Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.
DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2025 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.
DRC is currently looking for a Legal Team Leader (Legal Analysis Coordination and Supervision) for its activities in Kyiv.
This position will be line managed by the Legal Aid Manager.
About the job
Legal Team Leader will focus and ensure compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines. The Legal Team Leader will ensure compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines while overseeing the implementation of legal research, analysis, advocacy initiatives, and thematic reports in DRC Ukraine. This role includes supervising the legal analysis team to ensure quality and alignment with organizational objectives. Additionally, the Legal Team Leader will contribute to the development of strategies and their translation into actionable plans and daily operations.
Your main duties and responsibilities will be:
Management and Implementation
Lead and manage the team including people planning, leave planning, recruitment process, performance and discipline, well-being and skills development. The post-holder should have a good grasp on relevant DRC policies and Ukrainian legislation. Ensure regular monitoring of the team’s performance. As a manager, set the tone for code of conduct and lead in creating a harmonious and respectful work environment. Ensure effective planning and high-quality implementation, providing necessary support and overseeing the quality control of legal and analytical work conducted by the legal analysis team. Ensure that all project-related materials, including research, analysis, drafting, editing, and publishing, adhere to DRC standards and are completed within established deadlines. Identify key advocacy issues based on analysis of current legislation and the legal issues of beneficiaries. Lead the development of new legal analysis and advocacy interventions in key areas, drawing on relevant legislation, evidence from regional DRC offices, surveys, and needs assessments. Lead on drafting advocacy materials such as briefing notes, advocacy letters. Take the lead on identifying and developing new directions of program interventions based on analyzing the relevant surveys and needs assessments. Initiate, draft, review, and oversee the development of timely, high-quality legal and informational materials, including position papers, briefing notes, advocacy letters, and leaflets. Supervise the planning development and collection of information for drafting, and publication of the monthly Legal Alert. Oversee the planning, drafting, and design of informational materials, as well as legal analytical content, for the DRC Digital Legal Aid Platform. Ensure high-quality training materials and resources for capacity-building activities. Develop and contribute to the Advocacy Planning Matrix and other necessary tools. Facilitate the team's involvement in a variety of tasks to acquire additional knowledge and skills necessary for professional growth. Provide report inputs on project indicators and achievements of the team. As a staff manager and budget holder, the team leader should have a reasonably good understanding of, and help ensure compliance with relevant DRC policies and Ukrainian legislation.Programming and Operations
Ensure efficient and effective program implementation while following the budget and work plan. Participate in preparing monthly/quarterly/annual highlights/reports and proposals and budgets for donors. Represent DRC in humanitarian, public, private forums, technical coordination meetings, and other relevant events. Establish and maintain a network of key advocacy stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels, accordingly, focusing on thematic areas identified in coordination with the Manager and Advocacy Coordinator. Lead efforts to support local implementation partners in carrying out advocacy initiatives, as well as oversee partners legal analysis if needed. Facilitate communication and coordination with relevant DRC departments and programs. Coordinate and conduct field visits with field lawyers to observe trends and collect data and facts for advocacy. Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts on sector relevant issues. Collaborate with MEAL staff to monitor and evaluate projects and develop and apply lessons learned for future advocacy initiatives.Logistics/Finance
Support the monitoring of financial commitments and expenditures against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow-up Plan and coordinate proactively logistics and movements of staff from and to different operational areas Initiate necessary procurements and ensure their completion for the team’s operationsAbout you
To be successful in the role, we expect you to have at least 3 years of management experience, preferably in humanitarian response with a non-governmental humanitarian organizations. Moreover, we also expect the following:
Master’s degree in Law. Strong people management skills. Proven expertise in legal analysis and leading advocacy initiatives. Commitment to organizational policies and continuous learning. Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Fluency in Ukrainian and Russian. Full Professional Proficiency in English (written and spoken).In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.We offer:
Contract length: 12 months with initial contract of 3 months probation period. Level: G-Management. Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv - Full time based. Start date: As soon as possible.Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national staff.
Application process:
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 5th February 2025.
We reserve the right to conduct further interviews before the deadline for submission of applications.