Armed Forces and Security (FAS) Delegate

About us

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, independent and impartial organisation whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Red Cross and Crescent Movement in situations of armed conflict. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening international humanitarian law (IHL) and universal humanitarian principles.

The ICRC’s Regional Delegation to the UK and Ireland has two offices, one in London and one in Belfast. The delegation has an operational and diplomatic identity. It is a ‘Global Reach’ delegation that seeks to improve the UK and Ireland’s decision-making, policy and practice on issues regarding conflict, humanitarian action, IHL; it seeks the UK and Ireland’s support to enable ICRC action. It conducts protection activities, including detention visits in both countries. It coordinates with the British and Irish Red Cross Societies on its influencing agenda, Movement coordination as well as humanitarian needs in Northern Ireland.

Our Diversity Commitment

ICRC celebrates diversity and we strive to make inclusion part of what we do every day. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination and we are committed to creating a diverse, multicultural environment.

Applicants with protected characteristics are strongly encouraged to apply.

About the role **

Purpose

Based in London, the FAS Delegate has overall responsibility within the delegation for dialogue with the armed forces of UK and Ireland as well as contributing to the delegation’s wider interaction across government on defence and security related issues.

Through this interaction the FAS Delegate contributes to the delegation’s humanitarian diplomacy (HD) objectives to influence UK and Ireland’s policy and practice by working towards protecting the victims of armed conflict through the promotion, integration and implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL) and other applicable norms and practice, including international human rights law (IHRL) as well as acceptance of the ICRC’s mandate and operations.

S/he works towards the implementation in the UK and Ireland of the FAS Vision, by ‘supporting the ICRC’s dialogue with arms carriers through practitioner expertise across prevention, protection, policy and humanitarian diplomacy activity, improving ICRC’s positioning and access, and influencing sustainable legally compliant behavior, in order to limit or prevent suffering of people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence (OSV).

Relationships

Internally, the FAS Delegate reports to the Head of Operations (Deputy Head of Regional Delegation (DHoRD)). S/he provides direct supervision to a FAS consultant and currently interacts closely with an external military expert. S/he may provide joint supervision to interns assigned to work on particular thematics. S/he works closely with other teams in the delegation to provide advice and analysis from an armed forces and security perspective, in particular with the Protection Coordinator, Head of Policy and Legal Coordinator. S/he is a member of the following working groups: Global reach/Support Relationships in Armed Conflict (SRI); New technologies; Counter terrorism (CT)/Restrictive measures. S/he liaises closely with HQ, in particular with the FAS unit for functional technical support and reporting (e.g. quarterly reporting) and ensures this is integrated as much as possible with the delegation’s reporting requirements. Also, liaises closely with other delegations, including FAS counterparts, in geographies and on themes relevant to her/his area of responsibility as defined by the delegation’s Planning for Results (PfR) and HD strategy.

Externally, the FAS Delegate is the first point of contact for the delegation with UK and Ireland Armed Forces and also engages across the rest of HM Government, Parliament, civil society and other stakeholders on geographies and themes under her/his area of responsibility as defined by the delegation’s PfR and in any other way that supports the objectives of the delegation.

General Duties

· Understands and adheres to the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

· Understands and adheres to the ICRC Code of Conduct and the Values Compass.

· Is committed to advancing Diversity and Inclusion.

· Understands the roles of the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

· Understands and aims to implement the (global) Institutional Strategy and the Regional Strategic Framework for Eurasia and FAS Vision.

· Respects and observes staff regulations and security rules at all times.

· Represents the ICRC in a professional manner at all times.

· Develops and maintains a pleasant and conducive working environment with colleagues and line managers.

· Performs all duties with the highest level of confidentiality in the interest of the employees and the ICRC.

· May be asked to perform tasks not covered in this job description and to provide support to other departments when necessary.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

· As FAS Delegate for the ICRC London, contributes to the development and implementation of the delegation’s influencing strategies and dialogue with UK and Ireland Armed Forces as well as with other relevant governmental departments and external organisations as required. Supports the objectives of the delegation’s priorities, in particular through active participation and input into the working groups on UK Global reach/SRI, new technologies, counter terrorism/restrictive measures (additional working groups may be added).

· Acts as a technical expert on UK and Ireland military and security operations globally, working closely together with head of policy to integrate analysis with wider political, defence and security factors and drawing our implications for the ICRC’s engagement with the UK and Ireland.

· In close coordination, in particular, with the Protection Coordinator, Head of Policy and Legal Coordinator, contributes to ICRCs analysis, dialogue, interventions and consultations, through written reports and ad-hoc briefings; thereby helping to identify opportunities for engagement with the integrated approach across HMG.

· Generates evidence-based content through careful examination of practice, complementing the substance on humanitarian concerns coming from the field, as well as through interactions with UK and Ireland armed forces, other parts of government, civil society and academia.

· Promotes IHL, related bodies of law and protection principles to UK and Ireland Armed Forces and other relevant defence and security related audiences.

· Relationship-building and operational dialogue with a range of UK Armed Forces personnel and other military/security contacts and organisations, including, in coordination with ICRC Brussels, with regards UK’s membership of NATO.

· Works in consultation with other departments in the delegation, notably legal, policy and protection, in support of the delegation’s strategies, objectives and interventions to influence behaviour in a sustained way.

· Works closely with the delegation SRI focal point (currently the DHoRD) on developing understanding of ICRC’s SRI framework with a view to leveraging UK and Ireland support relationships for enhanced compliance with IHL on the ground. In this regard, particularly in relation to UK as an SRI partner of global interest, also interacts closely with the Global SRI Project officer currently based in London and with the wider SRI project team based in Geneva.

· Contributes to the formulation of strategies and provide evidence-based, technical expertise as necessary to shape the debate on geographies and thematics. The latter include notably new technologies, UK global reach and support relationships, CT and restrictive measures.

· Provides FAS support to ICRC Belfast office as required.

· Ensures that any FAS projects, programmes, reporting, administration and human resource requirements, including budgetary preparation and management are integrated into the delegation’s priorities and processes.

Person Specification (Qualifications, skills & experience required)

Former military officer with rank of Lt Col + (or equivalent).

Experience in the planning or conduct of Partnered Military Operations (an asset).

Experience of interacting with other security agencies, i.e. beyond military (an asset).

At least 4-5 years ICRC field and/or HQ experience.

An understanding of the UK and/or Ireland contexts.

Languages: Excellent level of written and spoken English. Understanding of French (an asset).

Key competencies: good networker, prepared to use initiative; patience; good team-player; commitment to humanitarian concepts; good judgement; good presentation skills; good writer.

Strong conceptual and strategic analytical capacity.

Personal qualities: empathy, curiosity, active listener, willing to learn, embraces change and open to new ways of doing things.

Further Details

This is a full time (35 hours per week) resident appointment to the London office. The position is expected to be filled as from 1st May 2022 and is open-ended contract, with a competitive salary dependent on experience. We currently operate on a hybrid office/homework basis, and there is an option to work from home for part of the week.