Manager, Principal Legal Counsel And Contract Administration

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About the Organization

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) was established in 1935 and is one of the oldest and largest humanitarian organizations in Ethiopia. ERCS provides emergency response, ambulance services, first aid, family reunification, essential drugs, water and sanitation, disaster risk reduction programs, and other humanitarian services. ERCS operates in 15 Regional Offices, Zonal Branches, and District/Woreda Branches.

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Job Summary

The Principal Legal Counsel & Contract Administration Supervisor plans, organizes, and coordinates the overall legal activities of ERCS. This role monitors regional legal experts, provides legal advice, manages contracts, represents the Society in legal proceedings, and ensures compliance with internal policies and national laws.

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Key Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and coordinate overall legal activities of the Society
• Monitor and follow up activities of regional legal experts, referring to external legal consultants as needed
• Conduct research on international conventions, government proclamations, procedures, and related laws, and provide awareness and advocacy
• Represent the Society before courts, administrative tribunals, trade disputes committees, and other authorities
• Draft contracts, memorandums of understanding, and other legal documents
• Represent ERCS in legal and policy discussions with external stakeholders, including government, donors, and NGOs
• Gather facts, establish evidence, and perform investigations and analyses for cases with the Society's burden of proof
• Initiate legal actions against debtors and follow up proceedings, including appeals when necessary
• Propose out-of-court settlement options for management consideration
• Prepare pleadings, statements of claims, defenses, petitions, submissions, and appeals
• Compile reports on legal issues handled by volunteer professionals or retained lawyers
• Develop case strategies and presentation methods for defense or prosecution
• Investigate and resolve labor disputes, thefts, forgeries, misappropriations, and contract breaches
• Manage execution of contractual agreements and generate status reports
• Standardize and adapt repetitive contracts and legal documents
• Analyze and report on risks associated with contracts
• Ensure employee understanding and compliance with Society contracts
• Stay up-to-date with legislative changes and coordinate with other units
• Facilitate training and awareness workshops on employee-employer relationships
• Perform other related duties assigned by the Director of Legal and Contract Administration

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Qualification Requirements

• Second or First degree in Law, preferably International Law, Human Rights Law, or International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
• 7–9 years of professional experience, including 3–4 years at a managerial level

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Skills and Competencies

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Effective planning, coordination, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication, networking, and partnership-building abilities
• Commitment to humanitarian values and Red Cross/Red Crescent principles

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