Forensic Specialist

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. 

The ICRC is mandated to work in countries affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence. The ICRC is present in over 80 countries and has some 19,000-field staff. 

In 2014, the ICRC expanded its presence to Ukraine. There are more than 600 ICRC staff working in Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Lviv, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Odesa. 

The ICRC is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person to fill the position of Forensic Specialist in Odessa. 

Purpose: 

The Forensic Specialist assists the ICRC in the implementation of forensic programs /activities in the area of responsibility (AoR) of the Odessa sub-delegation, with a view to reaching the objectives set within the delegation’s plan for results (PfR). The Forensic Specialist is part of the Forensic Team within the delegation. Under the technical supervision of the Forensic Coordinator, s/he assists in formulating programs/projects, policies/proposals and helps to ensure the integration of the ICRC Forensic program within the delegation. When requested s/he represents the ICRC towards external interlocutors as well as in various for relevant to his/her responsibilities and tasks.

Functional Responsibilities: 

• Contributing to the implementation of forensic activities and programs in the Delegation.
• Contributes to the Forensic analysis of the context by maintaining an overview of the forensic situation in Ukraine, with a specific focus on the AoR of Odesa (Odesa region, Mykolaiiv region, Kherson region, Kyrovohrad region), particularly institutions involved in the search and recovery of the dead, so search of missing persons and identification process. 
• Contributing to defining/orienting the forensic strategy of the delegation, specific objectives, the plan of action, the timeline, and the resources required (budget included). 
• Promoting the implementation of relevant forensic standards including those applicable to the search, recovery, and identification of the dead and the Missing and their families. 
• Representing the ICRC towards the authorities on all matters related to forensics in the AoR.
• Supporting the process of enhancing the capacity of the forensic practitioners, forensic facilities, and other relevant interlocutors involved in the search of missing persons and identification of dead bodies resulting from the armed conflict. 
• Organizing/ providing trainings and workshops aimed at implementing the program objectives linked to forensics.
• Conducting/participating in field visits / forensic assessments in the AoR, including traveling to all locations within the AoR of the ODE substructure. 
• Providing technical support and conducting follow-up of cases of missing persons registered with the ICRC that because of their nature or specific circumstances require forensic advice/support and/or close follow-up with both families and concerned authorities. 
• Documentation of gravesites using institutional tools and procedures in his/her  AoR. 
• Maintain updated figures of all forensic activities and donations in his /her AoR.
• Disseminating the organizations’ communications on forensic science and forensic humanitarian action.
• Briefing ICRC staff and others on forensic issues relevant to the ICRC and help sensitize ICRC staff and relevant external stakeholders on an issue related to Humanitarian Forensic Action. 
• Participating and contributing to internal and external working meetings when required, including interpretation for ICRC non-Ukrainian/Russian-speaking delegates participating in the meeting. 
• Providing written (mission reports, field trip reports, minutes of meetings (MoM) and oral reports on forensic meetings, activities or other issues as required for ICRC action and planning, contributing to regular delegation reporting.
• Uploading all activities in PROT6 and other institutional tools. Organize all relevant forensic documents in Team space.  
• Completing all actions in relation to assistance/donation activities aimed at improving working conditions and quality of forensic procedures and services.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Ukrainian citizenship.
• Forensic practitioner holding at least a Master’s degree, specialization, or equivalent in medical, biological, genetics, or forensic sciences.
• Forensic case-work experience.
• At least 5 years of proven experience in forensic practice in medico-legal systems.

Highly Preferred:

• Technical knowledge and experience related to the scientific and legal identification of human remains and an integrated forensic reconciliation process.
• Teaching experience at the graduate level.
• Broad-based knowledge and understanding of the medico-legal framework and systems.
• Proven experience and skills in delivering forensic training and a capacity to adapt the message to diverse audiences.

Social package and other benefits:

• Official employment according to Ukrainian labour law
• Annual paid 20 working days' vacation
• Medical insurance for employees and family
• ICRC Institutional training
• Individual development covered by ICRC
• foreign language courses 
• Convenient office location in the city centre

Starting date: As soon as possible 

How to apply:

Please submit your CV, along with your motivation letter in English and salary expectations to the attention of the Human Resources Department.

Application deadline: 03 April 2023

Only candidates meeting the above-mentioned criteria will be considered and contacted for tests and/or interviews. No inquiries by phone, please.

ICRC is Equal Opportunity Employer giving the highest priority to staff safety and security.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.icrc.org/