Deputy Registrar

Deputy Registrar, D2

Job Opening ID: 285259

Job Code Title: Deputy Registrar

Department/Office: International Court of Justice

Duty Station: THE HAGUE

Job Level: D-2

Category: Professional and Higher Categories

Job Family: Jurists

Job Network: Legal

Recruitment Type: Position Specific Job Openings

Posting Period Start: 2026-09-23T04:00:00.000Z

Posting Period End: 2026-11-10T04:59:59.000Z

Language: EN

Org. Setting and Reporting

In light of the upcoming expiration of the term of office of the current Deputy-Registrar on 31 March 2027, the Court invites qualified candidates to submit applications in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 23 of the Rules of Court and in the present announcement. Pursuant to Article 23 of the Rules of Court, the Deputy-Registrar is elected by the Court for a term of seven years by secret ballot and may be re-elected.

Responsibilities

The Deputy-Registrar of the International Court of Justice, principal judicial organ of the United Nations, assists the Registrar and acts as Registrar in the latter’s absence or in the event of the post of Registrar becoming vacant. Under the direction of the Registrar, the Deputy Registrar shares the duties devolving upon the Registrar in connection with the administration of the Registry. The Deputy-Registrar acts on behalf of the Registrar in the absence of the latter or upon the direction of the Registrar with regard to diplomatic, judicial and administrative matters. In the performance of the above-mentioned functions, the Deputy Registrar acts under the supervision of and reports to the Registrar. The duties to be discharged by the Deputy-Registrar include the following: (a) Administrative duties Under the direction of the Registrar: - managing aspects of the internal administration of the Registry, as determined by the Registrar; - supervising departments and divisions of the Registry, within the limits of the authority delegated by the Registrar; - overseeing specific projects, as entrusted by the Court or the Registrar. (b) Diplomatic duties In the absence of the Registrar or upon the Registrar’s direction: - managing the Court’s external relations and acting as the channel of communication to and from the Court; - managing relations of a diplomatic nature, in particular with States, with the organs of the United Nations, as well as with other international organizations and with the government of the country in which the Court has its seat. (c) Judicial duties In the absence of the Registrar or upon the Registrar’s direction: - managing the proceedings in cases before the Court, including the preparation of cases for consideration by the Court; - maintaining relations with the parties to a case, with specific responsibility for the receipt and transmission, inter alia, of applications and special agreements, as well as all written pleadings and case related official correspondence; and ensuring that all communications and notifications provided for by the Statute are duly issued; - being present in person at meetings of the Court and of chambers; providing any assistance required and ensuring the preparation of reports or minutes of such meetings by Registry officials.

Competencies

Not available.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law or international relations, with a specialization in public international law. Studies in public administration or related areas would be an asset. - A relevant combination of university degree, legal training and qualifications, and professional experience in the above-mentioned areas may be considered as equivalent.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the practice of public international law, in international dispute resolution or in the administration of international organizations is required. Progressively responsible managerial experience, preferably in a judicial institution or an international organization, and proven supervisory abilities in a multilingual and multicultural environment are required. Experience in multilateral and/or bilateral diplomacy is highly desirable. Knowledge of the jurisprudence and procedures of the International Court of Justice is highly desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and French are required. Either Arabic or Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian or Spanish or Dutch is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

Desirable Languages

Assessment

Not available.

Special Notice

The Court is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a staff member. Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The Court’s salaries are calculated in US dollars but paid in euros. They consist of a basic salary and a post adjustment which reflects the cost of living in the Netherlands and the euro/dollar exchange rate. The emoluments received from the Court are free of all taxation. In addition, the Court offers an attractive benefits package including 30 days of annual leave, home travel every two years, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan and subsidized medical insurance. The Deputy-Registrar will, in a general way, be accorded the same treatment as counsellors attached to diplomatic missions in The Hague and, when acting as Registrar, will be accorded the same treatment as heads of diplomatic missions in The Hague. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the Court if they have committed acts of misconduct for which disciplinary measures were imposed on them.

United Nations Considerations

In accordance with the ICJ Staff Regulations and Rules, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with ICJ if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, Inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on "Manuals" hyper-link on the upper right side of the Inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances, and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in Inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision, or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised in Inspira will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

ICJ does NOT charge any fees or request money from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process, nor does it concern itself with bank account details of applicants. Requests of this nature allegedly made on behalf of ICJ are fraudulent and should be disregarded.