Regional Legal Counsel

1. What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and other situations of violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law (“IHL”). 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 other situations of violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

1. Organizational context

The Office of Corporate Legal Affairs (hereafter “OCLA”) advises ICRC internal clients on all corporate legal issues that affect the organization, but excluding IHL. In particular, it provides legal advice and support aimed at:

• promoting and protecting the ICRC’s interests;
• enabling the ICRC to carry out its activities and fulfil its ambitions optimally;
• assessing legal risks affecting the ICRC as well as advising and supporting the organization in mitigating risks as needed; and
• identifying emerging legal and regulatory risks and trends to proactively advise/ influence strategic decision making.

The ICRC’s Directorate has recently resolved to further strengthen this office with additional legal and non-legal staff. The ICRC’s Head of Corporate Legal Affairs is currently in the process of establishing the new OCLA service, in support of the evolution of the corporate legal function (CLF) that will be implemented by Q3 2023.

1. Accountability and functional responsibilities

Within the OCLA team and the CLF ecosystem, the Regional Legal Counsel is in charge of providing substantive advice and ad hoc support to the various internal clients in the NAME region and in delegations, as well as coordinating corporate legal activities, building up and ensuring an efficient service delivery, including by providing support and awareness to the region and delegations.

Functional responsibilities

General duties

• Provides legal advice and support in all areas impacting the ICRC (HR, logistics, procurement, administration, operations, data protection, governance, fundraising, innovation, intellectual property, privileges and immunities, regulatory issues, etc.), with a specific focus on either HR/employment/contractual matters or any corporate legal issue;
• Drafts, reviews and negotiates contracts for the ICRC in all areas needed, and drafts legal opinions;
• Advises in the context of the adoption of various types of documents (policies, memos, position papers, risk assessments, etc.);
• Follows and contributes to decision making processes and internal procedures (notably in the area of compliance, information security, risk management);
• Represents the ICRC before judicial and administrative bodies for all matters pertaining to his/her areas of responsibility;
• Liaises with, supervises and manages external counsel;
• Promotes change and assists all stakeholders or services impacted within the ICRC by the evolution of OCLA (e.g. advising management teams, assisting services/units or delivering trainings).

Regional duties

• Advises on and provides legal services regarding the ICRC’s activities and operations in the regions covered, including to the regional offices and country offices at the technical and managerial levels, in relation to the management of legal risks in the areas of expertise mentioned under “general duties” section;
• Provides legal advice principally on contracts, employment law, diplomatic law, administrative law of international organizations, regulatory matters and in general on all legal claims, commitments and liabilities of the organization in the region covered.

The Regional Legal Counsel is placed under the hierarchical supervision of the General Counsel, Head of Corporate Legal Affairs. Whenever needed, she/he supports other Regional and Legal Counsel on activities within the OCLA remit.

1. Education and certification required

• Advanced university degree in law (M.A. minimum, L.L.M. would be an asset)
• National bar exam a strong asset
• Oral and written fluency in English and Arabic mandatory
• Additionally, professional knowledge of French, Portuguese, Spanish or Russian a strong asset
• Computer proficiency

1. Professional experience required

• Typically 10 to 12 years of overall professional experience
• Minimum five (5) years as a corporate legal adviser required, in particular with HR/employment related practice or contractual practice
• Solid experience in contract law, employment law, business law, the law of international civil service or equivalent experience in applicable administrative law required
• Solid experience either in-house or in a law firm on corporate legal matters with a multinational dimension required
• Field experience handling legal issues, a strong asset
• Experience in the legal sector with IO/NGO entities a strong asset
• Good knowledge of the non-profit and international organization sector
• Knowledge or experience of the ICRC an asset.

1. Desire profile and skills

• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work
• Rigor and precision
• Critical-thinking skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as within a team with remote team members
• Solution-oriented, client-focused and geared towards practical solutions
• Ability to work within and adjust to a developing framework/office
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Outstanding problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills
• Emotional intelligence, active listening and facilitation skills
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent levels of integrity, morality, honesty and responsibility
• Ability to set priorities and work under pressure

1. Additional information

• Location: Amman, Jordan
• Working rate: 100%
• Type of role: Resident contract
• Starting date: December 15th, 2022
• Length of assignment: Open-ended contract
• Application deadline: October 14th, 2022, 11:59PM GMT

Interested to join? Apply now! The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

Please Note: "The position will be filled once we find the right candidate and the post is open for Jordanian nationals"

ICRC does not charge a fee nor request any favors at any stage of the recruitment process. If the candidate is asked for any fee or service against our Code of Conduct, he/she must report to code_of_conduct@icrc.org or https://icrc.integrityplatform.org/

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