Manager, Principal Legal Counsel and Contract Administration

I. About the Ethiopian Red Cross Society

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) was established in 1935 and is one of the oldest and largest humanitarian organizations in Ethiopia. ERCS provides services to communities affected by natural and manmade disasters through the provision of emergency responses, ambulance and first aid, family reunification, essential drugs, water and sanitation, and other humanitarian services. ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. Currently the ERCS has a structure consisting of 15 Regional Offices, Zonal Branches and District/Woreda Branches, Woreda Red Cross Committee and Kebele Red Cross committees.

ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs relating to food security, climate change adaptation, livelihood diversification, and institutional capacity building interventions, with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. ERCS works in partnership with the Ethiopian Government, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), partnering National Societies, members, volunteers and the communities we serve.

Details of the vacant position

• Work Unit: Legal and Contract Administration Service
  • Reports to: Legal and Contract Administration Service Head
  • Terms of employment: Contract

II. Job Summary

Under the general supervision of head of legal and contract administration the principal legal counsel and contract administration supervisor plans, organizes and coordinates the overall legal activities of the Society; monitors and follow up the activities of legal experts of regional branch offices and provide advice and assistance as to referral to external legal consultant/advocate on a case by case basis. Recommends issues which need external advocate for branches before engaging an external advocate; performs investigations, examinations and analysis of cases; initiates instituting legal actions against debtors of the Society in default of other methods of resolution and follows up proceedings thereof; prepares charges, charge replies and counter replies; arranges supporting human and material evidences for cases for which the Society has the burden of proof; delivers summons and other court and police orders to the concerned persons; attends the ultimate outcome of the appeal and acts for the implementation of the resolution; follows up or proceeds with the execution of court decisions/verdicts made in favor of the Society; works out and proposes out-of-court settlement options to management for legal cases of the Society drafts contractual documents, memorandums of understanding, and other legal documents; explain terms and conditions of contracts and provides legal advices to the management on legal interpretations of contractual agreements to which the Society is a party; prepares contracts, review and update existing contracts; manage the execution of contractual agreements and generate reports on the current status of existing agreements; standardizes and adapts as necessary, contracts and other legal documents of the Society that are of repetitive nature; analyze and report on specific risks associated with contracts; Works to create understanding among employees to bring about compliance with the NS contracts; Follow-up all deadlines and conditions described on contracts; examine procurement activities of the Headquarters satisfies the best interest of and in line with the rules of the national Society and assists branches the same; work with relevant work units to facilitate training and awareness creation workshop on employee and employer relationship of the Society.

Key performance area

• Plans, organizes and coordinates the overall legal activities of the Society;
• Monitors and follow up the activities of legal experts of regional branch offices and provide advice and assistance as to referral to external legal consultant/advocate on a case by case basis.
• Conduct researches on international conventions, government proclamations, procedures and other related laws and does awareness raising and advocacy activities on same;
• Represents the Society before courts of law, administrative tribunals, trade disputes committees and other public authorities;
• Drafts contractual documents, memorandums of understanding, and other legal documents;
• Represent ERCS in legal and policy discussions with external stakeholders, including the government, donor organizations, and other NGOs, to advocate for IHL compliance and humanitarian access.
• Gathers facts and establishes evidences; and performs investigations, examinations and analysis of cases; arranges supporting human and material evidences for cases for which the Society has the burden of proof;
• Initiates instituting legal actions against debtors of the Society in default of other methods of resolution and follows up proceedings thereof;
• Takes legal cases to an appeal court whenever the interest of the Society is affected by the decision of the court; attends the ultimate outcome of the appeal and acts for the implementation of the resolution with the consent of senior management;
• Follows up or proceeds with the execution of court decisions/verdicts made in favor of the Society;
• Works out and proposes out-of-court settlement options to management for legal cases of the Society;
• Prepares pleading, statements of claims, defense, petitions, submissions and appeals of legal issues;
• Follows up and compiles reports on the status of legal issues handled by volunteer professionals or retained lawyers;
• Develops case strategies and methods of presentation in defense of the Society against suits or claims filed against it and in prosecution of the Society claims filed against others;
• Follows up legal issues of the Society under police and other quasi-judicial organs as well as pending legal cases; represents the Society before courts or quasi-judicial organs for defense;
• Investigates and follows up settlement of labor disputes arising from the collective agreements or any other contracts;
• Investigates and takes the necessary legal action for thefts, forgeries, misappropriation of Society funds and breaches of discipline or offence, legal settlement of insurance claims on personnel injuries, liability or property damage or loss;
• Reports to superior on the status of court cases and other ongoing legal matters of the Society;
• Explain terms and conditions of contracts and provides legal advices to the management on legal interpretations of contractual agreements to which the Society is a party;
• Manage the execution of contractual agreements and generate reports on the current status of existing agreements;
• Standardizes and adapts as necessary, contracts and other legal documents of the Society that are of repetitive nature;
• Analyze and report on specific risks associated with contracts;
• Works employees understand and comply with the NS contracts;
• Stay up-to date with legislative changes and coordinate with other work units as needed;
• Follow-up all deadlines and conditions described on contracts;
• Examine procurement activities of the Headquarters satisfies the best interest of and in line with the rules of the national Society and assists branches the same;
• Work with relevant work units to facilitate training and awareness creation workshop on employee and employer relationship of the Society;
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities of the job as may be assigned by the Director of Legal and Contact Administration.

Qualification Requirements:

• Second/First Degree in Law, Preferable International Law Especially International Human Rights Law & IHL
• 7/9 years of experience, out of which 3/4 years of managerial level experience.

Skills and Competencies

• Computer Skills, Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Effective planning, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, networking, and partnership-building abilities.
• Commitment to humanitarian values and Red Cross/Red Crescent principles.