Country Director – Ukraine

Organisation Background

Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports humanitarian aid workers by establishing safety coordination platforms in insecure contexts. INSO provides registered NGOs with a range of free services, including real-time incident tracking, analytical reports, safety-related data and mapping, crisis management support, staff orientations and training.

INSO provides daily support to more than 1,000 NGOs operating in 16 of the world’s most insecure countries.

INSO is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands- the international city of peace and justice.

INSO Ukraine

INSO Ukraine was formed in 2015. Since the escalation of conflict in February 2022, it has rapidly expanded to a full platform serving the needs of NGOs in a fast-evolving conflict. Currently, 142 national and international NGOs receive INSO services. Our country office is in Kyiv, supported by field offices in Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa. The scale and intensity of the Ukraine conflict have seen significant humanitarian safety challenges. As part of INSO Ukraine, you will play a key role in supporting NGOs and helping aid to reach people in need.

Job Summary

You will provide leadership, coordination, representation, supervision, and management in relation to all staff and services of the Country Office and set the overall strategic framework.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program strategy and management

• Manage the Country Office team, including direct supervision of senior management staff (Deputy Director, Finance Manager and Operations Manager) with general oversight of the program, operations, and finance teams.
• Provide dedicated, effective leadership across the program; ensure cohesion across all functions.
• Develop overall strategy and deliver annual program planning.
• Responsible for the safety and security of the staff, program, and assets; ensure safety and security policies are updated and implemented.
• Ensure implementation of INSO’s Code of Conduct and application of Duty of Care.

Representation and synergies

• Effectively represent and protect INSO’s principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality and actively promote INSO as an integral member of the humanitarian community.
• Maintain donor engagement and track funding opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with donor regulations and requirements.
• Engage with third parties; including government, the UN, diplomatic missions and military forces.
• Constructively participate in external coordination activities related to safety and security coordination and access issues.
• Share relevant experience and lessons learned with other country offices.

Program support and monitoring

• Oversee the overall delivery of INSO services, ensuring that program targets and objectives are met and quality is maintained.
• Deliver strategic analysis to senior humanitarian leadership.
• Lead crisis management support to individual NGO partners or the NGO community.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience in a relevant field
• Fluency in English required; fluency in Russian or Ukrainian strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years of relevant work experience as an NGO Country Director or equivalent in conflict contexts.
• Experience with management of multi-donor projects. Knowledge of donor policies and procedures (USAID, ECHO, GMFA).
• Experience with budget management and monitoring, donor liaison and reporting.
• Proven analytical skills.
• Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination.
• Excellent networking, diplomatic, and representative communication skills.

Nice to Have:

• Direct experience and involvement in a crisis management role.
• Experience in a highly visible interagency role.
• Detailed understanding of INSO mandate and services.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to identify issues and find solutions.
• Excellent communication, organizational and managerial skills.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently unsupervised and under pressure.
• Strong work ethic and capacity to take responsibility for his/her own actions.

INSO’s Safeguarding Policy

INSO is fully committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of all potential new staff, trustees and volunteers and we will ensure rigorous compliance with our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy throughout the recruitment process.

Terms & Conditions:

Twelve-month contract, €5,500 per month salary, 4 calendar days annual leave per month and 3 days of R&R every 3 months with €250 R&R allowance each cycle, global medical coverage (excluding USA), and AD&D coverage.