Career Opportunities: Cybersecurity and R&D Adviser (19192) At International Committee of the Red Cross

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We act in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Purpose

Digitalization and new technologies have an increasingly important role in today’s humanitarian activities. As humanitarian organizations become more active in and reliant on new and digital technologies, they evolve from being simple bystanders to being fully-fledged partners in cyberspace, vulnerable to harmful cyber operations that could impact on their capacity to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict. In addition to adverse cyber operations, this leads humanitarian organizations to face numerous other novel challenges, as illustrated in more detail here below.
Considering the complexity of the challenges linked to the above, the ICRC has decided to start exploring and piloting the possible setup that will be required to run digital services on a global scale before such services are available for large scale deployment, through a Delegation for Cyberspace.
This involves creating a testing ground in which the ICRC can pilot and deploy supporting R&D technology, and in which it can safely engage in a dialogue with host authorities.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Cybersecurity and R&D Adviser ensures R&D projects are smoothly supported by and integrated in the R&D environment of the Delegation for Cyberspace and anticipates the challenges the institution will need to address in the exploration of humanitarian operations in cyber spaces. They also provide expertise to the Delegation on the relevance and risks of emerging trends in cybersecurity from a technical and policy/geo-political point of view. In this specific context, R&D activities mainly consist in developing new state of the art in security and data protection but also contribute to legal, policy and operational perspectives and dimensions.

• Ensures that the R&D environment has the capacity to host the R&D projects, anticipates needs and follows incoming R&D initiative streams.
• Independently leads a number of R&D projects and ensures their smooth integration in the R&D environment. Is responsible for the quality of the designed integrations in terms of performance, stability, upgradeability and security.
• Ensures all R&D activities respect internal guidelines and ambition to deploy responsible technologies, in particular with regard to Data Protection by design and by default and Security by design.
• Represents the Delegation for Cyberspace R&D in other R&D projects run by any other ICRC team that may wish to engage in R&D. Ensures proper follow up and report to the Head of Technology – Delegation for Cyberspace and Data Protection Office in HQ on the progress and possible links with other projects.
• Provides the necessary technical expertise to the Delegation to enable the development/adaptation of policies, standard operating procedures, operational dialogue etc, necessary to operating in cyberspace, and allow both the ICRC and the host country to develop a better understanding of the kind of operational dialogue and interaction required to make it successful.
• Participates or leads in the drafting of relevant policies and standard operating procedures.
• Proactively monitors a number of new technologies and their advances.

Desired profile and skills

• A master degree in computer science (or equivalent)
• Minimum 4 years’ of professional experience
• Proven experience in deploying complex solutions in cloud-type architecture
• Sound understanding of cyber security and information security technology, policy, strategy and geopolitics
• Solid understanding and knowledge of PETs (privacy enhancing technologies)
• Prior exposure to humanitarian sector a plus
• Fluent in English, good knowledge of French. Other ICRC language such as Spanish, Arabic or Russian are an asset.
• The successful candidate should demonstrate a strong capacity to collaborate with peers and a strong interest in applied research. They must be capable of adapting to rapid changes in the prioritization of tasks. Curiosity for exploring out-of-the-box ideas and ability to positively challenge existing models is one of their key characteristics.

What we offer

• An inspiring opportunity to practice your profession in a multicultural environment for the largest humanitarian organization in the world.
• Progressive development, training and stimulating benefits package
• A full-time, open-ended resident contract under the Luxembourg legislation with a competitive salary. Grading: C1 under the ICRC scale.
• Be part of new team including a Head of Technology and two Cybersecurity engineers.
• Place of work: Luxembourg, with occasional travel to Geneva.

Ready to apply? Please apply via the online application before May 31st 2022

Only EU/EFTA nationals or work permit holders may apply.

Preferred starting date: end of Q2 / beginning of Q3 2022

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