Legal Officer
Location: Gwoza, Borno
Country: Nigeria
Category: Technical Units
Compensation: Monthly
Employee Category Regular
Job Type: Full Time
Work Arrangement: In-person
Open To Expatriates: No
Job Id: req58584
Currency: Nigerian Naira
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
BACKGROUND
The International Rescue Committee has been in Nigeria since October 2012 and came in response to a widespread flood disaster in Kogi State. With local partner Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication (CISCOPE), IRC’s Emergency Response Team implemented projects to support food security, livelihoods, nutrition, and WASH.
At the beginning of January 2014, IRC shifted geographical location to the Northeast, in Adamawa State, to provide humanitarian response to the conflict-affected populations. Currently, IRC has operational offices: Yola and Mubi field offices in Adamawa State, Damaturu in Yobe State and Bama, Monguno, Gwoza and Maiduguri field offices in Borno State (Northeast Nigeria) and began operations in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto States (Northwest Nigeria) in 2023, providing humanitarian support to internally displaced populations hosted in IDP camps, camplike settings, host communities and returnee populations.
The IRC Nigeria Country Program implements multi-sectoral interventions through her various sectors: Health; Nutrition; Environmental Health; Child Protection; Education; Women’s Protection and Empowerment; Economic Recovery and Development, Protection and Rule of Law. Most of these programs are driven in partnership with strategic local NGOs.
SCOPE OF WORK:
The IRC is implementing a protection program featuring the strengthening of community-based protection structures, capacity building, protection monitoring, information dissemination, and referral services. The IRC will build the capacity of government authorities, local organizations, and local communities around protection mainstreaming and protection monitoring. It will also include legal assistance/ counselling services as well as referrals to justice actors for mediation and legal representation in formal courts. The protection program is currently implemented in the NE States of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe and the NW States of Zamfara and Katsina.
Job Overview/Summary
The Legal Officer oversees all IRC legal activities in Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria, providing technical guidance to PRoL staff to ensure quality legal counseling and information. The role ensures the human rights protection of men, women, boys, and girls, including persons with disabilities, assisting them in accessing justice while mitigating protection risks. Additionally, the Legal Officer maintains strong relationships with legal authorities. Under supervision of the Outcomes Manager (Safety), the Legal Officer will serve as key person to implement legal assistance activities along the displacement routes and provide evidence base to inform needs of affected population for program adjustment and advocacy.
Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy
Program Quality Assurance and Implementation: – Support the PRoL Team and local partners to develop and implement legal information, counselling and assistance activities. Ensure continuous update of the service map of Justice actors and legal services in Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria. Ensure referrals are made to justice actors (Nigeria Bar Association, FIDA, National Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Counsel, Borno Amicable settlement corridor etc.) and received in a safe way and according to the SOPs, and that referrals received are followed-up and that the referral tracker is updated. Produce clear legal content on legal information and procedures, to be distributed to conflict-affected people. Monitor spending related to activities are on track and timely inform PRoL Management for budget adjustment need
Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy: Cultivate strong partnerships with government entities, donors, and other stakeholders to advocate for the safety and legal rights protection of clients in Adamawa State. Engage in strategic advocacy efforts to raise awareness of key protection issues and mobilize support for program initiatives that prioritize their needs and rights. Constantly look for contacts within authorities and key humanitarian stakeholders and update the contact trackers
Partnership Development and Capacity Building: Drive the establishment of strategic partnerships with local organizations and community structures to enhance the delivery of legal rights information. Provide targeted capacity-building support to partners, strengthening their ability to implement and sustain effective protection interventions that benefit women, girls, boys, and vulnerable populations.
Team Leadership and Talent Development: Provide visionary leadership to PRoL officers, Assistants and Incentive workers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Invest in the professional development of staff through ongoing training, coaching, and mentorship initiatives, empowering them to deliver high-quality services to women, girls, boys, and vulnerable populations.
Reporting, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL): Work closely with the Protection Team and the MEAL team to create and update reporting tools. Support the Outcome Manager in data analysis related to legal needs and to develop program reports related to donor requirement and program requirement
Coordination and Representation: Act as a strategic representative of IRC, actively engaging in coordination mechanisms and platforms at local, regional, and national levels to ensure the protection of the legal rights of clients by facilitating clients’ interests via protection discussions, advocating for inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches to programming that address their unique needs and vulnerabilitiesTop of Form.
Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:
Supervise, mentor and build the of capacity of PROL Officers/ direct reports in relevant technical competencies including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable direct reports to successfully perform in their positions.
Approve and manage leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
As required, identify direct reports’ performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
Look for opportunities to support direct reports in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of direct reports to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
Research, Learning and Analysis
Data Collection and Analysis: Support the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data related to Protection and Rule of Rule indicators, to inform program planning, decision-making, and performance monitoring.
Knowledge Management: Support in developing and implementing systems for capturing, documenting, and sharing lessons learned, best practices, and innovative approaches within the organization and with external stakeholders to facilitate learning and continuous improvement.
Applied Research: Facilitate applied research initiatives working with the Outcome Manager (Safety), including operational research and program evaluations, to generate evidence on the effectiveness of interventions, identify areas for improvement, and contribute to the broader body of knowledge in integrated health programming.
Learning Events: Support the Outcome Manager (Safety)in the organization and facilitation of learning events, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions for PRoL staff and partners to foster a culture of learning, innovation, and collaboration.
External Engagement: Represent IRC in relevant forums, conferences, and working groups related to safety outcome research, learning, and analysis, actively contributing to sectoral discussions and networking with peers and expats.
Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to: Outcomes Manager- Safety Outcome
Position directly Supervises: Community Engagement and Protection Assistants and Incentive workers.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in law- LLB and BL (Candidate must be Called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Nigerian Supreme Court)
Work Experience:
Previous experience in Legal information, counselling and assistance.
At least 3 years of experience in humanitarian relief and or transitional programs in areas affected by large scale displacement due to conflict and chronic food and nutrition insecurity.
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 as well as understand the Nigerian legal community.
Experience facilitating group activities, trainings and workshops and mentoring others.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming
Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
Experience in using community-based and participatory approaches.
Experience in community mobilization and awareness creation.
Experience in protection Monitoring.
Experience in conducting protection case management and case intake including overseeing and managing of all legal cases and regularly review and follow up cases referral and other associated legal issues.
Experience in delivering information sessions on protection, human rights and entitlements and other legal issues as dictated by legal status and by the needs at field-level.
Experience in developing and delivering internal and external training for IRC staff, community members and other stakeholders on human rights and legal issues.
Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries.
Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting as well as work independently.
High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
Flexible and able to work in a dynamic and diverse environment.
Good cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
Demonstrated experience in program management, project design, use of project design tools and donor report writing.
Experience in working in remote and hard-to-reach areas with limited amenities.
Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.
Languages:
Fluency in English and other languages desirable.
Knowledge of the local language will be an added value.
Computer / Other Tech Requirements:
Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Standards of Professional Conduct:
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Gender Equality:
IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Working Environment:
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Computer/Other Tech Requirements:
Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Ability to Travel:
Willingness to travel to the field locations at least 50% of your time.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity, and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.
IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Employment Gaps:
We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate’s potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.
Compensation and Benefits:
IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attract, motivate, and retain employees who deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
IRC is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status, and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.