Associate Dean and (Open Rank) Professor of Law or Practice Academic Unit

Reports to: Law School Dean

About Us: KIMEP University School of Law is a professional training academy dedicated to instilling knowledge of Law, lawyering skills and professional identity in students, advancing scholarship and supporting legal practice and the Rule of Law in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The Law School is committed to fostering a creative and dynamic academic environment, with an emphasis on Experiential Learning and relevance to national and international legal communities. We are licensed by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan to confer the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with an emphasis in either Jurisprudence or International Law, the Master of Laws (LL.M.) and are currently seeking approval to offer a doctoral degree.

Position Overview: 

We seek an engaged Associate Dean and (open rank) Professor of Law or Practice to join our faculty. In addition to being a creative and resourceful administrator, the successful candidate will contribute through innovative teaching, impactful professional activity or academic scholarship, and service to the university and broader legal communities.

The Associate Dean will be a strategic and proactive leader with a strong commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and fostering a collaborative environment. This individual will be responsible for overseeing faculty development and improvement of instruction, as well as assisting the dean with curriculum enhancement, and advancing the Law School’s relative position within Kazakhstan and the region. If your service as Associate Dean does not align with your goals or the school’s administrative expectations after three (3) years, you may transition to full-time faculty status with standard teaching, scholarship and service responsibilities.

(open rank) Professor of Law or Practice Responsibilities:

• Teaching: Deliver high-quality instruction in doctrinal Law or practice areas. Develop engaging course materials and assessments.
• Scholarship: Conduct and publish original research in reputable journals. Contribute to the advancement of legal scholarship and engage with contemporary legal issues or perform professional activities of equivalent rigor requiring similar efforts.
• Service: Participate in faculty meetings, curriculum development, university governance, and Law School improvement. Mentor students and junior faculty. Engage in community service and outreach.
• Additional responsibilities: Any related duties assigned by the Dean.  

Associate Dean Responsibilities:

Leadership and Faculty Development:

• Lead and inspire the faculty to embrace global academic standards, research and practice innovations, and advanced pedagogical approaches.
• Implement strategies to engage, motivate, and foster a culture of continuous professional development.
• Supervise, and provide mentorship and guidance to, faculty members to support their scholarship/practice, teaching, service and general professional growth.
• Develop initiatives to address faculty challenges, enhance morale, and encourage collaboration regarding Jurisprudence and International Law.
• Initiate and assist with workshops, seminars, and conferences that promote research activities and foster collaboration and external grant applications by faculty.

Curriculum and Academic Program Oversight:

• Lead the assessment, revision, and modernization of the law school’s curriculum to ensure it is relevant, rigorous, and aligned with global best practices.
• Oversee the integration of new legal topics, technologies, and methodologies into course offerings, ensuring students are prepared for evolving legal environments.
• Promote interdisciplinary learning and the integration of global legal trends and issues into academic programming.
• Work closely with the Dean and faculty to foster innovation in teaching and to adopt advanced tools and pedagogy.

Strategic Vision and Institutional Advancement:

• Collaborate with the Dean to develop and implement the law school’s strategic vision.
• Identify and address opportunities for faculty collaboration with other educational institutions, governmental organizations, and international legal bodies.
• Advocate for the importance of excellence within the Law School and work to create buy-in from all stakeholders.
• Build relationships with legal practitioners, policymakers, and other academic institutions to enhance research collaborations and funding opportunities.

Faculty Recruitment and Retention:

• Assist in the recruitment of new faculty, ensuring the selection of candidates who bring fresh perspectives, expertise, and enthusiasm for innovation in legal education.
• Promote an inclusive, supportive, and forward-thinking academic environment that attracts top-tier talent and retains high-performing faculty members.

Quality Assurance and Accreditation:

• Ensure that the Law School adheres to university, national, and international accreditation and evaluation standards, demonstrating a commitment to high academic standards and continual improvement.
• Lead the preparation for data collection, evaluation, accreditation reviews, and ensure compliance with academic policies and procedures.
• Any other duties as assigned by the Dean

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in law, a Juris Doctor (J.D.) is preferred.
• Ideally at least 3 years of teaching or practice of law or other relevant work experience requiring a terminal law degree.
• Proven leadership and organizational skills, with experience in managing multinational and interdisciplinary teams, and with project management.
• Write and speak fluent English; additional competence in professional-level Russian or Kazakh is preferred.
• Meets Kazakhstan government requirements for university employment.
• Able to teach courses on common law, comparative law, legal skills, fundamentals of civil law systems, or Legal English in addition to area(s) of particular interest.
• Evidence of excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills with the ability to influence others effectively

Application Process: Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter detailing interest in the position and relevant experience
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three references

Please submit the documents to KIMEP University HR portal (via the ‘Apply’ button above)

Address any questions to: recruitment@kimep.kz

Closing dates for submission of applications: October 23, 2026 (23.59 Almaty time)

Personal data provided by applicants will be kept confidential and used for recruitment purposes only. 

Unfortunately, only shortlisted candidates can be notified and invited for interviews.