Employment and Entrepreneurship Officer, NPSA-9, DS

The Employment and Entrepreneurship Officer will lead the design and implementation of project interventions to enhance employability, entrepreneurship, and institutional capacity within war-affected communities in Ukraine. The role involves coordination with local authorities, business service providers, and other stakeholders to support economic recovery initiatives under the Area-Based Recovery Framework.

Responsibilities

• Perform rapid assessments of needs and development opportunities for local communities, businesses, State Employment Service of Ukraine (SES), vocational and training institutions (VET), and other stakeholders.
• Develop and implement training and re-skilling programs to increase the employability and business skills of the war-affected population (including veterans, IDPs, PwDs, and other vulnerable groups).
• Develop and implement capacity-building programs to empower business service providers, SES (on national and local levels), national, regional and local authorities, VET managerial and teaching staff.
• Coordinate with employers, business support organizations and other actors to link skills training with viable formal employment, self-employment and enterprise creation pathways.
• Offer technical and thematic direction and supervise individual consultants and contracting companies responsible for conducting economic assessments, carrying out research, and developing knowledge and learning products ensuring methodological rigor, quality assurance, and timely delivery.
• Coordinate implementation of UNDP low-value grant programs for NGOs and business service providers.
• Facilitate the modernization of the educational and business infrastructure, including a comprehensive update of the equipment and facilities of VET institutions, business service providers, etc.
• Ensure operational management of assigned tasks including through timely procurement of goods, services and/or infrastructure, effective management of technical and financial resources.
• Develop project planning process and ensure the work plan and a fully costed budget are prepared based on sound capacity assessments and in accordance with UNDP POPP/PPM Guidelines.
• Coordinate/manage the day-to-day activities of the assigned portfolio and the overall implementation process, including planning and monitoring to optimize resource use and ensure successful achievement of project objectives.
• Provide subject matter technical advice and support and ensure outputs are delivered on time, within budget and to high-quality standards.
• Ensure implementation activities align with UNDP policy and programme management procedures and integrate gender equality perspective.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, local authorities, SES, VET institutions, businesses, international stakeholders, NGOs, and other national stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify needs and leverage participation and engagement.
• Provide technical support to implementing partners and act as liaison between UNDP and partners.
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.
• Review results framework and update indicators, baselines, and targets of the assigned portfolio.
• Develop strategies and systems for data collection, verification, information sharing and reporting.
• Monitor implementation and progress in achieving goals and targets according to quality criteria and UNDP rules and standards.
• Identify, analyze and manage emerging issues, problems, and risks.
• Conduct field visits to project location sites.
• Liaise with Finance team to ensure administrative requirements, budgets and financial resources are managed timely and appropriately.
• Prepare corporate, donor and government reports in line with reporting schedule and requirements.
• Contribute to proper operational and financial closure of the project.
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned from the project and implementing partners.
• Participate in and contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues.
• Promote advocacy on development trends and collaboration opportunities with project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.
• Ensure mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the field of expertise.
• Promote a safe, enabling environment free of discrimination and abusive behaviour in line with corporate standards.
• Assist with ensuring the Programme contributes to gender equality by reaching, involving, and benefiting both women and men.
• Use principles of gender-responsive communications in line with UNDP corporate standards.
• Support promotion of team culture of gender equality and zero tolerance to sexual misconduct through leadership and example.
• Assist with informing and briefing personnel and partners about corporate sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse policies.
• Perform other duties within functional profile as necessary for efficient functioning of the Office and Organization.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian or development projects related to livelihoods or economic recovery, or other relevant areas.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
• Experience of working in international/multilateral organizations is desirable.
• Experience drafting, editing and producing written proposals, advisory documents, terms of reference, analytical documents and results-focused reports is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining effective professional networks and developing strategic partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders is desirable.
• Experience in labor market support, entrepreneurship promotion, business development or other relevant economic field is desirable.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Skills

• Project Design
• Project Implementation
• Project Monitoring
• Project Evaluation
• Livelihood Programming
• Economic Recovery
• Humanitarian Programme Management
• Development Project Management
• Labor Market Support
• Entrepreneurship Promotion
• Business Development
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Proposal Writing
• Report Writing
• Analytical Writing
• MS Word
• Excel
• Database Management
• Web-based Management Systems

Languages

English, Ukrainian