Strategic Adviser to the President

Purpose of the post

The Office of the President provides strategic, policy and planning support to the President of the ICRC in his governance and executive functions, as chair of the Assembly and Chief diplomat.

The Strategic Adviser to the President contributes to the reflection on the main challenges facing humanitarian action and the corresponding positioning of the ICRC. S/he nurtures and bolsters strategic thinking by the Office of the President on broadening the ICRC’s external relations in order to promote the organization’s perspective on humanitarian action. S/he contributes to the management of the office and its institutional projects and replaces the Chief of Staff in her/his absence.

The Strategic Adviser reports to the Chief of Staff. He or she will work closely with the President and the Vice President. This is a mobile post based in Geneva, with the possibility of conducting short field missions.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice, analysis and counsel to the Office of the President on trends, opportunities and challenges in humanitarian action;
• Prepare analytical reports and briefing papers, as needed, setting out relevant findings and recommendations to develop and implement the strategic vision of the President;
• Contribute to stakeholder outreach, identify and engage with individuals, organizations and networks that can inform the strategic analysis of the President on particular issues or situations;
• Contribute to the drawing of objectives, orientation and design of the ICRC’s policy and humanitarian diplomacy and represent the Office of the President in internal and external exchange platforms and meetings;
• Engage and liaise with senior managers and institutional file holders to ensure institutional alignment on the ICRC’s strategic orientations and advise on internal strategies and positioning papers on behalf of the Office of the President;
• Other duties as assigned by the President and his Chief of Staff;

Education and experience required

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience working in government, academia, international organizations or international NGOs;
• Master’s degree in international relations, political science, law or equivalent through experience.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in political analysis and international relations;
• Thorough understanding of the operational, policy and legal environment of the ICRC;
• Solid knowledge of the humanitarian system and strategic challenges affecting international and humanitarian affairs (field experience would be an asset);
• Good understanding of in international humanitarian law and protection issues;
• Fluency in English and in French (German and Arabic would be an asset);

Desired profile and skills

• Capacity to work independently under pressure with tight deadlines;
• Proven ability to think critically, succinctly and creatively;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including good public presentation skills, and capacity to work effectively in a small team;
• Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills, and ability to translate complex questions into policy options and practical recommendations;
• Available for short field missions.

Additional information

• Location :                           Geneva
• Type of contract :               Open-ended contract
• Grade                                 C2
• Activity rate :                      100%
• Length of assignment :      4 years (renewable)
• Estimated start date :         ASAP
• Application deadline :     Sunday, 28th April 2019