Country Representative, Ukraine

Position type and closing date

Status: Single Posting

Location: Kyiv with frequent duty travels to the North East of Ukraine (primarily Kharkiv and region)

Duration of Contract: 3 years’ contract with possibility of extension

Deadline for applications is 17 September 2024

Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service (WS)

World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world. A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work, and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centred and community-based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage proactively with local government and community structures.

For additional information, please see www.lutheranworld.org/WorldService.

Since February 2022 and in collaboration with its member churches, LWF carries out humanitarian response projects in Ukraine and neighbouring countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. In Ukraine, LWF uses its expertise in providing quality service, livelihood, protection and social cohesion. This includes but is not limited to the provision of shelter, broader humanitarian assistance, protection, psychosocial assistance, education and livelihoods.

LWF coordinates and works closely with the Government of Ukraine, local authorities, the LWF member church in Ukraine, ACT Alliance members, civil society organizations, UN agencies (in particular UNHCR) and other relevant actors. The current geographic focus is on the North East of Ukraine, particularly the Kharkiv oblast.

Purpose

Provide overall leadership, representation and effective management of the Lutheran World Federation, World Service Country Program in Ukraine to achieve the intended results, outcomes and impacts for the focus groups and program participants. This will include the review of strategic directions and implementing them in an accountable and participatory manner in accordance with approved LWF World Service policies, manuals and guidelines, the Global WS Strategy and the LWF Ukraine Country Strategy.

Required qualifications

University degree or equivalent in humanitarian or development work, social studies or another relevant field.

Knowledge and Experience

Minimum of five years of successful experience in a senior leadership/management position in the field of humanitarian response, within an international environment.

Knowledge of and experience in cooperating with governments, the United Nations system and inter-agency coordination clusters and other coordination structures at national level.

A strong hands-on approach to finance and program management.

Strong fundraising and networking capacity and experience with proven results.

Knowledge of LWF, its member churches and related agencies is an asset.

Team-oriented, flexible and excellent communication skills.

Experience working on programme and country office start up.

Working in a tense and volatile security context.

Language Skills

English: Advanced (written, spoken)

Ukrainian and/or Russian would be an advantage

LWF Core Skills

Leadership –resource level*

Working effectively with others –resource level

Accountability –resource level

Analytical thinking –advanced level

Initiative –resource level

Achieving results –resource level

LWF Functional Skills

People Management –resource level

Facilitation / Negotiation –resource level

Project Management -advanced level

Networking -advanced level

Communication -advanced level

*LWF 3 skills levels are: basis -advanced -resource

Main duties

Leadership

Provides overall leadership to the LWF Ukraine Country Program.

Promotes, implements and upholds the vision, mission, core values and objectives of the global LWF World Service strategy, the LWF Ukraine Country Strategy as well other approved documents for the country/region.

Facilitates and actively seeks to increase the profile of LWF World Service as an international humanitarian organization through continuously striving to improve the quality of work.

Promotes and facilitates the establishment and strengthening of national and regional networks especially relevant to the LWF World Service country, regional or global strategies.

Represents LWF in national networks in the Ukraine.

Engages closely with the finance team, enabling colleagues to deliver and strengthen the financial management and compliance of the program in line with LWF World Service and donors’ policies, guidelines and regulations.

Programme management

Ensures that programmatic work is aligned with the LWF Ukraine Country Strategy and other LWF policies and guidelines in close collaboration with the Program Coordinator.

Enables the team to deliver effective planning, monitoring, evaluation and timely and quality reporting (PMER) in compliance with the LWF World Service and donor rules and regulations.

Ensures good management of resources, operations and partnerships with special emphasis on capacity building and continued improvement.

Undertakes regular monitoring visits of all program/project sites to provide on-site support, coaching and monitoring of projects implementation.

Strengthens programme management systems for accountable, effective, and quality delivery of programs to focus groups.

Ensures coordination with key stakeholders or a regular basis for timely and smooth implementation of all programs.

Promotes institutional learning and capacity building.

Fundraising and Finance

Actively engages in negotiations with UN agencies, clusters, embassies and missions, foundations and others for potential new funding sources.

Develops strategies and operational plans and actively engages in negotiations with key stakeholders to uphold and develop a viable portfolio of projects and programs.

Ensures the complementarity and close working relations of finance and program units.

Ascertains that efficient and accountable financial and administrative management of the emergency program in accordance with LWF World Service Finance Manual and relevant donor guidelines.

Oversees the development of high-quality concept notes, project proposals and ensures successful execution of grants.

People management

Supervises directly the Program Coordinator, Finance Manager, other senior Unit Heads at the country office, and administrative support personnel.

Provides regular coaching and support, facilitate performance appraisals and ensure a competent and cohesive country management team.

Oversees the development of staffing plans and supervises all matters pertaining to LWF staff, both national and international.

Ensures that new staff are provided with thorough orientation and on-boarding in LWF World Service strategies, policies, guidelines, organizational culture and the programs and projects to which they are assigned.

Ensures that safety and security aspects are well managed.

Ensures staff recruitment is gender-sensitive and balanced at management and non-management levels.

Ensures diversity and inclusion in staff recruitment in adherence to LWF policies and values.

Operational Representation and Networking

Maintains a close working and consultative relationship with the LWF member church in Ukraine and other ecumenical and faith-based partners.

Plays an active role in the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance Forum in the country/region, ensuring LWF’s participation in joint planning and implementation, advocacy and other ACT Alliance initiatives where possible.

Maintains the requisite consultative relationships with the relevant governmental authorities, UN organizations, other international and national NGOs.

Safety and Security

With the support of the LWF global security team, the Team Leader creates a culture of safety and security in Ukraine country program.

Provides guidance in developing a country security strategy and ensures that plans and procedures are updated regularly.

Ensures that risks are well managed through monitoring threats and incidents.

Appoints (or recruits) staff with security responsibilities at all levels.

Accountability

Ensures all interventions are undertaken in accordance with the LWF World Service policies and guidelines, specifically concerning the LWF Staff Code of Conduct, the Sphere Project and the Core Humanitarian Standard, as well as rights-based, gender responsive and climate sensitive programming.

Other duties

As may be assigned by the direct supervisor.

Major challenges

The position holder will work in an unpredictable safety and security context. Nevertheless, it needs to be assured that the highest standards of program management and accountability are applied in line with LWF World Service, donor policies and international standards.