The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is recruiting a Law and Policy Outreach Associate for a one-year paid traineeship in Geneva, Switzerland. The role starts on 1 March 2027, pays a gross monthly salary of CHF 3,934 in 13 installments and covers digital marketing, social media, newsletters, web publishing and event promotion. Applications close on 23 October 2026. Youth Works Hub has gathered every duty, requirement and condition from the vacancy in one place.
Key Facts About the Traineeship
📌 Position: Law and Policy Outreach Associate (traineeship)
🏛️ Organisation: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
🧩 Unit: Law and Policy Outreach Unit, within the International Law, Movement and Partnerships Department (LMP)
📍 Location: Geneva (GVA), Switzerland
🗂️ Job Family: Protection / Human Rights / IHL / Humanitarian Diplomacy / Detention
📝 Contract Type: Traineeship
⏱️ Activity rate: 100%
🗓️ Start date: 1 March 2027
⌛ Length of assignment: 12 months
💶 Gross monthly salary: CHF 3,934 (paid in 13 installments)
🪪 Visa/permit: Legitimation Card, provided
About the ICRC
🕊️ Since 1863, the ICRC has worked to preserve human dignity and relieve suffering caused by war and armed violence
🤝 Together with its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners around the world, it delivers life-saving aid, reconnects families and locates missing people, helping those who need it most, regardless of who they are and what side of the front line they are on
🛡️ It engages with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, pressing for access to detainees to improve their living conditions
📜 It urges compliance with international humanitarian law to protect non-combatants, including from digital threats
Purpose of the Role
The Law and Policy Outreach Unit is offering a one-year paid traineeship as an Associate. The tasks cover:
📅 Internal and external communications planning
📱 Digital content marketing
🖥️ Web editing and publishing
📇 Contact and information management
The Associate works under the supervision of the Law and Policy Outreach Advisor and in close collaboration with other team members.
Inside the Law and Policy Outreach Unit
Within the International Law, Movement and Partnerships Department (LMP), the Law and Policy Outreach Unit leads the ICRC's online and onsite outreach to law and policy circles. The aim is to support influencing key actors and decision-makers on humanitarian issues. The unit brings together multidisciplinary outreach capacities, including the Humanitarian Law and Policy blog, work on online platforms, onsite and online events and digital promotion strategies.
Relying on the expertise and substance developed within the wider Department, the unit:
🌐 Offers platforms to position and promote the ICRC's law and policy content, including the International Review of the Red Cross website, the IHL in Action website and the How Does Law Protect in War? Online Casebook website
💬 Fosters debate on law and policy through the Humanitarian Law and Policy blog and thematic events with a global reach
📧 Offers digital tools and communication advice to promote the ICRC's law and policy publications, events and initiatives: the monthly Law and Policy newsletter, the thematic Law and Policy newsletter, the quarterly internal LMP in Touch newsletter and social media campaigns
🎤 Develops and maintains solid expertise in organizing onsite and online events, providing guidance on events that foster debate on IHL, other relevant norms and related policies and positions, including those dealing more broadly with humanitarian action
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Law and Policy Outreach Advisor, under the overall supervision of the Head of Unit, the Associate supports the implementation of the Law and Policy digital outreach strategy. The Associate also maintains and develops the unit's digital outreach tools and supports the promotion and production of its activities and events throughout the year.
Supporting and Implementing the Digital Outreach Strategy
🎯 Digital marketing campaigns and communication plans: support the development and implementation of targeted digital marketing campaigns on LinkedIn (and other social media if needed). This includes drafting campaign content, adapting messaging and visuals to target audiences, and coordinating inputs and approvals with relevant colleagues. The Associate also designs and implements communication plans for the unit's activities (and, at times, for activities of the LMP Department) by creating promotional content such as emails, social media posts and graphics
📲 Social media and content creation: maintain and expand the unit's social media accounts, assessing and building on the best strategies for reaching key target audiences. The Associate liaises with the unit's Graphic Designer, the Digital Communications Unit and other relevant departments to promote the unit's activities through ICRC social media channels, and creates and curates content that promotes blogs, events and activities and also advocates for international humanitarian law (IHL) as a whole. The accounts are kept active, engaging and growing by sharing relevant updates, insights and resources on IHL and the broader humanitarian sector
🎬 Audiovisual production: support the production of audiovisual content by filming interviews, events and other footage, following agreed storylines, technical requirements and visual identity guidelines
Maintaining and Developing the Digital Outreach Tools
📰 External and internal newsletters: gather, edit and send regular newsletter content through HubSpot and on LinkedIn
✉️ Digital marketing: mailing: contribute to editing and emailing content as needed, such as the Humanitarian Law and Policy blog, and support the development and implementation of a segmentation approach for the subscriber base, working closely with the Digital Unit and other key units on email campaign strategies and engagement
🗃️ Contact database: regularly update the unit's mailing list and map its audience so the unit can engage efficiently with specific target groups, and help develop the contact database
