Invitation to Apply

The World Council of Churches (WCC) invites qualified consultants to apply for the position of Research Outputs Editing Consultant within the RE-SPHERE Project.
The RE-SPHERE project is a Horizon Europe–funded interdisciplinary initiative that brings together academic institutions, civil society organizations, cultural actors, and policymakers to examine and support the governance of Shared Holy Places (SHPs) across Southeastern Europe and Ukraine.
Rooted in commitments to peacebuilding, cultural heritage protection, and inclusive dialogue, the project develops innovative, participatory, and evidence-based approaches to managing shared religious spaces, particularly in regions shaped by historical tensions and diverse identity claims.
The selected consultant will support the review and editing of country reports, analytical summaries, policy briefs, dissemination materials, and comparative research outputs related to cultural heritage, interreligious coexistence, minority communities, and inclusive governance.

Purpose of the Consultancy
The consultancy aims to support the refinement, editing, and synthesis of research outputs produced within the RE-SPHERE project.
The consultant will contribute to ensuring that research findings on Shared Holy Places (SHPs) are communicated effectively to academic, policy, and community audiences. The role includes reviewing and editing research results, fieldwork documentation, policy-oriented outputs, and dissemination materials related to the social, cultural, religious, and political dynamics of SHPs.
The consultant will assist in transforming research findings into high-quality written outputs that reflect the project’s conceptual framework and comparative objectives. This includes improving structure, clarity, consistency, analytical quality, and accessibility, while ensuring that local voices and sensitive contextual dynamics are represented accurately and ethically.

The contractor is expected to deliver the following:
• A brief editorial work plan outlining the approach, timeline, and priorities for reviewing and refining RE-SPHERE research outputs. This will include an overview of the types of documents to be reviewed, key quality standards, and coordination arrangements with the WCC and consortium partners.
Edited Research Outputs 
• Reviewed and edited versions of research outputs produced within the project, including fieldwork reports, country reports, case study summaries, analytical notes, draft deliverables, policy-oriented documents, and dissemination materials. Edited documents should demonstrate improved clarity, coherence, structure, consistency, and academic quality.
All the deliverables should be written in English.

Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should demonstrate:
• Academic background in linguistics, religious studies, translation studies, or related fields
• Enrolment in a PhD programme in a relevant discipline
• Experience in academic writing, editing, translation, or research-related work
• Familiarity with cultural heritage, interreligious coexistence, minority communities, or sociocultural dynamics in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean
• Experience participating in academic projects, conferences, workshops, or collaborative initiatives
• Strong analytical, editorial, and communication skills
• Publication record including academic publications, conference papers, translations, or edited works
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary environments
• Fluency in English (required)
• Additional regional languages, including Greek, Turkish, or Albanian, or languages associated with the programme, are considered an asset

Duration: 6 months, from mid-June 2026 to mid-December 2026
Deadline for application: 10 June 2026
Among candidates who meet the nomination criteria, participants will be selected with a view to achieving regional, gender and denominational balance.