The position is to be filled as soon as possible, with an initial contract duration of one year. There are good prospects for an extension. Employment location will be Poltava, Ukraine, with frequent travel to project locations in the country.

Alliance 2015 members Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Concern Worldwide are working together in Ukraine since February 2022 using their combined resources and reach, to ensure a quick and effective emergency response to assist the crisis-affected population. This response, known as JERU (Joint Emergency Response Ukraine), is working inside of Ukraine to support conflict affected people.

As Area Manager for Southern Ukraine, you will ensure that JERU’s programs and projects in Southern Ukraine (Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporhzhzia and potentially other Oblasts) are implemented in accordance to content, schedule, budget and JERU’s strategy and standards, the strategy of the country program and the regulations of the donors. You will represent JERU and the office in the defined project area in relations with oblast and hromada authorities, and other humanitarian and non-humanitarian actors. You will also provide oversight to the works of the west area office (in Khmelnytsky) through the Head of Project based there.

Your responsibilities

Programs

• Ensure overall implementation of the programs in southern regions with a direct oversight of the all the project managers. Support project managers in the implementation of their programs, and troubleshoot to head of programs, program coordinators or other heads of departments on issues faced.
• Actively lead identification of needs, facilitate response to these needs or suggest new intervention options.
• Actively participate in designing proposals and strategies for the southern regions, ensure participation of the area team and facilitate the participation of other stakeholders.
• Ensure project alignment with the country strategy, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) standards.

Representation

• Establish good relationships with oblast and other local authorities, ensure all interventions are well coordinated with them,
• Represent JERU at OCHA, NGO, and oblast-level meetings, reporting back to the country director and relevant staff.
• Engage in regional forums, ensuring high-quality reporting to clusters, donors, and headquarters.

People Management

• Ensure day to day management of heads of projects based in the southern region, finance, MEAL, logistics, and other staff in the area office
• Participate in the recruitment and capacity building of area office staff in coordination with their direct supervisors or functional managers and identify highly motivated staff.
• Ensure a safe and pleasant working environment in the area office, be responsive to the needs of the staff, raise issues to the country director and HR manager and ensure all staff in the area office well embrace safeguarding policies.

Security Management

• Act as the principle security focal point in the southern region.
• Develop area security plans with the Humanitarian Access, Safety, and Security Advisor (HASSA), and coordinate with HASSA and the Country Director on security measures.

Compliance, Logistics and Finance

• Ensure compliance with finance and logistics procedures in coordination with department heads.
• Support logistics and finance staff and raise issues as needed.

Oversight and Mentoring

• Provide oversight to the west area office, conducting visits to Khmelnytsky and meeting with project leads,work closely with the head of project based in Khmelnytsky office

Your profile

• A university or college degree in political sciences, public administration, conflict studies, humanitarian action or other related disciplines with specific experience in integrated project management
• At least 1 year experience in field/area office management or a minimum of 3 years experience in managing humanitarian projects
• Proven experience working in partnership with civil society organizations and in stakeholder management
• German donor experience would be an asset
• Experience in working in IDP contexts is a plus
• Knowledge of Ukraine context, particularly Southern Ukraine would be desired
• Ability to lead teams in a challenging and fragile security environment
• Coordination and organisational skills – even under a high workload
• Readiness to receive necessary vaccinations for working in Welthungerhilfe’s program countries
• Excellent spoken and written English; Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills would be an advantage

Our offer

We offer you the opportunity to work in a responsible and interesting field as part of an extremely dedicated team. Welthungerhilfe attaches great importance to the personal and professional development of its employees and the balance of their work and private life. Remuneration is based on our gender-independent salary scale. In addition, Welthungerhilfe offers numerous other benefits, which are listed under “Our benefits”.

*Welthungerhilfe values diversity and ensures an inclusive, non-discriminatory working environment. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community.