Legal Team Leader - Salahuddin

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a prominent international organization working in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. 

Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC currently addresses the needs of conflict-affected populations from several operational bases across Iraq. IRC’s activities focus primarily on the protection and legal assistance, cash assistance and livelihood, distribution of non-food items, education and women and children’s protection, and form part of an over-arching humanitarian response in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and the region that seeks to assist refugees, IDPs and war-affected people survive conflict and displacement.

Position Overview

Under the direct supervision of the Protection Manager / Senior Protection Manager, the Legal Team Leader will be primarily responsible for ensuring best practice in legal aspects of one of IRC Legal mobile teams in Salah al Din. The Legal Team Leader will directly supervise the day to day work of lawyers, planning legal visits according to the needs, providing support in conducting legal intake, facilitating referrals, case management, legal counseling services and dissemination of critical information on legal services, entitlements and procedures for documentation. He/she will ensure proper coordination between all aspects of the protection program in the field allowing for an effective response and ensuring that principles of confidentiality and ethics are upheld throughout the program implementation.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership and Staff Supervision

1. Manage all day to day legal activities in Salah al Din, traveling to Kirkuk, and serve as the primary focal point for the legal aspects of the IRC protection programming in the governorate – civil documentation, Housing Land and Property, legal assistance for GBV cases.

2. With guidance from the Senior Protection Manager (expatriate) / Protection coordinator and the legal manager, establish weekly and monthly work plans for all program activities

3. Manages all requests for information/ intervention from the Senior Management and external organizations.

4. is responsible for supporting the professional development of all direct reports.

5. Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

6. Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews and annual performance reviews.

7. Plan/coordinate and oversee lawyer’s vacation schedules

8. If/as required identify staff performance issues and work with Senior Team Leader and Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies

Project management

1. Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of the work plan and quality of technical activities, share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines

2. Provide technical support to lawyers in identification and intake of legal cases and assistance provided.

3. Support lawyers in ensuring clients possess the necessary package of (currently unavailable) civil documentation required to access humanitarian assistance. For example, PDS cards to access food rations - such as civil ID, investigation paper for lost PDS cards, birth certificate or proof of birth, registration with MoDM. MoLSA registration-related documents for widows, divorced etc. (such as e.g. proof and certificate of death, heir deed, and housing support letters, divorce verdicts, civil status and ID documents).

4. Participate in conducting evidence-based advocacy initiatives (phone calls, letters or meetings) with local authorities, other organizations (NGOs), UN Agencies, enabling wider groups new/unregistered IDPs to access needed services.

5. Assists in filing complaints before administrative or other bodies and the courts, according to the procedures for legal representation.

6. Ensure weekly and monthly reporting of the number of legal cases, legal counselling, awareness raising activities, court representations, etc, and reports to the Protection Manager.

8. In coordination with the Database/Reporting Officer in Anbar, leads the consolidation of legal data and case management ensuring correct input of information on cases is uploaded to the database, and confidentiality is maintained.

9. Assist in drafting technical monthly reports as directed by the Senior Team Leader

10. Provide regular de-briefings to the Protection Manager / Sr Protection manager on progress and recommendations on interventions and strategic direction of legal aspects of programming.

Coordination

1. Coordinates with all relevant stakeholders (Local authority, NGOs, etc.) in Salah al Din to ensure effective implementation of legal activities.

2. Participate in relevant coordination meetings with sub-clusters and working groups covering Salah al Din, as per request of the protection manager

Other duties

1. Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of lawyers; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and, when advised and appropriate, liaising with external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

2. Other duties as assigned by the Protection Manager / Sr Protection Manager / Protection Coordinator

·Bachelor degree in Law

·Member of Iraq Lawyers Syndicate

·At least 3-5 year experience in practicing law (Practitioner degree) in various case types.

·INGO experience preferred

·Excellent communication skills.

·Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility

·Must be computer literate (Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point).

·Experience in building capacity of team members through coaching and mentoring

·Ability to work as a member of a team essential and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment.

·Positive, professional attitude, organized and prioritizes work under pressure, work overtime when necessary and be able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

·High standard of spoken, written and conversational Arabic

·Spoken English skills desirable

·Holder of a valid passport.

Standards of Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including maternity leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Attention Returning National Candidates:

IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, IRC has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply.

Notice to all Job Seekers

IRC implements an equal employment opportunity policy

and our recruitment process is based on merit.

Applicants and/or successful interview

candidates (both internal and external) are not required to pay any fees at any

stage of the recruitment process.

If anyone asks you for any financial or

non-financial favors to help you secure a job at IRC, kindly report to Iraqhr@rescue.org

ملاحظة لكل الباحثين عن وظيفة

تعتمد لجنة الانقاذ الدولية سياسة فرص عمل

متساوية و ان عملية التوظيف لدينا تعتمد على الجدارة.

لايتوجب على المتقدمين لاي وظيفة او المؤهلين للمقابلات

(سواء كانوا موظفيين حالين او متقدمين من خارج المنظمة) دفع اي مبلغ مالي خلال اي

مرحلة من مراحل التوظيف.

اذا قام اي شخص بطلب اي خدمة مالية او غير مالية لقاء

مساعدتكم في تأمين فرصة عمل داخل المنظمة ،يرجى الابلاغ عن ذلك الىIraqhr@rescue.org

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.