Country Director Ukraine

Country Director Ukraine 

People in Peril 

General information: 

Duty Station: Kyiv, Ukraine 

Job terms: full-time contract (40 hours/week) 

Contract duration: 12 months with 3 months of probation period, possibility of extension after 12 months upon available funding 

Starting date: ASAP 

Gross salary: from 2600 EUR plus 1100 EUR of subsistence allowance  

Reporting lines: Head of Relief and Development Department, HQ Bratislava 

Supervision of: Head of Programmes (to be recruited), Head of Systems Operations, Head of Finance, Security Coordinator 

Dependents: non-family duty station 

About People in Peril: 

People in Peril (previously known as People in Need) is a Slovak non-profit organization, providing direct support to those who suffer the consequences of war, to victims of natural disasters, or those living in poverty on the margins of society. People in Peril was founded 1999 by a group of journalists moved by their experience of the devastating consequences of the conflict in Kosovo on civilians and has since then been providing humanitarian and development assistance worldwide. Currently, People in Peril is one of the major humanitarian actors in Slovakia responding the Ukraine crisis both in Slovakia and across border in Ukraine. 

For more information, please refer to: https://clovekvohrozeni.sk/people-in-need-slovakia/  

General context in Ukraine: 

People in Peril has been present in Ukraine since the tragic events in Kiev’s Maidan in February 2014 when People in Peril contributed to medical efforts and evacuation of civilians from combat zones. People in Peril continued project-based response in Ukraine through Shelter, WASH, Protection and MHPSS programming until February 24th, 2022 when the full-scale war started. People in Peril, from the first days, helped people fleeing the war – first at the borders and gradually inside Ukraine. Since the beginning of the invasion, People in Peril has provided the assistance worth more than €7,000,000 and helped more than 200,000 people in Ukraine and Slovakia. 

Currently People in Peril team in Ukraine consists of around 25 staff, operating in Western Ukraine providing Protection, Shelter and MHPSS assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities. The programmes in Western Ukraine are under withdrawal and transition to North/East Ukraine. 

Purpose of the position 

The Country Director represents People in Peril externally before all humanitarian stakeholders, leads the organization’s humanitarian response, develops strategies based on humanitarian needs, capacities and expertise and provides strategic leadership, plans resources, manages programmes and operations staff. The main goal for this position is to lead the programmes and operations through the transition to the North and East Ukraine, develop and implement country strategy and improve funding portfolio. Since People in Peril Ukraine Country Office was set up in 2022, the Country Director is expected to be responsible or/and contribute to overall UA Country Office development – building capacities, development of policies, procedures and implementing good practices.  

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

Strategy and Leadership 

1. Analyzes the needs in the country based on context and security analysis, direct contact with communities, authorities, donors, UN, civil society and NGOs. Reviews intervention strategy and programming; 
2. Proposes and develops a strategy for the programme in the country in line with organizational capacity and expertise; 
3. Leads on development of additional operational activities in line with review and assessment results; 
4. In collaboration with Head of Relief and Development Department, adjusts the structure of the country office based on context analysis, funding and humanitarian needs; 
5. Assists the Head of Programme (to be recruited) in identifying new sources of funding and maintains adequate donor funding levels to sustain the identified program and support activities; 
6. Explores and promotes funding opportunities that integrate initiatives and leverage the impact of the organization in the country; 
7. Explores and promotes fundraising activities with institutional and private donors at country and regional level and supports at regional or global level for the country of concern; 
8. Ensures that medium-term and short-term plans, as agreed with HQ, are implemented; 
9. Reports on the country’s performance to Head of Relief and Development Department; 
10. Contributes to the organisational development and strategy, provides HQ with feedback to established procedures, and dedicates time to and participates in the relevant strategic meetings. 

HR, Management and Capacity Development 

1. Ensures the staff respect the organizational values, Code of Ethics and People in Peril procedures; 
2. Promotes team spirit, a culture of respect, personal responsibility, transparency and openness; 
3. Maintains high ethical standards and manage people with respect. Promotes teamwork and ensure a productive working environment for staff members; 
4. Empowers staff members to meet organizational goals and work as a highly functioning and cooperative team and promotes learning; 
5. Makes sure there is no place for any form of discrimination within People in Peril teams; 
6. Ensures that all staff understand the People in Peril mission and objectives and can communicate these if needed; 
7. Ensures that HR related roles and responsibilities are assigned to staff with an adequate level of seniority and that their performance and capacity needed is regularly evaluated; 
8. Together with HR, ensures main HR procedures are in place, followed, and well-documented including: transparent recruitment based on clear job descriptions, new staff induction and onboarding, regular performance evaluation, map of training needs, planning of capacity development, employment termination, duty of care, HR administration and regular revision of salary scale; 
9. Is responsible for the recruitment of key positions at the national level and contributes to the recruitment done at the HQ level (international staff); makes sure that key programme staff have relevant technical capacities and experience; 
10. Ensures that the capacity development of national staff is properly managed and financed; 
11. Allocates time for the annual staff retreat and other team building activities; 
12. Manages the Senior Management Team (SMT) ensuring that key matters regarding the programme implementation, context and security developments, and administration are regularly discussed 
13. In coordination with the SMT, coordinates, guides and supervises the mission staff and overviews the performance process. 

