Regional Legal Counsel (AFRICA region)

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and 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.

Purpose

The Regional Legal Counsel is in charge of providing substantive advice and ad hoc support to the various internal clients and delegations in the AFRICA region, as well as coordinating corporate legal activities, building up and ensuring an efficient service delivery, by providing support and raising awareness to the region and delegations.

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

•    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 HR/employment/contractual matters and 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 their area 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 Office of Corporate Legal Affairs;
•    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 level;
•    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.
 

Professional Experience required

•    Advanced university degree in law (Master of Arts Degree minimum, Master of Law would be an asset);
•    Minimum 8 to 10 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;
•    Admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate is a strong asset;
•    Experience in the legal sector with International Organization/NGO entities a strong asset
•    Additionally, good professional knowledge of French a strong asset.

What we offer

•    Diverse and humanitarian-minded workforce;
•    An opportunity to contribute to institutional efforts to protect and assist conflict victims worldwide;
•    Training opportunities ;
•    Flexible work schedule.

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

Additional information

• Type of role: Kenya Resident (National Position)
• Location: Kenya
• Application deadline: 03/02/2025