Purpose
The Operational Legal Coordinator heads the Regional Delegation’s legal department based in Mexico and functionally oversees legal advisers based in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. S/he is responsible for the identification, planning, implementation, coordination and follow-up of the legal activities of the Regional Delegation. S/he contributes to strengthening the ICRC’s dialogue with authorities to ensure a better respect for and implementation of the law and to facilitate the acceptance of its operational presence. As member of the Prevention Cell, s/he contributes to the design of multidisciplinary Prevention strategies supporting the Protection ambitions of the Regional Delegation.
Main responsibilities
- Legal support to Operations
- Is responsible for the provision of legal advice to the Regional Delegation in furtherance of its operational priorities (in particular migration, internal displacement, disappearance, detention, use of force).
- Ensures legal contributions to and participation in the strategic planning as well as activities of the Regional Delegation’s Protection and Field teams (notably elaboration of strategies, Plans of Action, internal guidelines, drafting/editing of interventions, external meetings).
- Proposes and contributes to démarches aiming at a better respect for the law, ensuring their consistency with the relevant applicable legal frameworks (International Human Rights Law, IHL, Refugee Law, domestic law) and ICRC policies/positions.
- Provides legal input to the public positioning of the Regional Delegation, including press releases, reactive press lines, publications, blog posts, annual reports.
- Organizes the monitoring and assessment of domestic legal developments that may impact the rights of affected populations.
- Leads the legal risk analysis and efforts aiming at mitigating risks and strengthening ICRC Privileges and Immunities.
- Maintains and strives to expand the Regional Delegation’s network in law and policy circles.
- National implementation of IHL and Promotion of ICRC legal and institutional views
- Coordinates the provision of legal advice to national authorities with regard to the participation in and implementation of IHL treaties and other relevant international instruments.
- Ensures an adequate level of cooperation with national IHL Committees in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
- Promotes ICRC perspectives regarding priority and/or emerging legal issues (IHL and cyber operations).
- Participates in activities with regional multilateral organizations/entities (notably OAS/CAJP, OAS/IJC, CIDH, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, SICA).
- Acts as lead spokesperson in external representation tasks involving legal matters (conferences, public panels)
Certifications / Education required
University degree in Law
Doctorate or Masters degree or specialization in IHL or relevant area of international law Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish
Computer proficiency
Professional Experience required
At least 8+ years working experience as a legal advisor (ICRC or external)
Highly desirable field experience in the humanitarian sector Proven experience in team and project management
Understanding of the role of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Personal requirements required for this post:
Legal drafting skills
High level representation skills
Capacity for synthesis, analysis, planning, organization, and evaluation
Management of multidisciplinary teams
Sense of responsibility and autonomy
Availability and flexibility to travel throughout Mexico and abroad
Commitment to abide by discretion, neutrality, and confidentiality requirements
Ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts with calm and equanimity