Legal Advisor

Job title: Legal Advisor

About the Role The Legal Advisor represents the ICRC to the EU, NATO and the Kingdom of Belgium from the Brussels Delegation. Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor, they conduct IHL-relevant legal research, analysis and contribute to engagement strategies, briefing materials, and external dissemination.

What You'll Do

• Analyse legal documents and policies from European institutions (Council, EEAS, Commission including DG DEFIS, European Parliament) and Belgium from an IHL/ICRC perspective; draft legal notes and analysis; contribute to briefing files, working papers, summary reports and non-papers.
• Conduct independent legal research on specific issues and broader EU and Belgian matters; build and maintain a network of IHL interlocutors within EU Institutions and Belgian authorities.
• Represent the ICRC mandate and IHL positions in external meetings/events; contribute to organisation of briefings with EU bodies on IHL-related files.
• Identify challenges and opportunities and contribute to drafting engagement strategies with the EU and Belgium from an IHL perspective; collaborate with colleagues across delegations and HQ on themes (preparedness, EU Preparedness Strategy, Defense Transformation Roadmap, AI and Autonomous Weapon Systems, Global IHL Initiative, etc).
• Maintain relations with Belgian academic circles, support IHL teaching (including with the Belgian Red Cross), and develop relations with influential partners on legal questions and IHL promotion.
• Oversee the organisation of the Bruges Colloquium on IHL; provide support to IHL team activities including engagement with NATO and dissemination events; contribute to recruitment and selection of the Junior Legal Advisor; contribute to team objectives and budget planning; report on activities.

What We're Looking For

• Master’s degree in international law; solid knowledge of IHL, human rights law, and European law.
• Minimum 3-5 years of relevant work experience.
• Languages: English with excellent oral and written skills; knowledge of legal terminology; working knowledge of French or Dutch.
• Trustworthy and reliable with strong interpersonal skills; ability to integrate into a multicultural team and to work under pressure; ability to work independently and manage own files; ability to represent the organisation in external fora and bilateral meetings.
• Experience in government or judicial sector is an advantage; ICRC experience is an advantage; teaching/dissemination experience (academic level); connections with government and academic circles; event organizing experience; good IT skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Authorization to work in Belgium.

Nice to Have

• Teaching/dissemination experience (including at academic level)
• Connections with government and academic circles (own network of interlocutors)
• Experience in event organizing
• ICRC experience is an asset.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: Annual around 80k-85k EUR
• Benefits: Medical insurance, group insurance, meal vouchers, reimbursement of local transport costs
• Location: 1040 Brussels – Rue d’Arlon 80; Contract: Open-ended under Belgian legislation; Starting date: December 2026; Application deadline: July 31st.