Job Description

Associate Legal Counsel (801342)

Purpose

The Associate Legal Counsel supports field and HQ clients of the Corporate Legal Function (CLF) in providing legal support and guidance to the ICRC. S-he works closely with other senior legal professionals to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, manages contracts, and contributes to the overall corporate legal activities at HQ, in the regions and in delegations. For field position (“Spoke” level): Within the CLF and in line with its “center-hub-spoke” model, the Associate Legal Counsel provides legal advice and ad hoc support to the various internal clients in the field structure (regional or single country delegation) they are based in, as well as building up and ensuring an efficient service delivery, including by providing support and awareness in coordination with the regional CLF focal point (“Hub” level) when required. For HQ-serving position (“Center” level): Within the corporate legal function (CLF) and in line with its “center-hub-spoke” mode, the Associate Legal Counsel provides legal advice and ad hoc support to the various internal clients at HQ (i.e. on HR/employment law related matters, contractual matters, etc.).

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

• Conducts legal research on various issues, including regulations, statutes, and case law;
• Analyzes and interprets laws and regulations to provide timely and accurate legal advice;
• Stays up to date with changes in laws and regulations relevant to the ICRC’s operations;
• Reviews, drafts, and negotiates a wide range of contracts, and ensures that contracts comply with legal requirements and ICRC policies;
• Assists in developing compliance policies, supporting risk management, and monitoring the organization's adherence to regulatory requirements;
• Prepares, maintains and manages legal files, and assists in maintaining a centralized repository of legal documents and templates in coordination with the OCLA;
• Provides legal advice and guidance to internal stakeholders on various legal matters;
• Assists in the resolution of legal disputes and liaises with external counsel when necessary;
• Supports training sessions and workshops to train and empower ICRC staff on legal compliance and best practices;
• Assists in special legal projects and initiatives as assigned by her/his manager, other senior Legal Counsel and/or the General Counsel and Head of Corporate Legal Affairs.

Our Values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.

Reports to (role)

• For HQ-serving positions (HQ and HQ decentralized positions (DCP): Head Counsel HQ, or service/unit line manager if not positioned within OCLA HQ-serving team but with technical reporting line to OCLA
• For OCLA decentralized positions: General Counsel & Head of Corporate Legal Affairs (until a regional level role is created)
• For field positions: (Deputy) Head of Delegation with technical reporting line to the Office of Corporate Legal Affairs (OCLA) at HQ

People management responsibilities

No

Scope & Impact

• Geographic remit: global remit for HQ serving positions, regional remit for OCLA decentralized positions and national remit for single country-level positions.

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with Legal Counsel, and with all services at headquarters and in the field upon request
• Externally, interacts with the national judicial and administrative bodies, permanent missions, embassies, international organizations, external partners or contacts (commercial and others), Movement actors (IFRC, RCRC NS) and outside counsel.

Certifications / Education required

• Advanced university degree in law (B.A. minimum, M.A. ideally or LLM would be an asset)
• Admission to a national bar a strong asset
• Excellent command of English and proficiency in French, Arabic, Spanish or Russian (proficiency in more than one an asset)
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office suite, SharePoint and IBM Lotus Notes

Professional Experience required

• Typically, 6-9 years of professional experience
• Minimum three (3) years as a corporate legal adviser required, in particular with contractual practice or HR/employment related practice
• Previous experience in contract law, [Swiss] employment law, business law, the law of international civil service or equivalent experience in applicable administrative law required
• Experience either in-house or in a law firm on corporate legal matters with a multinational dimension required.
• Experience in the legal sector with IO/NGO entities a strong asset
• For field position: field experience handling legal issues, a strong asset
• Good knowledge of the non-profit and international organization secto
• Knowledge or experience of the ICRC an asset.

Deadline:  15.04.2025