Senior Armed Forces and Security (FAS) Delegate At International Committee of the Red Cross

Brussels is home to the main institutions of the European Union (EU) – the Council of the EU, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission, the European Parliament – and to the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The ICRC delegation in Brussels aims to make the ICRC’s mandate better known, to mobilize political, diplomatic and financial support for its activities and to ensure that relevant political and military decision makers in Western Europe view the ICRC as the main reference point for neutral and independent humanitarian action, as well as for International Humanitarian Law.

Purpose

The Senior Armed Forces& Security Delegate to NATO and EU acts as the Head of Delegations (HoD) advisor for military affairs and is the primary interlocutor with the military structure of NATO, EU(MS), and associated European Armed Forces military structures. They contribute to developing and implementing the Delegations strategies and operational dialogue with arms carriers, with respect to acceptance of the ICRCs mandate and operations and is directly involved in the practical promotion, integration, and implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL)/international human rights law (IHRL), and other legal standards, when applied, into NATO and EU Military Education, Training and Exercises. The Senior Armed Forces& Security Delegate to NATO and EU reports to the Head of Delegation and has line manager responsibilities for the FAS Programme Adviser.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities / Scope & Impact

• The Brussels Delegation engages primarily with the institutions of NATO, the EU and with the Kingdom of Belgium. The Senior Armed Forces& Security Delegate to NATO and EUis responsible for interactions with the NATO Headquarters Military Staff, the NATO Command and Force Structures, the EU Military Staff, and the forces of selected Member States.
• Responsible for planning, implementing and reporting all activities with NATO, EU military structures, and the Belgian Armed Forces. This includes the preparation and monitoring of the budget plus the associated monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.

Specific engagement activities include:

• Preparing Annual Staff Talks with NATO Strategic Commands.
• Planning and implementing the ICRC-ACT-ACO Memorandum of Understanding and related Engagement Plan and annual Action Plan.
• Participating in selected Education, Training and Exercises, to portray the ICRC, inform and educate on relevant issues notably Protection of Civilians and Detention Operations and to promote IHL.
• Providing internal training to ICRC staff to assist understanding of NATO and EU arms carriers as required.
• Conducting pre-deployment briefings with NATO and EU units relaying essential messages from the ICRC field delegations.
• Specific analysis activities include:
  • Identifying and developing a network of contacts and maintaining an up-to-date mapping of military interlocutors.
  • Advising HoD on humanitarian implications of military operations and use of force.
  • Contributing to ICRC analysis on NATO and EU with regards to their respective status, current preparedness and operational activities and expected future developments.
  • Contributing to the Delegation’s annual planning and reporting in addition to Regional and Institutional strategies concerning the military aspects of the respective interlocutors.
  • Participating, with JUR, PROT and POL colleagues to ICRC input on NATO and EU doctrine and policy.
  • Participating in the preparation of interventions and representations as part of ICRC confidential dialogue with NATO and EU structures.
  • Maintaining an up to date and accessible filing system for key documents.
  • Acting as Project Manager for assigned FAS BRU events or projects as required.

Professional Experience Required

• Former mid to senior military officer with minimum 15 years professional experience (Lieutenant Colonel and higher).
• Graduate of a senior military Staff College.
• Significant experience in the planning and conduct of military operations, at Joint level preferably in a NATO or EU context, and a minimum of one year deployed operational experience.

Professional Experience Desirable

• Master’s Degree in military studies, international relations or related subject.
• Military Command experience at unit level, preferably on operations.
• NATO/EU Staff Officer experience in a planning, operations or CIMIC role, preferably on operations.
• An understanding of NATO/EU military Education, Training and Exercise processes.
• Exposure to, and understanding of, international humanitarian law/LOAC/RoE and the targeting process.
• Field experience with a humanitarian or development organisation.
• Prior employment in the ICRC or other parts of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.

Certification & Personal Skills

• Fluent English (essential) and French (highly desirable); additional language(s) an advantage.
• Excellent oral, presentational, and written communication and interpersonal skills; able to present with confidence and to a very high standard at lectures, meetings, seminars to Senior Commanders and Staff Officers at Strategic and Operational Levels.
• Ability to adapt to and connect with a range of humanitarian and military audiences and interlocutors.
• Proven office and computer skills; ability to use Windows and Office to a high proficiency.
• Able to comply with ICRC principles and be free of obligations to other, or former employers, authorities or groups who engage with the ICRC.
• Up to 25% travel is required, working outside normal hours and some weekends to support activities in NATO and EU facilities.

What we offer

• An inspiring opportunity to join one of the most respected international humanitarian organizations in the world
• A full time employment contract under Belgian legislation
• An office space in Brussels in a multicultural team
• Inhouse training opportunities