Technical Head of Program-Ukraine H/F/X

The posting

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.

CONTEXTUALISATION

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 2026, 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. HI implements EORE/CPP, Advocacy, NTS/TS/Clearance, 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.

The position is based in Kiev. 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

Technical Head of Program

1. Main Mission

Under the responsibility of the Country Director, the Technical Head of Programme contributes to the implementation of Humanité & Inclusion's mandate and 10-year strategy within his/her programme.

He/she is the driving force behind the programmatic development of social missions within his/her technical scope, and ensures that the quality and impact of the projects implemented in the programme are optimised, in line with the priorities defined in the Technical Strategies.

The Technical Head of Program is responsible for a team of specialists (Technical Field Specialist, Business Developer, MEAL and quality assurance).

Mission 1: Management

• Embodies HI's values on a daily basis, and is a role model.
• Understands the strategy, makes it explicit, translating it into operational objectives for the team, leads the necessary changes.
• Organises the operational management of his or her team, structures the work around identified processes, steers performance, and facilitates problem solving.
• Contributes to the development of its employees, creating the conditions to enable their commitment, their professionalism and their attachment to HI.

2. Responsibilities

2.1. Strategy and Management

• Proposes the development of the programmatic framework of the programme's StratOp, based on an analysis of the sectoral context and following the StraTechs and Development Plans of the Emergency, Atlas and Impact-Innovation-Information divisions, in conjunction with the operational teams.
• Ensures the deployment of cross-cutting approaches within programming, promotes cross-sectoral synergies and intervention themes.
• Proposes the design and evolution of the programme's technical support, based on the skills of the technical specialists and technical profiles assigned to the projects, and according to the key priority sectors and the skills of the project managers.
• Contributes, at least once a year, (regarding its projects and data) to the annual monitoring of the StratOp and to the planning of the following year's programmes (i.e. support missions and evaluations).
• Ensures the MEAL part of the Operational Strategy, pilots the related action plan and the strategy monitoring tool.

2.2. Development of the Social Mission and Programmatic Vision

Defines the programme's funding strategy for new themes or innovations in existing sectors, ensures the development of opportunities for each theme within its scope, proposes the geographical development of HI sectors, and ensures the conformity of the technical proposal with nexus issues.

• Provides support to the Country Director and Ops Manager in considering the development of new value propositions (including needs assessment, feasibility, strategic alliances, major contracts).
• Contributes to the development of the fundraising strategy, in coordination with the Operations Manager / Senior Grant Officer.
• Leads the transformation of financial opportunities into projects.
• Produces and drives the design of major projects (multiple countries, one or more themes) or new strategic projects in the Country.
• Identifies and develops regional or local partnerships and/or consortia with NGOs, institutions, companies on technical priorities or important themes in the region in collaboration with the Ops Manager.

2.3. Quality Standards and Expertise with the MEAL and Technical Profiles of the Programme

Controls and monitors the technical quality and relevance of HI activities within its scope:

• Ensures that project managers receive appropriate technical and methodological guidance and support from MEAL team members and specialists based at headquarters or at programme level.
• Ensures quality control of projects and the programme and raises alerts and recommendations.
• Follows up the implementation of recommendations from support missions, evaluation or audit, as appropriate.
• Ensures a local sectoral watch and collects good practices.

Responsibilities Related to MEAL

• Ensures the improvement of the quality of project management processes, as defined by the Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) policy.
• Leads the improvement of HI's response, including the implementation of impact and effect measurement tools.
• Establishes mechanisms for accountability to beneficiaries.
• Ensures the appropriation of programmes and HI’s frameworks and learning methodologies globally.
• Supports the monitoring of projects.

Technical Expertise, Learning and Innovation

• Ensures that specialists develop a local professional channel/talent pool and contributes to the animation of the professional channel of the technical divisions and the MEALs.
• Ensures the development of research and innovation projects in the region, when appropriate.
• Ensures deployment and compliance with global frameworks, institutional policies and standards.

2.4. External Representation and Promotion of HI's Expertise

• Represents HI's expertise in all relevant networks (including clusters).
• Supports the specialists and the Country Director in the representation towards partners, institutional donors and authorities.
• Contributes to advocacy (including evidence-based) on specific issues, in line with the StratOp and federal advocacy priorities.
• Contributes locally to communication messages, in line with the StratOp and federal communication priorities.

2.5. Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Leads the emergency preparedness actions in his/her department and, in case of emergency, reorganizes the priorities of his/her team according to the humanitarian imperative, in order to ensure a rapid and effective response from HI.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in one of HI's technical sectors of intervention and/or international cooperation and/or humanitarian development

• You have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in humanitarian development with experience in project management (multi or complex) and experience(s) in one of HI's technical sectors of intervention.
• Excellent english language skills
• You have strong managerial skills: Being able to develop team members: developing the ability of staff to work independently.
• You know how to position yourself to make things happen
• Excellent organization and time management skills: you know how to simplify and prioritize
• You’re a good communicator, Ability to manage stress, Empathy, Autonomy and flexibility

Benefits

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

• 12 months International contract starting from 15h, January 2027;
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
• 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 the payroll
• Hardship: 500 € net/month paid with your salary;
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: according to the level of the mission Level 3: 5 days every 8 weeks => + possible transport/package support;
• Position:
• Unaccompanied:
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects; (from 12 months of mission)
• Mission of more than 12 months: a child allowance of 100€ per month, per child (from the second child) paid in the payroll;
• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI;
• If you are resident in the country: local package.