Vacancy no.: DC/KYIV/P/2025/03
Publication date: 27 November 2025
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 31 January 2026
Job ID: 13409
Department: RO-Europe and Central Asia
Organization Unit: CO-Kyiv
Location: Kyiv
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract duration: One year, subject to receipt of funds
Under article 4.2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General.
In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the present vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their candidature online by the above date.
Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given. Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.
The following are eligible to apply:
ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations. External candidates.
The ILO values diversity among its staff and welcomes applications from qualified female candidates. We also encourage applicants with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.
Introduction
The ILO in Ukraine is wrapping up its Transitional Development Cooperation Strategy 2024-2025 and in 2026 it starts the implementation of its Decent Work Country Programme for Ukraine which focuses on skills, employment, enterprise development, social protection, social dialogue and labour reforms to align Ukrainian labour market institutions closer to international labour standards and the relevant EU acquis as part of countryโs journey towards the European Union.
Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work is an ILO Development Cooperation programme that addresses constraints to productivity growth and decent work creation across policy-, industry-, and enterprise-levels in developing and emerging economies. Funded by the Government of Switzerland it identifies root causes of low productivity and strengthens the virtuous cycles between productivity growth and better working conditions. It will be focusing on the following key objectives:
At the policy-level the programme develops the capacity of ILO constituents and key line ministries to formulate and implement national employment policies and productivity frameworks and promotes social dialogue to ensure the fair sharing of productivity gains between employers and workers. At the sector-level and enterprise-levels, it addresses constraints to productivity growth and decent work creation in Ukraineโs enterprises.
In Ukraine, the ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work project will be implemented jointly with the Swiss-funded Competitiveness for Recovery Programme over a period of five years. The ILO project will provide cross-cutting support to the Competitiveness for Recovery Programme by strengthening labour-market conditions and governance to boost competitiveness, addressing labour shortages, improving mobility, enhancing job quality and by implementing broader labour-market interventions such as promoting tripartite social dialogue.
Reporting lines: The Project Manager will report to the Director of the ILO Country Office for Ukraine (CO-Kyiv) who will have a direct supervisory role.
Technical backstopping will be provided by the ILO Decent Work Team in Budapest and the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme team in the Enterprises and Employment Departments at ILO Headquarters, Geneva.
The Project Manager will supervise the technical and administrative staff and international and local consultants hired by the project.
Description of Duties
Project management:
Ensure effective coordination and planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities, in line with the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work in Ukraine project strategy and joint interventions strategy with the Competitiveness for Recovery Programme, and in accordance with ILO policies and programming guidelines and country/action programmes, and administrative and financial procedures. Assume responsibility for the effective management of funds/budget assigned to the project. Manage the human resources of the project, including recruitment and performance management aspects.
Technical leadership and advice:
Advocacy, networking and partnership:
Foster contacts and relations with government, ministries, the employers' and workers' organizations, non-governmental organizations and the donors, and promote opportunities for collaboration towards planning and implementation of the project activities, jointly with the Competitiveness for Recovery Programme. Liaise with the other UN agency counterparts to promote ILO's values, increase the project's visibility and facilitate the scaling-up of the project's interventions. Promote ILO policies in the areas of private sector development and employment creation. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination in all aspects of the project. Undertake local resource mobilization activities with the multi-lateral and bilateral donor community for the development of future activities linked to the project/programme in coordination with the responsible Country Office and PARDEV.
Knowledge management:
Drive the project communication and visibility strategy of the project in close collaboration with CO-Kyiv and relevant technical Departments and Units and the Regional Office for Europe at the HQ including the developpment and review of project information and communication materials. Represent the project (and upon request the ILO) in meetings, seminars and evaluations, as relevant to the projectโs objectives, and build and enhance strategic partnerships and networks of government policymakers, workers and employersโ organizations and civil society organizations. Plan, organize and conduct seminars, workshops, training and meetings on project technical matters. This may involve developing training and capacity building guides, manuals and other knowledge-sharing materials. Any other duties requested by the Director of the ILO Country Office for Ukraine
Required qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree (Masterโs or equivalent) in economics, management and business administration, industrial engineering, social science or a related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelorโs or equivalent) in one of the aforementioned fields with an additional two years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience
At least seven years of relevant experience, including at the international level, in the management of development cooperation projects. Management experience must cover all aspects of the project cycle, i.e., design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and management of staff and budgets. Relevant fields include private sector development, SME and value chain development, employment, industrial and labour market policies. Experience of working with/through key partners, including the private sector, government institutions, national workersโ and employersโ organisations is essential. Proven experience of working with a United Nations agency will be an advantage.
Languages
Fluent in written and spoken English. Knowledge of Ukrainian is an advantage.
Competencies
Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Ability to develop clear strategic goals consistent with the project/programmeโs objectives, and to design and synthesise strategies for programme development. Ability to advocate and provide policy advice. Excellent leadership skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy and procedural matters, and to present them at high-level meetings. Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners. Proven capacity to initiate and implement development cooperation programmes and activities with ILO constituents and NGOs, including negotiation skills with governments and social partners, and to mobilise the support of international donor agencies and provide quality services. Ability to plan and support the development of individualsโ skills and abilities for a more effective fulfilment of job/role responsibilities. Ability to maintain effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or environment, and to adjust effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Drive to seek or encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to organisation challenges and opportunities for improvement. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes. Demonstrated ability to adhere to strict security protocols and maintain high level of awareness. Ability to remain calm, focused, organized and results oriented under pressure and with rapidly changing circumstances.Conditions of employment
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. Any offer of employment with the ILO is conditional upon certification by the ILO Medical Adviser that the person concerned is medically fit to perform the specific inherent requirements of the position offered. In order to confirm an offer from the ILO the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination. Any extension of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance.For more information on conditions of employment, please visit:
https://intranet.ilo.org/en-us/hrd/hrtalent/Documents/Emp_Conds_EN.pdf
Important Information
Any officials of the General Service category interested in applying to this position are hereby informed that, if selected, they will be offered the salary and allowances applicable to the grade of the position applied for, which may result in substantial changes in their take-home remuneration. In accordance with Article 3.4 of the Staff Regulations, the salary of an official, upon promotion, shall in no case be greater than the maximum salary of the grade to which he or she was promoted. For any questions or clarifications, please contact your HR partner at hrpartner@ilo.org
Recruitment process
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO People. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview.
Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including technical tests or interviews.
The ILO has zero tolerance for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and is determined to ensure that all staff members and all beneficiaries of ILO assistance do not suffer, directly or indirectly, from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organisation, the ILO may conduct a background verification of candidates under consideration.
Fraud warning
The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.