Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reinforced its presence in Ukraine by signing an agreement with the Government to set up a Project Office that will facilitate and expand the provision of technical and humanitarian assistance to the country’s most vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas.
Ukraine joined FAO in 2003 and since 2015 the Organization has been operating in two strategic directions: emergency humanitarian response in conflict-affected oblasts and agricultural development across the whole country. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, FAO has scaled up its activities in the country to support agricultural production and food systems with the aim of protecting the food security of vulnerable households and communities across Ukraine.
This role is based full-time in office, with duty station in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Reporting Lines
Under the overall supervision of the Head of FAO Office in Ukraine and the Head of Programme, and the direct supervision of the Head of Mine Action and Land Rehabilitation. He/she will provide programme support for coordination of field-level activities, specially assisting in communication and coordination with FAO Ukraine support units, field offices and implementing partners.
Technical Focus
The Programme Implementation Specialist will support the effective implementation and coordination of FAO Ukraine’s Mine Action and Land Rehabilitation Programme, with a focus on operational, administrative, and coordination functions. The incumbent will contribute to the planning, tracking, and follow-up of emergency and early recovery project activities, ensuring alignment with FAO standards, procedures, and timelines. Working in close coordination with relevant FAO Ukraine support units, field offices, and implementing partners, and under the day-to-day guidance of the Head of Mine Action and Land Rehabilitation, the incumbent will facilitate smooth programme delivery, support internal coordination, and contribute to timely reporting, documentation, and visibility of programme activities.
Tasks and responsibilities
The Programme Implementation Specialist contributes to the implementation of day-to-day programme activities by providing advisory, coordination, and analytical support across routine operational and administrative functions. The incumbent supports the Project Officer through close liaison with relevant FAO units, ensuring effective coordination, follow-up, and information flow to facilitate timely and compliant project implementation. More specifically, the incumbent will:
• Provide advisory and coordination programme support to the Project Officer in planning, organization, and tracking of project activities at national and regional level, including analysis of implementation progress and emerging issues.
• Compile inputs, background information, and analytical data needed for the formulation of projects and preparation of contribution agreements and addendums for new projects, in line with the FAO Project Cycle Guide.
• Track and review project-related plans (e.g., procurement and work plans) to ensure timely progress, identify risks, inconsistencies or delays, and propose corrective actions for supervisor attention. Prepare brief project updates, summaries, and other documentation for the Programme Coordinator and FAO Ukraine Senior Management related to assigned initiatives and projects.
• Format and prepare procurement-related documents, such as draft terms of reference, requests, and purchase specifications, providing substantive input to ensure alignment with programme objectives and FAO standards.
• Follow up with Service Providers on Letter of Agreement (LoA) implementation and deliverables, review narrative and financial reports, and support timely submission of reports and LoA closure within the project lifecycle.
• Liaise with the Operations and Procurement units on routine queries and requests in support of FAO Ukraine’s Mine Action programme, providing advisory support on operational matters, and assist in preparing draft official correspondence as needed.
• Track the progress of procurement requests and delivery timelines in close coordination with the Procurement Unit. Maintain a budget tracking file for assigned projects, monitor budget utilization, and alert the Project Officer to inconsistencies or discrepancies.
• Ensure consistency and quality assurance of project documentation and requests submitted to support units, ensuring alignment with FAO templates and formats. Collect inputs for recruitment terms of reference and liaise in an advisory capacity with the FAO Ukraine Human Resources Unit to track recruitment processes.
• Collect, consolidate, and analyze project data and work with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to monitor progress against planned objectives and expected results.
• Provide logistical, administrative, and representational support for the project's coordination meetings, field missions, and events. Liaise with FAO Ukraine’s Communication Coordinator, contributing inputs to visibility and advocacy materials, and ensure dissemination of visibility items in line with FAO and donor guidelines.
• Undertake duty travel to field missions, as required.
• Supervise other affiliate personnel in day-to-day activities within the scope of work and as assigned.
• Perform other advisory, analytical, or coordination-related tasks as required by the supervisor.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in International Relations, Development Studies, Economics, Political Science, Social Sciences, Public Administration or any other field related to the organisations’ activities; Consultants with Bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• 5 years of relevant experience in programme or project implementation, coordination, and operational support in humanitarian and/or development contexts.
• Working knowledge of English (level C).
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Proven experience working with field offices, implementing partners, and internal support units within international organizations or UN agencies.
• Knowledge of project cycle management, including work plans, procurement processes, contribution agreements, and routine project documentation.
• Experience supporting Letters of Agreement, including follow-up on deliverables and reporting.
• Ability to coordinate with operations, procurement, HR, field offices, and implementing partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to track activities, timelines, and basic budgets, and flag issues as needed.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.