Latest Vacancies at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to people affected by war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Legal Assistant

Location: Gwoza, Borno

Scope of Work
The IRC is implementing a protection program featuring strengthening of community based protection structures, capacity building, protection monitoring, information dissemination and referral services. The IRC will also building capacity of government authorities, local organizations and local communities around protection mainstreaming and protection monitoring. The IRC will also include legal assistance and counselling services. The protection program is currently implemented in the NE states of Adamawa and Borno.

Under the supervision of the Senior Protection Officer, the Legal Assistant will identify legal needs in the field, provide counseling and assistance including representation in relevant administrative bodies. The Legal Assistant will conduct direct case intake on site and will also receive referrals from other actors, including such as other IRC sectors. The Legal Assistant will refer cases requiring representation in courts to other specialized service providers.

The Legal Assistant will be responsible for conducting legal information sessions on protection, rights and entitlements, legal status, and other issues, as dictated by the needs at field level. The Legal Assistant will also ensure consistent follow-up with beneficiaries. The Legal Assistant will work with community leaders to support advocacy at the community level and engage in mediation and negotiation as needed (especially with regard to housing, land and property disputes).

Responsibilities

• Conduct mobile field visits to target communities to meet with persons of concern within the community according to the weekly work plan.
• Identify legal needs in the local communities and provide on-site counseling to Persons of Concern (PoCs).
• Under the guidance of the senior protection Assistant, assist PoCs by representing them in relevant administrative bodies and when necessary refer cases requiring representation in court to other specialized services.
• Conduct case intake including overseeing and managing of all legal cases and regularly review and follow up cases referral and other associated legal issues.
• Deliver information sessions on protection, rights and entitlements and other legal issues as dictated by legal status and by the needs at field-level.
• Develop and deliver internal and external training for IRC staff, community members and other stakeholders on human rights and legal issues.
• Facilitate one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with returnees, host community members, state actors and service providers in the field on selected protection and legal concerns;
• Engage in mediation and negotiation as needed (e.g. on housing, land and property issues);
• Analyze legal data and highlight trends and legal protection needs of target beneficiaries.
• Keep records of the urgent legal needs identified and the actions taken to assist affected PoCs.
• Establish and strengthen relationship with IDPs, returnees and host community leaders, other INGOs, Government officials and key stakeholders to ensure activities for coordination.
• Support the Protection Manager and Coordinator in the development of advocacy messages on legal issues.
• Conduct stakeholders’ mapping in area of operation in order to identify those offering specialized services.
• Produce weekly and monthly legal activity reports and attend regular IRC Protection sector meetings.
• Provide direct supervision and support to Protection Action Group (PAG) members
• Conducts other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• University Degree in Law.
• At least 1 year of prior professional experience in a similar post, preferably with an international organization.
• Strong communication skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships with new communities.
• Experience in providing legal counselling and assistance
• Strong understanding of International Human Rights and Nigerian law
• Familiarity with and have an understanding of the Nigerian legal community;
• Experience in regular report writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
• Flexible and able to work in a dynamic and diverse environment.
• Good cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while
• Knowledge of the local language will be an added value
• Computer skills require (word and excel).

Work Envirnoment:

• Security level orange. The situation in Gwoza, Borno remains unpredictable; there is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states.

Benefits

• Competitive Monthly salary,
• 13th Month Salary Inclusive,
• Health Insurance Coverage for Family, Pension, Creche Facilities available for Women with babies under 24 Months.

Job Title: Protection Assistant

Location: Monguno, Borno

Scope of Work

• The IRC is implementing a protection program featuring strengthening of community based protection structures, capacity building, protection monitoring, information dissemination and referral services.
• The IRC is also building capacity of government authorities, local organizations and local communities around protection mainstreaming and protection monitoring.
• The protection program is currently implemented in the NE states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
• Under the supervision of the Protection Officer, the Protection Assistant will work extensively with other sectors, to ensure that protection principles are being incorporated into the Nigeria sector programs, and in particular with the Women’s Protection and Empowerment Coordinator, the Child Youth and Protection Development Coordinator and the Food Security team to strengthen the integrated nature of IRC’s protection and assistance programs in Nigeria.
• The Protection Assistant will conduct protection monitoring in target areas and will conduct case intake for individual protection cases.
• The Protection Assistant will support the Protection Officer in ensuring the smooth formation and running of community based protection structures and mechanisms.
• The Protection Assistant will be the focal point for the identification, registration and provision of individual targeted assistance to extremely vulnerable individuals.

Responsibilities

• Take lead in identification of most vulnerable individuals in target communities and extremely vulnerable individuals in need of urgent assistance.
• In coordination with the Protection Officer, identify what form of targeted assistance to be provided to extremely vulnerable individuals.
• Provide individual targeted assistance to extremely vulnerable individuals and make follow up with them to ensure that their most urgent needs are being appropriately addressed.
• Support the Protection Officer in the establishment and oversight of community based protection mechanisms/structures.
• Assist Information Assistants in carrying out community mobilization, awareness creation and information dissemination activities.
• Assist Protection Officer in conducting promotion monitoring activities in target areas.
• Assist the Training and Capacity Officer in planning, organizing and implementation of conducting trainings at the community level.
• Support in identifying key protection issues, concerns and threats in target communities
• Refer identified cases to the Protection and Legal Officer for further action and consideration.
• Participate in data collection, vulnerability screening and assessments such as needs assessments, baseline/end line surveys etc.
• Participate in the design, planning, execution and monitoring of Protection sector activities
• Assist the Protection Officer in consolidating weekly report, monthly and other program reports.
• Keep record of all individual targeted assistance activities and assist in keeping records of community based protection activities.
• Work together with the Training and Capacity Building Officer to build and strengthen the capacity of community based structure and mechanism.
• Take good quality activity pictures and submit to the Reporting/Database Assistant and Protection Manager
• Attend regular IRC internal Protection sector meetings.
• Carry out other tasks assigned by the supervisor

Requirements

• University Degree in Law, Political Science, Social Works, Psychology or any other related field.
• 2 years’ experience implementing protection programming including experience in emergency or post-conflict project management
• Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming
• Good communication skills (written and verbal), cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.
• Experience in working in remote and hard to reach areas with limited amenities.
• Knowledge of the local language will be an added value
• Strong computer skills require (word and excel).

Work Environment:

• Security level orange. The situation in Monguno, Borno remains unpredictable; there is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states.

Benefits

• Competitive Monthly salary,
• 13th Month Salary Inclusive,
• Health Insurance Coverage for Family, Pension, Creche Facilities available for Women with babies under 24 Months.

Deadline: 19th December, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Cover Letters and CV to “Human Resources Coordinator, International Rescue Committee” via:IRCNigeria.Recruitment@rescue.org  Subject of the application should read: “Legal Assistant, Gwoza”.
Or
Hand delivered Applications should be sent to the IRC Office in Gwoza.

Note

• Only shortlisted candidates will be communicated for Interview.
• IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability
• Application should mention Local Government of Origin and Ward in Gwoza.