deliver on our business goals. To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees in all our operations around the world regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. Thomson Reuters is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer providing a drug-free workplace.
We also make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. More information on requesting an accommodation .
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