External Relations Adviser

The External Relations Adviser supports the Presidency of the International Criminal Court in managing external relations activities, including planning and coordinating communications, advising on policies, and representing the Court in various fora. The role involves coordinating external travel, drafting speeches and reports, and supervising the External Relations team.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate the external relations’ annual work programme in the preparation and implementation of the external relations and communications strategy and activities of the Presidency, providing advice on issues, developments, policies and approaches impacting external relations.
• Coordinate the conceptual planning and preparation of all communications activities of the Presidency relating to in-Court visits and events such as government officials, embassies, dignitaries, media, academia, and the annual Judicial Seminar.
• Coordinate all aspects of the Presidency’s external travel and engagements, including conducting background research, preparation of speaking material, communication with relevant interlocutors, and accompanying the President or other members on missions as required.
• Facilitate inter-organ coordination of external relations issues, seeking Court-wide approaches, chair meetings of the inter-organ external relations working group, coordinate diplomatic briefings and preparation of selected reports.
• Coordinate inter-organ meetings, discussions and decision-making and represent the office at various Assembly of States Parties oversight bodies fora, such as the Hague Working Group.
• Draft and/or coordinate preparation of high-quality speeches, speaking notes, background information, media statements, publications, press releases, social media posts, and lead drafting of the Court’s annual reports on activities to the UN and the Assembly of States Parties.
• Draft and/or coordinate and oversee preparation of timely responses to communications and correspondence received by the Presidency.
• Coordinate and supervise the work of the Presidency’s External Relations team.
• Perform any other duties as required.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree in law, international relations, political science, or other relevant fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience is accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience (or seven years with a first level university degree), combining external relations and international criminal justice, acquired in an international organisation, and/or an international court, and/or a foreign ministry and/or other relevant governmental entities, is required.
• Demonstrated experience in working with the media, drafting high-quality speeches, key messages, speaking notes, background information and papers, media statements and publications, press releases, reports or other relevant written outputs, is required.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of international criminal justice and international criminal law, the substantive and procedural aspects of the Court and the Rome Statute system more broadly.
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the functioning of international tribunals.
• Excellent diplomatic, communication, negotiation and organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and drafting skills and ability to prepare and present reports that are clear and concise.
• Strong interpersonal and organisational skills, with flexibility and ability to adjust in a highly dynamic environment.
• Ability to keep strict standards of confidentiality.
• Capacity to prioritize activities and assignments and foresee risks.
• Ability to work effectively and constructively with colleagues from different professional, national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively under strict deadlines.
• Professional and personal integrity.
• Proficiency in one of the working languages of the Court, English or French is required. Working knowledge of the other is highly desirable. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.

Skills

• External Relations
• International Criminal Law
• Media Relations
• Speech Writing
• Key Message Development
• Press Release Writing
• Report Writing
• International Tribunal Knowledge
• Diplomacy Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Confidentiality Management
• Risk Management
• Intercultural Collaboration
• Deadline Management
• Policy Advising
• Team Supervision
• English Language Proficiency
• French Proficiency

Languages

English, French