Back Head of Programme Support Unit Ukraine

Females are highly encouraged to apply.  What we are looking for

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s values. To be dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable are attitudes and beliefs that shall guide our actions and relationships. Context:

NRC has been working to support conflict- and displacement-affected people in Ukraine since 2014, scaling up the response following the escalation of the conflict in February 2022. 

In 2024 NRC supported close to 300,000 people across Ukraine through the provision of legal aid, protection, education, shelter, water and sanitation, livelihoods and multi-purpose cash assistance interventions. NRC works in areas with high severity of needs in the east, south and north of the country. NRC works increasingly with local actors, ranging from local NGOs, but also with local authorities, the private sector, academia, among others, to ensure the sustainability of the response.What you will do:

The Head of Programme Support Unit (HOPSU) plays a key leadership role in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of NRC Ukraine’s programme delivery. The position oversees core support functions including Partnerships, MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning), Grants Management and Safe and Inclusive Programming (SIP). Working closely with programme and support teams, the HOPSU ensures that NRC’s interventions are evidence-based, strategically aligned, and compliant with both organizational and donor standards. This role is central to driving programme quality, accountability, learning and innovation in a dynamic and complex operational context.

Generic responsibilities:

1. Compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures 
2. Line management of Programme Support Unit staff 
3. Provision of programme support unit inputs to the NRC Ukraine Country Strategy and related plans; ensure programme support unit objectives are aligned to regional and global priorities and strategies
4. Support in the development of a multi-year funding strategy, programme forecasts and identification of funding opportunities, taking particular account of changing donor priorities
5. Oversee key Project Cycle Management (PCM) processes, training and support initiatives

   Specific Responsibilities:

   • Support the roll out of NRC strategy for engagement with local actors, while overseeing the partnerships portfolio scale-up and ensuring the quality, effectiveness, and accountability of partnership management
   • Contribute to strategic engagement with donors, in line with organizational priorities 
   • Support the effective functioning of the Grants department, including project cycle management processes and compliance
   • Oversee the development of high-quality donor proposals and comprehensive reporting in line with donor requirements 
   • Ensuring the effective design, implementation, and quality assurance of MEAL systems across all programmes
   • Oversee the analysis and dissemination of evidence and learning to improve programme design, impact, and strategic planning

     Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. As the above responsibilities are just a snapshot from the Job description.

     What you will bring:

     📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

     ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

     1. Competencies

        Generic professional competencies for this position: 

        • University degree in Project Management, Development Studies, Social Science, or a related field
        • Minimum 4 years’ experience from a senior programme management position, in a humanitarian/recovery context
        • Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
        • Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
        • Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
        • Fluency in English, both written and verbal, Ukrainian and or Russian language is an asset

          Context/Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

          • Knowledge of the context in Ukraine is an asset
          • Knowledge of donor landscape, priorities and requirements
          • Proven record in developing and managing strategic partnerships 
          • Experience of working in integrated programming approaches 
          • Experience of working on, coordinating or leading consortia or other forms of collaboration
          • Experience of mainstreaming evidence-based approaches to enhance programme quality throughout the project cycle
          • Experience in MEAL systems and approaches, and accountability mechanisms and frameworks What we offer
            • Duty station: Kyiv, Ukraine
            • Salary/benefits: grade 10 of NRC’s pay scale. 
            • Travel: 30%
            • NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
            • We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

              Find out more about the benefits of working for NRCImportant information about the application process

              • Internal candidates only: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
              • When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education. 
              • Incompletely filled applications will not be considered. 
              • Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
              • Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
              • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.
              • This position is open for all nationalities. 
              • If you have any questions about this role, please email ESA Recruitment  esa.recruitment@nrc.nowith the job title as the subject line. Why NRC?

                The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

                Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

                We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

                • Do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
                • Join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
                • Be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

                  Learn more about NRC

                  Learn more about Ukraine The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.  Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.  At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  Together, we save lives and rebuild futures. Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:  • treat everyone with respect and dignity  • contribute to building a safe environment for all  • never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)  • always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH