Deputy Protection Coordinator, ICRC US & Canada

Deputy Protection Coordinator, ICRC US & Canada

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The Regional Delegation for the United States and Canada

Resident position based in Washington D.C

(Only US citizens or Green Card holders may apply)

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, independent and impartial humanitarian organization seeking to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. Formed in 1863, the ICRC was at the origin of international humanitarian law (IHL) and of the world’s largest humanitarian network, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The ICRC Regional Delegation for the US & Canada, based in Washington D.C, is at the heart of our efforts to deliver on the ICRC's mandate, working to secure much needed and widespread support, influence, and partnerships for our work in conflict zones. We cultivate relationships with US government agencies, civil society, and the media. The team also works closely with our partners such as the American Red Cross and the Canadian Red Cross.

The Deputy Protection Coordinator for Migration coordinates and supervises the implementation of ICRC protection activities related to migrants and migration in the United States, in line with the delegation’s priorities - within the frame of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement resolutions and ICRC institutional priorities - to help mitigate specific humanitarian consequences linked to migrants at the US southern border and/or returned from the US to Mexico, Central America, or the Caribbean.

Main areas of work will include issues around treatment of migrants, family links, returns, and migrants going missing. The work requires close collaboration with the ICRC Regional Delegation for Mexico and Central America, ICRC Regional Delegation in Panama, American Red Cross, regular contact with the main governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in the US, as well as direct engagement with migrants along their migratory route. Up to 40% of the position holder’s time will be spent along the US southern border, in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Accountabilities & Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the ICRC Washington (WAS) Protection Coordinator, the position is to lead, support and strengthen the delegation’s ongoing and foreseen activities on migration:

• Identifies migration-related protection objectives and priorities; leads the development of the WAS Migration strategy and related plans of action in consultation with the team(s) members involved in migration-related issues and operations on the US territory and along the migratory route;
• Regularly liaises with ICRC MEX and PAN Migration team, regional advisors, and Management;
• Conducts regular missions to US/MEX border and Central America;
• Develops and maintains network of actors, such as US authorities, NGOs, IOs, embassies, American Red Cross and research institutions in DC and at the US/MEX border;
• Maintains a strong level of awareness of the situation of migrants entering the US, particularly on issues related to loss of contact with their families or disappearance and those subject to return and/or detention;
• Represents the ICRC in internal and external meetings (workshops, working groups, thematic dialogue);
• Fosters and streamlines coordination amongst various departments within ICRC Washington Delegation, including in efforts to feed into ICRC Washington Delegation humanitarian diplomacy workstreams;
• Analyzes and identifies trends and patterns using open-source information and protection data, including documenting protection concerns and humanitarian consequences of migratory policies in priority zones;
• Makes periodic synthesis of relevant information, draft thematic reports and speaking points as relevant;
• Supervises the management of ICRC information related to migration, and works in close collaboration with the ICRC Data team to ensure the quality control of protection data.

Education and Experience Required

• Prior ICRC Protection experience a definite plus; confirmed Protection experience and analytical capacity a must;
• Experience in policy engagement on the Hill or other DC-based think tanks or international organizations is an asset;
• Experience working in the region and/or on migration issues preferred;
• Pro-active team-player with strong organizational, planning and interpersonal skills;
• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in a relevant field (e.g. social work, humanitarian action, migration policy, international affairs) and minimum 5 years of overall professional experience with at least 3-4 years of experience in a similar field or organization;
• Excellent professional oral and written English and Spanish.