Regional Humanitarian Aid Coordinator, Whole of Ukraine, 100%

HEKS/EPER, Swiss Church Aid, supports projects designed to combat hunger, poverty and injustice in over 30 countries on four continents. HEKS/EPER also provides worldwide humanitarian assistance for victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts and supports the Church’s diaconal work in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In Switzerland, HEKS/EPER champions the rights and causes of refugees and socially disadvantaged people. Through its development and social policy work in the fields of climate justice, access to land and food, migration, and integration, HEKS/EPER strives for systemic change – globally and in Switzerland.

HEKS/EPER: The Whole of Ukraine Response

With an already strong presence in Eastern Europe for more than 40 years, HEKS/EPER has considerably increased its intervention in this Region with the occurring of the Ukrainian crisis. HEKS/EPER has been operating in Ukraine and neighboring countries with social inclusion and home care programs. In 2022, as refugees are fleeing clashes across Ukraine triggered by military operations, HEKS/EPER is extending its activities to deliver critical assistance to displaced persons inside Ukraine and in the hosting regions, in Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.

HEKS/EPER is building up on its long-term presence in these countries and a wide network of local partners. To better respond to this regional crisis a regional coordination office is being set up in Romania within the premises of HEKS Romania country office in Cluj.

To take up the responsibility for the whole of Ukraine response HEKS/EPER is looking for an experienced:

Regional Humanitarian Aid Coordinator, Whole of Ukraine, 100%

Your responsibilities:

• Launch and supervise activities and provide guidance for staffers involved in the ongoing emergency operations in the Whole of Ukraine response:

• strategic development of the programmes,

• financial responsibilities for all the programmes,

• compliance with HEKS/EPER and donor’s rules and regulations,

• liaisoning with key donors

• Staff management and leadership

• Represent the organization towards existing and potential partners in Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

• Provide strategic guidance from the regional level and make sure that there is consistency between mission strategies and regional strategy.

• Lead the consolidation of HEKS regional set-up and mechanisms.

• Facilitate the coordination among the different HEKS/EPER operations related to the Whole of Ukraine response.

• Be responsible for the development and implementation of local security plans and the security management.

• Coordinate Knowledge Sharing and Capacity development across the region, especially for partner organisations normally implementing development / social inclusion programs.

Your profile:

• Relevant university degree at Master’s level or other relevant experience

• Proven track record of leading teams

• Minimum 5 years’ work experience at senior management level in designing, managing and implementing internationally financed cooperation projects

• Track record in successful acquisition and implementation of internationally funded projects (in consortia, through partner organisations and self-implemented)

• Profound knowledge of humanitarian aid and regional context

• Proven will and skill to coordinate and to work in cooperation and consortiums with other agencies and state authorities.

• Experience in working with civil society and church related organisations

• Experience in working in fragile contexts

• High level of flexibility, stress tolerance

• Available for extended local, national and international travel

• Experience with security management

• Mandatory English skills, Ukrainian and Romanian an asset

We offer:

• An expatriate position with a duty station in Cluj.
• An interesting and challenging position with scope for design
• A one year renewable contract
• Location: Cluj / Romania