International Committee of the Red Cross is looking for a Legal Adviser, Brussels Delegation (French- or Dutch-speaking)

Location: Brussels (BRU)

Job Family: Protection / Human Rights / IHL / Humanitarian Diplomacy / Detention

Contract Type: Open-ended contract

What we do

Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to preserve human dignity and relieve suffering caused by war and armed violence.

In collaboration with our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners around the world, we do everything we can to deliver life-saving aid, reconnect families and locate missing people – helping those who need it most, regardless of who they are and what side of the front line they are on.

We engage with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, pressing for access to detainees to improve their living conditions and urging compliance with international humanitarian law to protect non-combatants, including from digital threats.

Purpose

Representing the ICRC to the EU, NATO and the Kingdom of Belgium, the ICRC Brussels Delegation aims to, among others, ensure appropriate consideration for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and discuss IHL implementation, clarification, and possible development with these interlocutors. It also disseminates IHL towards relevant audiences.

Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor, the Legal Advisor carries out IHL relevant activities in relation to the delegation’s engagement with the EU institutions and with Belgian authorities. They also contribute to legal research and analysis (on international humanitarian law, human rights law, national law, European law) and support advocacy efforts and external IHL dissemination/training engagements.

Accountabilities & functional responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor, the Legal Advisor:

• Analyses legal documents and policies from European institutions (e.g. Council, EEAS, Commission, including DG DEFIS, European Parliament) and Belgium from an IHL/ICRC perspective.
• Drafts legal notes/analysis and contributes with legal aspects to briefing files, working papers, summary reports, ‘non-papers’ etc. related to delegation activities and objectives.
• Conducts independent legal research and analysis on specific legal issues, as well as broader EU and Belgian matters
• Maintains and builds a network of relevant IHL interlocutors within various EU Institutions and Belgian authorities.
• Represents the ICRC mandate and IHL positions in external meetings/events.
• Contributes to the organisations of briefings with EU bodies working on IHL-related files.
• Identifies challenges, opportunities and contributes to the drafting of engagement strategies with the EU and Belgium, from an IHL perspective.
• Collaborates closely with colleagues in relevant delegations and legal units at the ICRC’s HQ on various thematic areas (for instance: preparedness, including the implementation of the EU Preparedness Strategy and the Defense Transformation Roadmap; new technologies, including AI and Autonomous Weapon Systems; Global IHL Initiative;…)
• Maintains relations with Belgian academic circles, supports the teaching of IHL (including in collaboration with the Belgian Red Cross) and develops and maintains relations with influential players and a network of partners and contacts linked to legal questions, as well as IHL promotion and implementation
• Oversees the organisation of the annual Bruges Colloquium on IHL.
• Provides support across the IHL team activities as appropriate, including its engagement with NATO and the organisation of additional dissemination events.
• Contributes to the recruitment and selection of the Junior Legal Advisor for the IHL team and delegates tasks as appropriate.
• Contributes to the definition and implementation of the team’s objectives, budget planning and monitoring of results.
• Reports appropriately for their activities.

Desired profile and skills

• Master’s degree in international law; solid knowledge of IHL, of human rights law and of European law.
• Minimum 3-5 years work experience in a similar function
• Languages: English: very good oral and written skills, with knowledge of legal terminology. In addition, working knowledge of French or Dutch.
• Trustworthy and reliable. Strong interpersonal skills, ability to integrate and work in a multicultural team.
• Ability to work under pression in a fast-paced working environment.
• Ability to work independently, to organise their work and manage independently their own files whilst meeting deadlines.
• Ability to represent the organisation in external fora and in bilateral meetings with confidence.
• Working experience in government or the judicial sector is an advantage.
• ICRC experience is an advantage.
• Teaching/dissemination experience, including at academic level.
• Connections with government and academic circles, including own network of interlocutors (actors of influence).
• Experience in event organising is an asset.
• Good IT knowledge (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint…).
• Authorisation to work in Belgium

What we offer

• Location: 1040 Brussels – Rue d’Arlon 80
• Contract : Open ended contract under Belgian legislation
• Salary: Annual salary around 80k-85k EUR
• Benefits: Medical insurance, group insurance, meal vouchers, reimbursement of local transport costs

Additional information

• Starting date: December 2026
• Application deadline: Please apply by July 31st

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