Disarmament Adviser

Context

The Arms and Conduct of Hostilities Unit is part of the Legal Division. It leads the development and promotion of ICRC positions, strategies and activities in the field of the reaffirmation, clarification and development of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with respect to the rules governing the conduct of hostilities, the use of weapons, including treaties prohibiting or regulating weapons of humanitarian concern, and new technologies of warfare. It represents the ICRC’s positions in bilateral discussions with government and military representatives and in multilateral fora and academic settings. It notably represents the ICRC in multilateral negotiations and proposes the development of new rules or standards related to the conduct of hostilities and to weapons in response to humanitarian consequences witnessed in ICRC field operations or which may result from new scientific and technical developments.

Purpose of the position

Acting as an in-house reference, the adviser provides expertise to support the ICRC’s effects-based approach to disarmament, weapons and IHL. They are responsible for monitoring, analyzing and proposing policy positions on disarmament issues, including those with a scientific component, and propose and implement corresponding strategies. 

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provides leading-edge analyses on legal-policy and scientific developments in weapons and new technologies of warfare, including on disarmament processes and other initiatives to regulate them.
• Analyses the actual or foreseeable humanitarian impact of weapons, including new technologies of warfare such as autonomous weapons, and the concern they may raise, from a multidisciplinary perspective (humanitarian, technical, military, ethical, policy and legal).
• Proposes and contributes to the development of the ICRC's policy positions on disarmament and on the need to reaffirm, clarify or further develop IHL in their field of expertise.
• Contributes to shaping international debate and processes on disarmament, including with regard to new technologies of warfare. In particular, to promote ICRC’s views and positions in a variety of fora, such as multilateral processes, discussions with States and militaries, meetings of experts, conferences, training seminars, etc.; initiates and organizes discussions and meetings as appropriate.
• Maintains and develops the ICRC network of multidisciplinary experts and organizations, including from government, military, civil society the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and tech companies.
• Provides guidance and support to ICRC units and delegations in response to the (potential) humanitarian concerns raised by the use or alleged use of existing or emerging weapons.

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with relevant colleagues, head of units and division at headquarter and in the field, including in particular with JUR, PROT, FAS, PROT and POL; as well as in the field Regional Legal Advisers, Legal Advisers to Operations and diplomatic delegations.
• Externally, interacts with State officials including militaries, UN representatives including weapons’ treaties Implementation support units, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners, civil society representatives, academia, think tanks, civilian and military research centres, and tech. companies as necessary. 
   

Education and experience required

• Master or other post-graduate degree in international relations, science and technology, international law, development studies, and/or other field relevant to the analysis of developments in weapons, means and methods of warfare, including new technologies of warfare and the processes to regulate them.
• Typically at least 7-10 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in policy-making in the area of arms/weapons control or disarmament, and/or technology assessment and governance. 
• Experience of multilateral negotiations and other policy processes. 
• Strong understanding of international humanitarian law, arms control and disarmament treaties, and/or international instruments for the governance of weapons. 
• Experience from working with the International Committee of the Red Cross or the broader Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement a strong asset.
• Knowledge of existing and new weapons’ technologies and their effects. 
• Operational experience in the use of relevant weapon’s technology an asset.
• Experience in formulating and/or implementing law and policy initiativesExperience in writing and publishing.
• Experience in organizing and successfully conducting expert meetings, workshop or other events, in person and online, with a variety of audiences and participants.

Additional information

• Location: Geneva
• Type of contract: Open-ended
• Grade: C2
• Activity rate: 100%
• Estimated start date: May 2024 (to be discussed)
• Application deadline: 31 March 2024

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.