Regional Legal Adviser

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law.  We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Role description

Main responsibilities

Based in Moscow, the Regional Legal Adviser (RLA) supports institutional and delegations’ objectives aimed at promoting and integrating International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and other relevant normative framework(s) at domestic level, with a view to enhancing respect thereof, improving ICRC's dialogue with national authorities and relevant regional organizations, and to facilitating operational activities and priorities of the institution in the EURASIA region.

The RLA covers the following countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russian Federation, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kirghizstan.

Together with other legal advisers in the region, the RLA is responsible for developing a comprehensive understanding of the legal and policy frameworks in the different contexts covered, including positions towards IHL and the ICRC. On that basis, the RLA develops and implements a regional strategy towards the integration of relevant international legal obligations into such frameworks, and thereby contributes to fostering an environment conducive to the respect for IHL and other relevant international law norms.

The RLA's interlocutors are primarily national authorities and regional organizations. To the extent that they directly influence national authorities and domestic implementation of the law, universities, think tanks and other key institutions within the civil society also form part of the RLA's network.

Using dialogue, legal advice and technical support, high level regional and national seminars and conferences (organization and / or participation in), the RLA mobilizes national authorities and relevant experts in order to increase States’ ratification of IHL and other relevant treaties, and in order to improve domestic implementation of the law, engage them in the development and clarification of the law, enhance local expertise, and proactively position the ICRC as a reference on IHL and a non-political neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian actor.

The position furthermore contributes to the ICRC institutional and delegations' strategies responding to identified humanitarian concerns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
 

The RLA reports to the Management of ICRC Moscow (Deputy Head of Delegation) and to the Heads of all other delegations, he/she supports. S/he also coordinates their work with the other Regional Legal Advisers based in Europe and with the ICRC’s Advisory Service on IHL in Geneva.

Main Tasks

Advisory Service:

• Provide technical expertise on integration and implementation of IHL and other relevant international norms to national authorities (executive, legislative and judicial branches), including in the preparation and drafting of implementing legislation
• Monitor adherence to IHL treaties and other relevant instruments, as well as adoption of mechanisms for their implementation, and develops recommendations in this respect
• Engage with national inter-ministerial Committees on IHL, where they exist, to support their work and assist in the realization of their mandate 
• Organize events at the national and/or regional level to discuss issues related to IHL and other relevant norms
• Where appropriate, coordinate with legal advisers of National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent working on IHL implementation
• Contribute to the IHL National Implementation and Customary IHL Database
• Provide, upon request, legal expertise on other matters pertaining to the law (IHL or International Human Rights Law), or to ICRC operations

Interaction with and promotion of the law through academic circles:

• Develop and maintain a network of influential academic institutions and scholars (in the legal and other relevant fields) at the regional and national levels, and engage with them on IHL-related matters
• Promote the sustainable integration of IHL teaching in relevant academic institutions
• Promote and support academic debate and research on issues of relevance to the ICRC, including promoting the involvement of regional/national experts in expert consultations on IHL and other key events, and their contribution to the International Review of the Red Cross

Networking:

• Position the ICRC on IHL and neutral, impartial, independent humanitarian action;
• Consolidate and further develop the network of interlocutors working on IHL implementation among national authorities, including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliamentarians, members of the judiciary
• Contribute to identify, develop and maintain a network of interlocutors among regional organizations (CSTO, CIS, in particular IPA,) on matters of relevance for IHL national implementation
   

Management Responsibilities:

• Supervise a team of legal advisers, assistants, and  consultants based in the Moscow delegation as well as a regional team of legal advisers based in other delegations supported by the RLA ; 
• Coordinate and support the development of national ICRC legal advisers competencies and the building of a network of influence in the region;
• Facilitate sharing of expertise and good practice between national ICRC legal advisers and legal focal points

Desired profile and skills

• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work
• Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment
• Fluent/native in Russian and fluent in English is mandatory! Working knowledge of French is an asset, as well as knowledge of other languages spoken in the region
• Excellent oral and writing communication skills in both languages, including for the drafting of legal documents.
• Negotiating skills and sense of diplomacy
• Able to think critically and articulate legal arguments in a structured and professional manner
• Proven research and analytical skills
• Autonomous, responsible and reliable
• Possessing excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, capacity to work as part of a team
• Project management competencies
• Capacity to coach, train, supervise and manage a team of legal advisers
• Flexibility and willing to travel frequently
• Computer literacy

Background and experience

• At least 8 years of professional experience in comparable field of work (i.e. diplomacy, humanitarian organization, international law);
• Strong legal profile: degree in law (master degree or attorney at law diploma of advantage) with excellent knowledge of IHL, international criminal law and IHRL;
• Very good knowledge of domestic legal frameworks and structures (working experience in government or the judiciary, as well as experience in legislative drafting of advantage);
• Excellent understanding and knowledge of the regional political environment and dynamics;
• Experience of dialogue with national authorities in the region is an asset;
• Confirmed experience with organizing events with authorities and expert publics.
• Knowledge and good understanding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Working experience with the Movement and ICRC field experience is an asset

Our operational & field constraints

Remark: This position is opened for either Russian national citizens or non-nationals. Please be aware that a Russian national citizen, if hired, will get a national contract (resident status). A candidate who is not a national citizen from Russia (or living permanently in Russia) will get a mobile staff contract (mobile status), if hired for this role.

• In any case, candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to the assignment;
• Candidates must possess a driving license (for manual transmission vehicles);
• For non-Russian nationals, candidates must be prepared to accept unaccompanied postings (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents) for at least the first 6 months;
• Candidates must be prepared to travel extensively throughout the region.

What we offer

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment;
• An integration course and other opportunities for further in-house training;
• Attractive social benefits;
• Open ended contract in both cases (resident or mobile statuses) but with a 2 years assignment for non-national candidates in this context, renewable;
• Internal mobility and opportunities within ICRC.

Interested and matching the profile we are looking for ? Please apply before 31st of January 2019.