ICRC: Profession: Head of Unit of the advisory service on international humanitarian law - legal division (click online to apply)

Purpose

As head of Unit of the Legal Division's Advisory Service on international humanitarian law (IHL), the
incumbent will help define the ICRC's priorities in efforts undertaken to persuade States to adopt national measures in fulfilment of their obligations under IHL. The incumbent will organize, supervise and ensure the coherence of the Advisory Service's activities, directly managing a team of three other legal advisers at headquarters and providing support for a decentralized team of nine regional legal advisers working in the field.

Main duties and responsibilities

The incumbent will:

* Lead, manage, coordinate, support, oversee and provide guidance for the Advisory Service's team of legal advisers with a view to:
+ promoting the universal ratification of IHL treaties, in accordance with strategies tailored to each context;
+ ensuring that States enact domestic legislation and adopt internal instruments and mechanisms as needed to implement IHL treaties, including the repression of crimes, the protection of children, cultural property and respect for the emblem;
+ providing technical assistance to States in their endeavour to adopt implementing legislation and regulations;
+ promoting and supporting the establishment and work of national committees for the implementation of IHL;
+ contributing to the examination, compilation and analysis of domestic legislation and case law, and facilitating the exchange of information between countries on national implementation measures.
* Directly handle the Advisory Service's work relating to a number of topics and geographic areas.
* Set the Advisory Service's objectives, priorities and strategies, in cooperation with the head of the Legal Division, and see to their implementation.
* Ensure the pertinence and coherence of the publications and internal documents issued by the Advisory Service.
* Coordinate and ensure the coherence of the legal analyses carried out by the Advisory Service's legal advisers in the field and provide those advisers with needed support.
* Take part in setting the objectives of the Legal Division, discussing issues with other managers within the Division, and analysing the Division's strategies and activities.
* Contribute to institutional thought on cross-cutting issues that include legal aspects of implementation.
* Develop and implement strategies within the framework of the ICRC's Prevention Policy in cooperation with other ICRC staff in charge of prevention programs.
* Stand in for the Advisory Service's headquarters-based legal advisers in their absence.
* Supervise, in accordance with the ICRC's standard human resources procedures, the appointment of the Advisory Service's legal advisers at headquarters and in the field.
* Represent the ICRC in carrying out the Advisory Service's work, including while standing in for other Advisory Service's legal advisers in their absence.
* Teach and promote IHL among internal and external target groups;

Position in the hierarchy

The incumbent reports to the head of the Legal Division. He or she is the hierarchical superior of the Advisory Service's legal advisers at headquarters and the technical superior of its legal advisers in the field.

Profile and skills required

* Law degree (Bar admission, PhD or other postgraduate degree – preferably with a specialization in public international law – considered an asset)
* Confirmed expertise in IHL and very good knowledge of international criminal law and human rights law;
* Knowledge of public administration and national legal systems, including the process of drafting laws;
* Experience in and talent for personnel management, with the ability to motivate people and bring them on board projects through open dialogue and skilful interpersonal communication (managerial experience at the ICRC considered an asset)
* Analytical skills, writing skills, ability to summarize, strategize and innovate;
* Ability to design, plan, lead, ensure follow-up and assess prevention programmes, in particular by leading thought and cross-cutting dialogue;
* Proven ability to work in a team;
* Experience in negotiating, and ability to represent the ICRC;
* Excellent English and very good command of French; Spanish considered an asset.

Length of assignment: Four years, extendable by a maximum of two years.


Starting date: April / May 2010