Legal Officer at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

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.

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.