Job Description

Title: Senior Lead, IHL legal Advisor (Training, Education and Outreach)

Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid (Canada)

Employment Status: Permanent Full-time

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) is an inspirational not-for-profit organization that helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As one of Canada’s Best Employers 2026, we are committed to creating an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

The Senior Lead, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Advisor (Training, Education and Outreach) provides strategic leadership and expert legal guidance to advance the understanding, promotion, and application of International Humanitarian Law in Canada and, where appropriate, internationally. This role leads the development of IHL education, training, and outreach initiatives, builds and maintains key education and training partnerships, and ensures the accuracy and quality of all IHL-related content and education programming. Through this work, the position supports the Canadian Red Cross's humanitarian mission.

In this role you will:

• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of IHL education and dissemination activities across Canada and, where applicable, internationally, in furtherance of CRC’s IHL strategy and operational plan.
• Oversee the development and ensure quality of IHL training content, tools, and dissemination materials at national, provincial, and international levels to ensure legal accuracy, coherency and consistency of materials.
• Serve as a spokesperson for IHL education, training and outreach and other topics as requested, collaborating with across departments to represent CRC at key relevant forums and events.
• Supervise the work planning and execution of work plans on all IHL education, training and outreach deliverables ensuring alignment with the CRC’s strategic goals and the fulfilment of the CRC IHL unit’s training, education and outreach commitments ensuring quality coherence and consistency.
• Lead and maintain engagement with relevant stakeholders such as military and police institutions, security institutes, academic partners including education and dissemination partners to strengthen IHL training and education.
• Lead specific IHL education-related projects, ensuring timely and effective execution.
• Identify and lead new business and funding opportunities for IHL education, training and outreach in collaboration with Philanthropy and other teams.
• In conjunction with Senior Legal Advisor, IHL, apply an IHL legal lens to CRC’s work as a National Society and in particular in compliance with the Fundamental Principles and the CRC’s mandate to disseminate IHL and work with the Government of Canada to ensure respect of IHL.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum of 12 years professional experience in International Humanitarian Law education and dissemination including program design, management, monitoring and evaluation and creation of materials.
• An undergraduate, a Law degree (an LL.B. or JD) and an advanced degree in law with extensive knowledge and understanding of International Humanitarian Law and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Membership in good standing with a provincial law society.
• Professional experience working with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and/or operational experience in areas impacted by conflict is considered an asset.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in relevant pedagogical approaches to training, education and outreach.
• Demonstrated ability to build internal and external relationships and partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to address complex, abstract problems and develop unique, precedent-setting solutions, while assessing and mitigating strategic risks.
• Communication, influence, persuasion and negotiation skills to represent the Canadian Red Cross, to develop strategic partnerships and to further the work of the CRC in fulfilling its obligations regarding IHL.
• Strong working proficiency of French language.

Working Conditions:

• Primarily Virtual / Hybrid office based with frequent travel
• May require travel to high-risk areas
• May require work in dynamic or high-pressure environments including working longer hours on short notice or in order to meet multiple deadlines
• May support emergency operations, as required
• As we work with and support people (managers, colleagues, beneficiaries/customers, volunteers, donors and external partners) and communities in Canada and around the world, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to perform the responsibilities of the role in English.
• Eligibility to work in Canada: At this time, we welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.
• If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).