The Role:

The Senior Legal Adviser of Global Advocacy will play a key role within the Global Advocacy Dept in developing legal positions, spearheading and developing substantive legal resources, and positioning the Center as a leading expert on SRHR and human rights law in humanitarian settings. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will oversee the development of legal arguments, development of publications, submissions to UN or other global processes in support of integrating human rights obligations into humanitarian policy and commitments. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will serve as the team’s liaison to the Pro Bono dept and oversee requests. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will also support substantive legal review of Global Advocacy submissions and publications. The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy will report directly to the Senior Director of Global Advocacy and will work closely with other Global Advocacy staff in NY and Geneva, the global program teams, and as needed with MEL, Communications and Development.

Location:

Geneva

Primary Responsibilities: 

The Senior Legal Adviser, Global Advocacy’s primary job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Senior Director of Global Advocacy with the implementation of the Strategic Plan;
• Conduct legal and policy analysis on reproductive rights issues arising at the global level;
• Position the Center as a go-to technical partner for the ICRC, humanitarian actors, networks, NGOs, Governments and UN agencies;
• Conceptualize and lead drafting of position papers, statements and other advocacy material, including liaising with Communications staff and the GA Legal Assistant on design and production;
• Support program strategy related to the development of reproductive rights law, serving as an internal thought partner and technical legal expert; and building and maintaining strategic external relationships and partnerships as relevant to this work;
• Work with Senior Director to implement –in collaboration with other departments—institutional and global advocacy priorities;
• Lead Center’s Program Team on SRHR in Humanitarian Settings;
• Collaborate with regional teams to provide substantive guidance and technical support on human rights law, including in humanitarian settings.
• Establish relationships with relevant legal/professional bodies or academics, to cultivate opportunities to engage in and influence processes and publications on the scope, applicability and operationalization of human rights law, including in humanitarian settings;
• Provide legal technical support on human rights to Governments in the development of humanitarian policy;
• Provide substantive guidance and technical support to the Manager of Researcher, Global Advocacy in the implementation of human rights-based practices for service provision and legal accountability in humanitarian settings;
• Among the GLP institutional responsibilities for this role is overseeing all GA pro bono projects, as needed;
• Provide review, as needed, of GA submissions to UN bodies, publications and other advocacy material to ensure coherence and alignment, including, as requested, providing final sign off on submissions and other work product;
• Support Senior Director and Global Advocacy Program to respond to requests for information and input to internal and external processes, as needed;
• Support the development of communications, materials, and updates of GA activities for press releases, e-mail listservs, or other outlets when needed;
• Liaise with other departments in the Center as needed, including Programs and Communications;
• Represent the Center at meetings and events as requested;
• Assist with the recruitment and supervision of fellows, interns, volunteers and pro bono lawyers and any other institutional responsibilities as required;
• International travel is required.

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values;
• 10+ years relevant experience, required;
• JD or LLM in International Human Rights or International Humanitarian Law, required;
• Expert knowledge and significant direct working experience with the international human rights framework and experience using the UN human rights and humanitarian systems, required;
• Experience on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality, preferred;
• Capable of complex legal analysis, and experience with legal submissions to UN bodies;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, networking and inter-cultural skills;
• Excellent writing, editing, research, and oral advocacy skills in English required; Spanish, French or another UN language desirable;
• Excellent public speaking skills required; including an ability to translate dense legal material into accessible presentations for various audiences;
• Initiative: Effectively responds to pressure or crisis situations and acts professionally.  Uses resources well. Pro-actively puts new ideas on the table at all points during the development and implementation of projects. Follows through on ideas, assignments and open issues.
• Flexibility/Adaptability: Ability to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations and with various individuals and groups. Willingness to be flexible on projects depending on the needs of the team and the Center. Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives, adapting one’s approach as the requirements of a situation change.  Innovative thinking is a plus.
• Independent Worker/Thinker: Must have the ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Confidence:  Must possess and exhibit a level of confidence in themselves and his/her work, and be able to work collaboratively, take direction and constructive criticism professionally.
• Accountability Ability to achieve results and complete assignments in a timely manner.
• Adaptable: Able to tailor discourse and arguments depending on audience, understands differences of contexts and able to rely sensitive issues and concerns in an appropriate way.