Country Operations Manager - Ukraine

The posting

Place: Kiev or Kharkiv, Ukraine Starting date: 1st December 2026 Duration of contract: 12 months Closing date for applications: XX Month 2026

Due to the urgency of this recruitment, we encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible. We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis.

Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. The organisation works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since its creation in 1982, HI has run development & humanitarian projects in more than 55 countries and responded to numerous emergencies. Today, we have a budget of approximately 200 million euros, with 4,000 employees worldwide

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview. For more information about the organisation.

JOB CONTEXT:

From February 2022, HI has re-opened a Country Programme in Ukraine to respond to the humanitarian needs triggered by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

In 2024, HI pillars of interventions are:

• Health: HI aims to improve access to quality physical rehabilitation and mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) for conflict-affected vulnerable population.
• Protection: Given the scale of humanitarian and protection needs, HI intervenes at various levels to ensure that vulnerable conflict-affected populations have access to multi-sectoral services tailored to their needs. In addition, HI aims to foster a disability-inclusive humanitarian response.
• Humanitarian Mine Action: Ongoing attacks dangerously exacerbated Explosive Ordnance (EO) contamination in Ukraine.
• EORE/CPP: HI is conducting a multi-pronged approach to EO Risk Education (RE) and Conflict Preparedness and Protection (CPP).
• Advocacy
• NTS: HI is implementing Non-Technical Survey activities in Kharkivska Oblast since 2025.
• VA (Victim Assistance)

HI has 2 hubs, one in the East (based in Dnipro), one in the North East (based in Kharkiv), and the coordination office is in Kyiv.

YOUR MISSION: Under the responsibility of the Country Director Ukraine, as Operations Manager you contribute within the country where you are based to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion. You ensure optimal quality and impact of the projects implemented in the country, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. You share with all HI managers the responsibility of sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm changes.

Responsibility 1: Management

1.1: Be the manager (direct report) of the 3 Project Managers in the country of assignment

• Foster team spirit and team functioning guaranteeing synergies and exchange of good practices between Project Managers and with head office colleagues.
• Recruit and contribute to the professional development, autonomy and well-being at work of the Project Managers: in link with the corresponding professional channels, set formalized individual objectives, ensure coherence between HI’s needs and competencies and motivation of his/her teams, develop and monitor competence development plan, evaluate individual performance, contribute to career evolution.

Responsibility 2: Contribution to the Programme’s Operational Strategy and HI frameworks & regulations

2.1: Contribute to the development of the Programme’s Operational Strategy, and to its implementation and annual monitoring

• With assessment of ongoing projects, contribution to context and sectorial analysis, contribution to fundraising strategy, to resource sizing, to M&E tool.
• Contribute, with his/her portfolio of projects and donors’ data, to the annual monitoring of the StratOp.
• In case of crisis/emergency, implement the framework and set-up determined by HI Operations Director.
• Actively lead to the development of opportunities, partnerships and strategy in new potential areas of implementation.
• Actively support start-up of new programmes and operations in current areas of implementation (education and preparedness).

2.2: Implement the project part of the Programme’s Operational Strategy

• Contribute to size and plan necessary resources, recruitment of the Project Managers (ensure the fit between competencies and the projects’ challenges and ambitions), develop and monitor their competence development plan, in link with the corresponding professional channels and with the Human Resources Manager.
• Develop regular contacts with current and potential donors at field level and liaise with the Programme Director, Project Managers and Technical Unit to check coherence with overall Programming and fundraising strategy.
• Within the operational framework defined in the StratOp, identify and transform funding opportunities in new potential areas, conduct the design and writing of new projects with relevant colleagues in new potential areas of operations.
• In link with the Technical Unit Manager, identify and develop local partnerships and/or consortia with NGOs, institutions, companies, on technical priorities or important topics at National Level and in new potential areas of intervention.

2.4: Ensure sound management and monitoring of projects under his/her responsibility (New potential areas of intervention)

• In link with the Technical Unit Manager and the MEAL Unit, ensure that HI technical quality standards are applied in the projects, and monitor the implementation of recommendations from support missions, evaluations and donor audits.
• Ensure compliance with project donors’ rules and regulations, including visibility.
• With the support of the MEAL Manager, deploy all adequate tools that will allow financial control and project monitoring, compliance with HI policies and frameworks, and the respect of contractual obligations towards donors: consolidation, control and reporting to the Ops Manager operational and organizational elements (dashboards and corrective measures, unrestricted funds consumption, beneficiaries’ data…).
• Facilitate internal audits (operational, financial and organizational), and ensure the implementation of their recommendations on his/her responsibility area with relevant colleagues.

2.5: With both operational opportunities and risks in mind, contribute to the monitoring and analysis made by HAS, Operations and CD, and propose mitigation measures when relevant in new potential areas of intervention.

• Implement analysis and monitoring of risks & opportunities related to HI presence and activities; implement risk mitigation actions at his/her level; and ensure the implementation of a humanitarian watch.

Responsibility 3: Influence

3.1: Support develop external influence of HI (forums, operational & strategic alliances, etc.) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) at the National Level

• Can represent HI vis-à-vis local, national, traditional, political, military and diplomatic authorities and bodies; and international organizations and coordination mechanisms & system.
• Take on the messages of HI global advocacy to all relevant external parties.
• Develop local partnerships.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

• The security situation in Ukraine remains relatively stable, although air alert is frequently active. However, markets, restaurants and cafes are open, and life continues as normal. There is a strict curfew, the hours depend on the region.

Requirements

• You have at least 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian / early recovery contexts,

• You have at least 3 years of experience in management of field bases and/or programs,
• A solid work experience in one or more of the core sectors is a strong asset: health (physical rehabilitation, P&O, psychosocial support), protection, disability mainstreaming / inclusion, and/or livelihoods, or education,
• Previous experience in designing and managing programs with local partners is a strong asset.
• You demonstrate strong teal management and organizational skills, a high level of autonomy and initiative,
• Fluency in oral and written English is compulsory.

Benefits

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission: Join the team

• 12 months International contract starting from 1st December 2025;
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your si2uation:
• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals;
• Pension scheme;
• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution;
• Repatriation insurance paid by HI;
• Salary from 2869 € gross/month upon experience;
• Perdiem: 597 € net/month - paid in payroll
• Hardship: 500 € net/month paid with your salary;
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: 5 days every 8 weeks + possible transport/package support;
• Position unaccompanied:
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects;
• Mission of more than 12 months: a child allowance of 100€ per month, per child (from the second child) paid in payroll
• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI;
• If you are resident in the country: local package.