Forensic Advisor

The ICRC is a reference organization in humanitarian forensic action, defined as the application of forensic science to humanitarian activities, principally for the search, recovery, analysis, documentation, identification and dignified management of the dead from armed conflicts and catastrophes; as well as for helping prevent and resolve the tragedy of people unaccounted for as a result of armed conflict or internal violence.

Your task

To contribute towards the implementation of ICRC's humanitarian forensic action by:

• Promoting and supporting the effective implementation of relevant forensic standards and procedures, including for the management of the dead, for preventing and resolving the missing and for other applications of forensic science to humanitarian action.
• Assisting forensic institutions and practitioners involved in humanitarian forensic action.
• Contributing to the effective implementation of the ICRC's strategies in humanitarian forensic action.
• Providing specialized advice on human remains and forensic sciences to relevant stakeholders and institutions.
• Carrying out appraisals and assessments on forensics and human remains as required by ICRC field operations.
• Helping define specific objectives and strategies aimed at supporting medico-legal and other external structures relevant to the missing, forensics and human remains.
• Supporting ICRC field operations to implement objectives related to humanitarian forensic action.
• Contributing towards the ICRC's policy, strategies and tactics related to issues requiring forensic assistance.
• Representing the ICRC where necessary for furthering the organization's principles and goals in humanitarian forensic action.
• Contributing to the dissemination of all relevant information on humanitarian forensic action, both within the ICRC and beyond, including the preparation and presentation of appropriate materials for diverse audiences.
• Actively promoting the ICRC's and other relevant international standards applicable to humanitarian forensic action, including participation and/or organization of appropriate initiatives for this purpose.
• Training relevant external stakeholders and ICRC staff, on issues related to humanitarian forensic action, including forensics in data collection and management and management of human remains and data collection.
• Participating and contribute towards maintaining an optimal team environment necessary to meet growing organizational needs related to humanitarian forensic action.

Selection requirements

• Qualified forensic practitioner with at least 5 years' proven international experience and practice in forensic case-work applied to humanitarian or human rights investigations.
• Experience and familiarity with disaster victim identification.
• Proven networking skills and experience in the field of forensic sciences applied to humanitarian or human rights investigations.
• Proven experience in the management of medico-legal services, programs or organizations (i.e. proven management skills) is an important asset.
• Publications in the field of forensic science applied to human rights and/or humanitarian action is an important asset.
• Proven experience in public relations, particularly applied to the promotion of professional and ethical standards related to the field of expertise.
• Proven training experience and skills and capacity to adapt the message to diverse audiences.
• Excellent level of oral and written English and/or French or Spanish; other languages an asset.
• Driving license (must cover manual transmission – a license for automatic -transmission vehicles only is not sufficient).

Your profile

• Sound academic background
• Proven capacity to work under pressure
• Preparedness to travel extensively
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including proven experience and capacity to work constructively in teams under considerable pressure
• Proven commitment towards professional ethical standards
• Proven commitment towards cultural diversity, gender equality and equal opportunities
• Preparedness to accept a deployment to non-family postings (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents) may be a requirement for some positions

Length of assignment: 12 months, extendable

Please follow the link at the bottom of the job posting webpage https://www.icrc.org/en/who-we-are/jobs/opportunity/forensic-advisor

Or contact Oran Finegan, ICRC Deputy Head of Forensic Services, for more details on how to apply at ofinegan@icrc.org