Acting Country Director (Short Term) – Ukraine

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community.

Global Communities has been present in Ukraine since 2016 supporting local governance and civil society thought a sustainable development (SD) portfolio. Since the onset of war in February 2022, Global Communities has expanded it’s programming to deliver humanitarian assistance through a community-led response; which is designed with the goal of saving lives, reducing suffering, and addressing urgent needs while supporting communities to lead their own response and prepare for recovery.

The Acting Country Director will provide the strategic oversight of all programming in Ukraine, with a primary focus on the organization’s Humanitarian Assistance (HA) programs in Ukraine. This position will serve as the main representative for all humanitarian programming by engaging in humanitarian advocacy, fostering opportunities for new business development, and providing the strategic vision and leadership for the organization in country. This will include collaborating closely with the Global Communities Chief of Party to ensure a portfolio-wide approach across both humanitarian and development programming and ensuring synergies between SD and HA programming are fostered and used to the advantage of supporting communities in need

The Acting Country Director provides in-country representation for current humanitarian initiatives and support to recovey and development projects in collaboration with the Chief of Party of the SD portfolio. The Acting Country Director is based in Ukraine and reports to the Sr. Director of Humanitarian Program Operations.

This is a short-term position focusing on program start-up responsibilities, including hiring and training staff, developing initial work plans and work processes, building relationships with key humanitarian stakeholders, and supporting the development of initial award deliverables.

Responsibilities

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibility Area: Leadership, Representation, Coordination, and Advocacy

• Provide vision and strategic leadership of Global Communities in Ukraine, including developing a country strategic plan incorporating both humanitarian and development goals in collaboration with the existing development team.
• Represent Global Communities externally to government officials, UN agencies, donors, international organizations and CSOs, specifically for the humanitarian portfolio and support with such efforts as needed for the SD portfolio.
• Provide management, support and oversight of Project Director(s)/Chief of Party of humanitarian and development projects ensuring cross departmental/cross programmatic coordination and enabling collaboration.
• Advocate on key issues at program level, contribute to external advocacy initiatives, and proactively seek out and suggest focus areas for advocacy work, specifically related to humanitarian action, but with consideration of recovery and development objectives.
• Ensure effective communications about the humanitarian program’s impact with all relevant stakeholders (i.e., donors, UN, NGOs, beneficiaries, media) with consideration for existing development programming in country.
• Ensure an organizational culture and a work environment in which staff fully understand and apply safeguarding standards in line with Global Communities’ Safeguarding Framework.

Responsibility Area: Partnerships, Program Management and Development

• Provide overall leadership and support for management of the humanitarian assistance programs, ensuring project activities are implemented in line with donor policies and procedures and provide oversight to the Chief of Party for the delivery of development programming.
• Oversee project management, MEAL and technical support across HA aspects of the Ukraine portfolio and operations leadership across both the HA and SD aspects of the country portfolio.
• Develop a portfolio growth strategy for Global Communities in Ukraine in coordination with the Chief of Party, Headquarters and other Global Communities regional actors.
• Provide strategic leadership of new business development activites for Ukraine in collaboration with Humanitarian Assistance and Sustainable Development Business Development staff.

Responsibility Area: Finance, Operations and Human Resources Management

• Oversee and monitor overall program and operations compliance.
• Ensure that the Global Communities HA program operates within the laws of the country and complies with Global Communities policies and procedures and provide oversight to ensure the Chief of Party provides the same assurances for all development programming.
• Ensure sound financial management of the program including regular and timely financial reporting against objectives and budgets. Provide oversight of the Chief of Party to ensure the same assurances of the development portfolio in country.
• For the entire Ukraine Country portfolio and staff, ensure staff safety, security and evacuation (medical/security) procedures are drawn up, implemented, revised and updated. Approve security plans when necessary. Provide leadership and decision-making on staff safety and security in consultation with lead access and safety staff in country.
• Ensure all program team members understand and carry out their duties in accordance with GC’s values and principles.
• Conduct performance appraisals for direct reports and ensure regular feedback and provide mentoring on individual performance.
• Enable a culture of coaching, mentoring and training of staff and partner staff to ensure more field focused and locally owned program implementation strategies.

Responsibility Area: Communications, Reporting and Knowledge Management:

• In collaboration with both the sustainable development and humanitarian assistance program team, oversee the development of a communications strategy and plan to ensure adherence to GC communications guidance, humanitarian principles and linked to advocacy efforts.
• Support the program team in producing quality, consolidated, donor-facing reports for the donor and internal circulation for lessons learned.
• Ensure delivery of core Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities including, but not limited to baseline, endline, evaluation, post distribution monitoring, incorporation of third party monitoring feedback and lessons learned.

POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promote a culture of excellence, inclusion, learning, support, diversity and innovation.
• Visit project locations and partner activities for appropriate oversight and representation.
• Direct supervision of in-country department leadership.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Proven ability to work in a fast paced, demanding environment, often working under pressure in insecure environments.
• Management in complex environments skills.
• Ability to process information and synthesize for key decision- makers.
• Knowledge of partnership management best practices, including working with local NGOs, CSOs or national response mechanisms.
• Strong cross cultural communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and representational skills.
• Knowledge of humanitarian response coordination architecture, mechanisms and standards.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Master’s degree in relevant discipline and a minimum of 10 years of experience or a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline and a minimum of 12 years of experience.
• At least 8 years of experience in complex emergencies .
• At least 6 years of experience in a senior leadership capacity in an international post.
• Demonstrated experience delivering or overseeing humanitarian assistance, stabilization or early recovery programming.
• Demonstrated experience managing large teams and utilizing coaching and mentorship techniques preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing partnerships or locally led projects (through small and large grants), including overseeing capacity assessments, capacity development plans and co-creation with local partners.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including ability to effectively communicate across cultures and demonstrated ability to write required documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills in diverse settings, including with donors, partners, direct reports, supervisor and colleagues.
• Prior experience in Europe preferred.
• Experience managing blended portfolios and working with US (USAID/BHA) funding preferred.
• Technical experience in one or more of the following sectors/areas: protection, shelter/NFI, cash, civil society and governance preferred.
• Fluency in English, working knowledge Ukrainian or Russian desirable.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.

Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Global Communities is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all staff, representatives, partners, participants, and anyone with whom Global Communities interacts worldwide, especially children and adults at risk.