Information and Evidence Officer
Organizational Context
This position is within the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) in Damascus, Syria, tasked with investigating and prosecuting serious international crimes in the Syrian Arab Republic. The role reports to the Chief of the Information Systems Management Section and may provide technical advisory and capacity-building support to Syrian transitional justice institutions.
Job Purpose
The Information and Evidence Officer leads complex eDiscovery projects, defining technical objectives, planning implementation, and overseeing evidence system population. This involves analyzing data structures for extraction, ensuring forensic integrity, and resolving complex user queries. The role facilitates communication with third parties on technical issues, provides expert consulting to judicial entities on evidence review and retrieval, and makes recommendations on investigation frameworks. Additionally, the officer manages, develops, and mentors a team of information and evidence officers, promoting innovative approaches and ensuring adherence to evidence handling standards and custodial obligations.
Responsibilities
Lead the strategy, planning, and implementation of complex eDiscovery projects, including defining technical objectives, directing activities, and overseeing evidence system population. Analyze technical data structures to guide staff on information extraction while maintaining forensic integrity and responding to user queries. Liaise with third parties (vendors, experts, government entities) on technical issues related to evidence handling and data transfer. Provide expert consulting services to judicial and prosecutorial entities on evidence review, analysis, and retrieval. Manage, develop, and mentor information and evidence officers, supervising workloads, encouraging innovation, and promoting team values. Oversee and enforce evidence handling standards and custodial obligations. Lead complex system design, evaluation, and application support, providing expert advice on evidentiary protocols and infrastructure. Develop technical documents and standard operating procedures, and lead training programs on eDiscovery tools.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in information management, with at least five years in eDiscovery, is required. Prior experience in the legal industry, electronic evidence acquisition, and litigation project management is mandatory. Experience with proper physical evidence handling, including developing SOPs, chain of custody, provenance, verification, authenticity, and auditing is also required.
Skills
eDiscovery data retrieval and analysis, eDiscovery Reference Model (EDRM), legal technology, search strategies, data and metadata analysis, technology-assisted review, scripting (e.g., Python, JavaScript, T-SQL), Agile project management, teamwork, planning and organizing, judgment and decision-making.