The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is recruiting an Associate for General Archives for a 12-month paid traineeship in Geneva, Switzerland, starting on 4 January 2027. The post pays a gross monthly salary of CHF 3,934 in 13 installments and sits inside the ICRC Archives' ongoing digitization project. Applications close on 25 October 2026. Youth Works Hub went through the vacancy line by line and set out every duty, requirement and condition below.
The Traineeship at a Glance
📌 Position: Associate for General Archives (traineeship)
🏛️ Organisation: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
📂 Unit: General Archives
📍 Location: Geneva (GVA), Switzerland
🗂️ Job Family: Management
📝 Contract Type: Traineeship
⏱️ Activity rate: 100%
🗓️ Start date: 4 January 2027
⌛ Length of assignment: 12 months
🏦 Gross monthly salary: CHF 3,934 (paid in 13 installments)
🪪 Visa/permit: Legitimation Card, provided
🗣️ Languages: English and French, minimum C1, written and oral
Who the ICRC Is and What It Does
🕊️ Since 1863, the ICRC has worked to preserve human dignity and relieve suffering caused by war and armed violence
🤝 In collaboration with its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners around the world, it does everything it can to deliver life-saving aid, reconnect families and locate 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
What the General Archives Hold
The ICRC Archives hold the records that document the work of the organization since its founding. They are consulted inside the ICRC and, for the older material, by external researchers.
🗃️ Institutional, operational and diplomatic records documenting the ICRC's history, development, activities and missions since 1863
📦 Large quantities of both paper and digital-born documents
🔬 An essential resource for researchers in the field of Humanitarianism, the history of armed conflicts and the development of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
Open Records and Internal Records: Where the 1975 Line Falls
The vacancy draws a clear line through the collections by date of creation.
📖 Records up to 1975 are open to the public
🔐 Records created after 1975 are widely consulted internally by all ICRC departments
An Archive in the Middle of a Digital Transformation
The Archives are currently undergoing a digital transformation to increase their accessibility and searchability. The traineeship sits inside that programme, which the vacancy describes as ongoing.
💻 An ongoing digitization project that the Associate takes part in
🔎 The stated goals are better accessibility and better searchability of the holdings
📊 Alongside digitization, the role covers related data-driven activities
Why the Archives Need an Associate
Under the supervision of the Head of General Archives and the Digital Archivists, the Associate in the General Archives supports the ICRC Archives' mission and takes part in the ongoing digitization project and the data-driven activities around it.
👥 Supervision: the Head of General Archives and the Digital Archivists
🎯 Mission: support the work of the ICRC Archives
🚀 Project focus: the ongoing digitization project and related data-driven activities
The Work: Six Areas of Responsibility
The vacancy sets out six duties. According to the Youth Works Hub review of this vacancy, they combine archival description with digital and data work.
Selecting, Classifying and Cataloging the Records
The Associate supports the selection, classification and cataloging of ICRC audiovisual and textual records. Both record types are named in the same duty, so the work is not limited to paper files.
Developing the ICRC Ontology
The Associate supports the ongoing development and fine-tuning of the ICRC Ontology, which is based on the Records in Contexts Ontology, and participates in the metadata mapping and enhancement processes. The Ontology is described in the vacancy as based on the Records in Contexts Ontology.
Answering Internal Access and Research Requests
The Associate supports access and research in response to internal requests. Given that post-1975 records are consulted across all ICRC departments, these requests come from colleagues throughout the organization.
Data Entry, Metadata Cleaning and System Migration
The Associate supports data entry, metadata cleaning, the standardization of taxonomies and controlled vocabularies, and the migration of records from legacy systems to new environments. The required profile asks for attention to detail and the ability to perform repetitive tasks, which is where this duty sits.
Testing Digital Preservation Strategies
The Associate participates in testing and refining digital preservation strategies, including backup routines, disaster recovery plans and the new digital preservation system. The vacancy names all three elements explicitly, so the role covers both routine backup work and the new system.
Writing the Documentation and User Manuals
The Associate contributes to the development and updating of documentation, workflows and user manuals for digital preservation processes. The documentation named in the vacancy covers digital preservation processes.