🧑💻 Law and Policy web platforms: keep the web platforms regularly updated by creating, editing and publishing content
✍️ Humanitarian Law and Policy blog: ensure the efficient preparation and dissemination of blog content, and help the Editor-in-Chief build the blog's audience and stimulate engagement
📚 International Review of the Red Cross: assist with producing promotional materials for each edition of the Review, including related events and their promotion
Promotion and Production Support for LMP Events
🔭 Enhance the visibility of LMP events by developing external and internal communication strategies
🏟️ Support the overall organization of events by planning and running promotional campaigns, in close collaboration with other ICRC units and partner institutions
📸 Collaborate with Communications and other units to create promotional content for events and activities, including taking photos
Required Profile and Skills
🎓 Advanced university degree in Communications, International Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Media or another relevant field
🧭 A minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 2 years of previous work experience (including internships)
📈 Demonstrated experience in digital media and communications, in particular digital marketing, social media content development and audiovisual production
🎨 Demonstrated experience with design and video editing tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and Canva
🔓 Availability for the full one-year assignment
❤️ Keen interest in international humanitarian law and/or humanitarian action, as well as in digital communication and technologies
🖊️ Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling, concise content for different digital platforms
🧮 Strong analytical and organizational skills
🚀 Initiative and the ability to work autonomously while juggling multiple tasks
🌍 Proven ability to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment
🗣️ Proficiency in English
Advantages
🇫🇷 Knowledge of other languages, particularly French, Arabic or Spanish, is an advantage given the ICRC's global audience
📊 Experience with email campaigns and analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Tableau is an advantage
📬 Experience with contact management tools such as HubSpot or Mailchimp is an advantage
🕸️ Experience with web content management systems and web development is an advantage
Experience Limit for This Traineeship
The vacancy states that this traineeship is open to candidates with a maximum professional experience of two years, of which no more than one year is in a full-time paid position after completion of studies. At the same time, the profile requires a minimum of 1 year of previous work experience, and internships count towards it.
Contract, Salary and Permit
🏢 Location: Geneva, Switzerland
🔢 Activity rate: 100%
🚦 Start date: 1 March 2027
📆 Length of assignment: 12 months
💳 Gross monthly salary: CHF 3,934, paid in 13 installments
🛂 Visa/permit: a Legitimation Card is provided
If you are weighing this traineeship against other routes, our guide to how funded traineeships abroad really work explains the main options for students and recent graduates. You can also browse more internship and traineeship opportunities like this one on Youth Works Hub.
ICRC Values and Diversity
At the ICRC, the values are impact, collaboration, respect and compassion. The ICRC seeks candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment, and it welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Law and Policy Outreach Associate do?
The Associate supports the Law and Policy digital outreach strategy of the ICRC. Tasks include LinkedIn and social media campaigns, newsletters through HubSpot, contact database updates, web publishing, support for the Humanitarian Law and Policy blog and the International Review of the Red Cross, and promotion of LMP events.
Is this traineeship paid?
Yes. The vacancy offers a one-year paid traineeship with a gross monthly salary of CHF 3,934, paid in 13 installments.
Where is the traineeship based and how long does it last?
It is based in Geneva (GVA), Switzerland, at an activity rate of 100%. The assignment lasts 12 months and starts on 1 March 2027.
What education and experience do I need?
You need an advanced university degree in Communications, International Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Media or another relevant field. The profile also requires a minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 2 years of previous work experience, including internships.
Is there a limit on professional experience?
Yes. The traineeship is open to candidates with a maximum professional experience of two years, of which no more than one year is in a full-time paid position after completion of studies.
Which languages and tools matter?
Proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of French, Arabic or Spanish is an advantage, as is experience with Google Analytics, Tableau, HubSpot, Mailchimp and web content management systems. Demonstrated experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Canva is part of the required profile.
Do I need a visa or permit?
The vacancy lists the visa/permit as a Legitimation Card, which is provided.
Is there a nationality requirement?
The vacancy does not list a nationality requirement. It asks for availability for the full one-year assignment and proficiency in English, among the other requirements above.
How do I apply?
Applications go through the ICRC careers page linked at the end of this post. The vacancy asks you to read the pre-requisites before applying.
Deadline
⏳ 23 October 2026
Links
🔗 Application page: https://careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-(GVA)-Law-and-Policy-Outreach-Associate-33462/1444827433/
📋 Pre-requisites to read before applying: https://careers.icrc.org/content/Prepare-Your-Application/?locale=en_GB
❓ More information about working at ICRC HQ: https://careers.icrc.org/content/questions-answers/?locale=en_GB
💎 ICRC values: https://careers.icrc.org/content/Our-Values/?locale=en_GB