Representation and External Relations 

1. Represents the organization externally (communities, donors, partners, local and international stakeholders) and manages relations with the humanitarian stakeholders, including authorities, ensuring smooth and timely implementation of planned interventions and safeguarding impartiality and independence 
2. Develops strategic partnerships; 
3. Maintains strong communications with donors and ensure that the assessed needs are communicated to impact on donors’ priorities; 
4. Embeds organization in country/regional coordination meetings and working groups relevant to People in Peril’s scope of work and expertise; 
5. Represents People in Peril in all coordination fora (NGO, authorities, UN, and others) as per established coordination structure in Ukraine; 
6. Presents People in Peril operations with national and international media. In coordination with the Communication departments in Ukraine and HQ, is responsible for the development and promotion of communication and advocacy materials highlighting the affected population in needs and the role of the organization in addressing them. 

Monitoring and Ensuring Quality 

1. Contributes to the recruitment process of MEAL staff for Ukraine Country Office and to the development of MEAL systems and policies; 
2. Frequently assesses, analyses and evaluates the impact of the country operations; 
3. Oversees programme quality and impact in line with established programme goals and related indicators in coordination with MEAL Department (MEAL staff to be recruited); 
4. Oversee program reporting, ensuring compliance with People in Peril policies and procedures, donor regulations and local law; 
5. Ensures that all support departments and functions are in place; 
6. Sets up effective internal coordination and communication, manages internal conflicts and prevents unethical behaviours; 
7. Ensures information sharing, communication and coordination between project teams and between the country programme and HQ; 
8. Ensures MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) related procedures and functions are in place; 
9. Ensures all programmes are regularly reviewed, and recommendations for improvements are followed; 
10. Ensures the high quality of submitted proposals; according to the size and structure of the country programme, contributes to project development and proposal writing and approves project proposals application and submission with coordination with Head of Programme and Head of Relief and Development Department; 
11. Ensures overall compliance with policies, standards, and humanitarian principles. 
12. Makes sure any reported suspicions of breaches of People in Peril policies are properly investigated and reported to donors. 

Finance Management 

1. With the support of the Head of Systems and Operations and Finance Team in Ukraine and HQ, coordinates, defines and oversees the overall financial management of Ukraine budget; 
2. Is accountable on the management of People in Peril bank accounts in the country; 
3. Approves programmatic and operational expenses within responsibility thresholds; 
4. Validates all country budgets. 

Security 

1. Supervises Security Coordinator and coordinates with the Security Team to ensure a maximum safety and protection of employees and assets of People in Peril; 
2. Together with Security Team ensures awareness of risks and crisis strategies; 
3. Ensures a balance between the accepted level of risk in the country and the urgency of the programs; 
4. Is accountable for contingency planning and emergency preparedness and ensures that Security Team has those in place; 
5. Validates security plans; 
6. Makes security related decision based on Security Officer/Team recommendations. 

Performs any other tasks as required. 

The successful candidate: 

1. Has a higher education (master) suitable for the position in the field of International Relations, Development Studies, Political Studies or relevant; 
2. Has 5 years of experience in humanitarian aid settings, preferable 2 years of experience on the similar position; 
3. Has previous experience in actively hostile environments is an asset; 
4. Has strong management and leadership skills; 
5. Has experience working with institutional donors and in consortia; 
6. Has knowledge in financial management; 
7. Has ability to work under pressure; 
8. Is fluent in written and spoken English (C1), knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is an asset; 
9. Has strong organizational skills; 
10. Has strong negotiation skills and decision-making skills; 
11. Is diplomatic and has interpersonal and good communication skills; 
12. Understands of humanitarian operations principles, standards and best practices. 

„People in Peril is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom. 

People in Peril expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Peril code of conduct and key policies. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. 

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.“ 

Due to legal requirements and visa restrictions in Slovakia and Ukraine, only EU-based candidates and those who do not require visa to Ukraine will be considered. 

People in Peril offers: 

1. Salary 2 600 EUR gross/month based on your experience and People in Peril’s salary scale (for full time); 
2. Per diems of cca. 1100 EUR net/month for Ukraine (37 EUR net/day); 
3. Housing in guesthouse covered by People in Peril, if not – housing allowance of 200 EUR/month; 
4. Travel health insurance for Ukraine; 
5. Opportunities for learning, trainings and capacity development; 
6. 30 days of paid leave annually; additional 3 sick days; 
7. Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work; 
8. Active participation in People in Peril growth and development as one of the biggest Slovakian humanitarian responders in Ukraine. 

Recruitment process: 

Interested candidates are invited to apply by sending the CV and short motivation latter to the email address: recruitment@peopleinneed.sk with the subject of the email „Country Director UA“. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and invited for first interview. 

Please note: due to the urgency to fill the post, the recruitment will be done on the rolling basis and People in Peril reserves the right to recruit before the deadline.