The Degree the Archives Team Expects
The vacancy asks for a degree from a university or a higher education institution (HEG) in one of the following fields:
🎓 Archival Studies
📋 Records Management
🧠 Information Management
📕 Library Studies
💾 Data Management
🧪 Or a related field
English and French at Minimum C1
Both languages are required, and the level is specified. The vacancy asks for excellent written and oral English and French, at a minimum of C1. Both languages appear under the required profile rather than among the advantages, so neither one is optional for this post.
Archival Knowledge and Digital Skills
🏷️ Knowledge and understanding of the principles of archival and records management, access and preservation
🖥️ Solid digital archiving skills
🤖 Tech-savvy, with a strong interest in metadata, ontologies and data-driven workflows
How You Are Expected to Work
🫂 Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
🌐 The ability to collaborate with colleagues in other departments
🧮 Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
🔁 The ability to perform repetitive tasks
Start Date, Duration and Activity Rate
🚦 Start date: 4 January 2027
📆 Length of assignment: 12 months
🔢 Activity rate: 100%
🏙️ Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Salary and the Legitimation Card
💳 Gross monthly salary: CHF 3,934, paid in 13 installments
🛂 Visa/permit: a Legitimation Card is provided
The vacancy lists the Legitimation Card as provided, and it states no further permit condition. If you are comparing this traineeship with other routes abroad, our guide to how funded traineeships abroad really work explains the difference between an employer-paid post like this one and a grant-based placement. More internship and traineeship openings are collected on Youth Works Hub.
The Two-Year Experience Cap
The vacancy includes a note that sets the upper limit on experience. 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. In other words, the post is built for people early in their archival or information management careers, and a longer paid track record after graduation puts a candidate outside the window.
Diversity and the Values Behind the Role
🌍 The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment, and it welcomes applications from all qualified candidates
At the ICRC, the stated values are the following, and the organization seeks candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on them:
✨ Impact
🧩 Collaboration
⚖️ Respect
💙 Compassion
The vacancy closes by inviting candidates to explore the next chapter of their career and apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Associate for General Archives actually do?
The Associate supports the selection, classification and cataloging of ICRC audiovisual and textual records, helps develop the ICRC Ontology and its metadata mapping, answers internal access and research requests, and handles data entry, metadata cleaning and migration from legacy systems. The role also tests digital preservation strategies and writes the related documentation and user manuals.
Is this ICRC traineeship paid?
Yes. The vacancy states a gross monthly salary of CHF 3,934, paid in 13 installments. It is listed as a traineeship with a 100% activity rate.
How long does the assignment last and when does it start?
The length of assignment is 12 months and the start date is 4 January 2027. The activity rate is 100%, so it is a full-time commitment for the whole year.
Where is the role based?
It is based at the ICRC in Geneva (GVA), Switzerland. The vacancy lists no remote or hybrid option.
What degree do I need to apply?
You need a degree from a university or a higher education institution (HEG) in Archival Studies, Records Management, Information Management, Library Studies, Data Management or a related field. Both a university degree and a degree from a higher education institution (HEG) are accepted.
Which languages are required?
Excellent written and oral English and French are required, at a minimum level of C1 in both. This is a requirement rather than an advantage.
What digital skills does the vacancy ask for?
It asks for solid digital archiving skills and a tech-savvy profile with a strong interest in metadata, ontologies and data-driven workflows. Knowledge of the principles of archival and records management, access and preservation is also required.
What is the ICRC Ontology mentioned in the duties?
It is the ICRC's own ontology, based on the Records in Contexts Ontology, and it is still being developed and fine-tuned. The Associate takes part in that work, including the metadata mapping and enhancement processes.
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.
Do I need a visa or a work permit for Switzerland?
The vacancy lists the visa and permit as a Legitimation Card, which is provided. No further permit condition is listed in the vacancy.
Is there a nationality requirement?
The vacancy does not list a nationality requirement. The stated conditions are the degree, the English and French level, the archival and digital skills, and the two-year experience cap.
Which records will I be working with?
The Archives hold the institutional, operational and diplomatic records of the ICRC since 1863, in both paper and digital-born form. Records up to 1975 are open to the public, while records created after 1975 are widely consulted internally by all departments.
How do I apply?
Applications go through the ICRC careers page linked at the end of this post. The vacancy also links a questions and answers page about working at ICRC headquarters.
Deadline
⏳ 25 October 2026
Links
🔗 Application page: https://careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-(GVA)-Associate-for-General-Archives-33163/1445985333/
❓ 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
