International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Traineeship 2019 – Geneva, Switzerland (Paid Traineeship)

Application Deadline: May 20th 2019

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC also endeavors to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.

Purpose

Produced by the ICRC and published by Cambridge University Press, the International Review of the Red Cross is a specialized, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to international humanitarian law, policy and action. It is published three times per year and its principal audience includes governments, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, universities, the media and all those interested in humanitarian issues at large. The Review team consists of four people within the Law and Policy Forum unit of the ICRC’s International Law and Policy department: The Editor-in-Chief, the Managing Editor, the Thematic Editor and the Associate/Editorial Assistant. In addition, there is a Book Review Editor who is not with the team full-time and are occasionally short-term academic trainees joining the team for periods of 2-3 months in exchange for course credit.

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

You will work closely with the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor and Thematic Editor in the assessment and editing related to submitted articles, and overall content management. In addition, you will assist with the promotion and distribution of thematic editions of the Review. The staff of the Review, including the Associate, regularly interacts with other parts of the institution, including the ICRC’s Legal Division, Protection Division, Operations Department, Policy Unit and so on, ensuring a firm knowledge of current priorities. As an integral part of the Review team, you will assist in the conceptualization of themes, contacts with authors, peer reviewers and the publisher, background research and substantive evaluation of submissions.

Certifications / Education required

A Master’s degree in law, international relations, or another relevant field.

Desired profile and skills

• A demonstrated interest in humanitarian work, IHL and human rights;
• Excellent command of English and good French reading abilities;
• Previous editorial work experience (shortlisted candidates will be tested on their editorial and writing skills);
• Initiative and capacity to work independently under minimal supervision;
• Excellent ability to work in a team;
• Excellent communication skills including strong writing abilities;
• Excellent organizational skills.

Important Information

Only individuals enrolled in higher education or who have recently completed their studies are eligible to be trainees/associates. For candidates to be eligible they must have a maximum of one year’s professional experience after graduation (relating to the post) or two years if they have been in previous traineeships. 

Benefits

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment;
• Participation in workshop(s) related to the position;
• 12 months’ contract;
• Paid traineeship.

Key responsibilities:

• Assistance to Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor of the International Review of the Red Cross;
• Evaluation and substantive editing of article submissions (checking legal reasoning, arguments, structure and sources);
• Substantial academic research;
• Identification of potential authors and peer reviewers;
• Preparation and co-conduct of interviews of key experts in the fields of humanitarian law, policy and action for publication;
• Management of book reviews in collaboration with the Review‘s Book Review Editor;
• Management of the unsollicited submissions sent to the Review;
• Coordination with the academic intern(s);
• Authorship of promotional texts (for example, blog articles or newsletter entries) for the journal;
• Engagement with authors, peer reviewers and the publisher in a diplomatic and politically astute manner, as an ambassador of the journal and the ICRC;
• Correspondence with both external and internal counterparts in identifying potential topics to be covered in the Review, including (but not limited to) ICRC delegations, colleagues across various units and departments from HQ, national societies, beneficiaries and professionals outside the ICRC;
• Ad hoc presentations on IHL to groups visiting the ICRC.

Additional information

• Type of position: Traineeship
• Working rate: 100%
• Starting date: 1 September 2019
• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Length of assignment: 12 months

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Traineeship