Education & Youth Technical Lead Ukraine

Education & Youth Technical Lead Ukraine

Country Programme: Ukraine

Base: Kyiv

Line Manager: Programme Quality Director

Contract Length: 12 months with the possibility of extension

Starting date: 1 Dec 2025

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech-based international non-governmental organization (NGO) that has provided humanitarian and development assistance across more than 20 countries since 1992. Today, PIN stands as one of the largest organizations of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, supporting vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. PIN empowers civil society, advocates for human rights, and promotes social inclusion both at home and abroad.

About the Ukrainian Programme of People in Need:

PIN has been working in Ukraine since 2014, providing emergency relief and early recovery support to war-affected communities. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, PIN scaled up its humanitarian programming for war-affected communities, focussing primarily on Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods, and Rapid Response Mechanisms. Whilst maintaining its humanitarian programming in response to the ongoing war, PIN is also building up its recovery efforts, integrating early recovery components into humanitarian work (e.g green recovery, durable solutions, social cohesion), whilst contributing to community-based recovery, resilience building, and the vital role of local civil society organizations, adhering to the principles of Locally-Led Action. PIN is one of the leading humanitarian actors in Ukraine, maintaining a strong operational presence across the country, including frontline areas, whilst working with and supporting a network of 200 local partners.

About the role:

The main responsibility of the role is to provide technical support to PIN implementation teams on the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, coordination and technical supervision of Education & Youth programming (both humanitarian & early recovery). PIN Education & Youth programme approaches include school and community-based interventions, both implemented directly and led by local CSOs, including establishing safe learning spaces, catch-up/remedial support, teacher professional development, inclusive education, youth-led initiatives/youth empowerment, school improvement, social cohesion, inclusive education, and strong protection and MHPSS integration. The Technical Lead ensures that programming is needs-based and contextually appropriate, and implemented in line with PIN global, cluster and relevant technical standards and guidance. The Technical Lead line manages the North Education Sub-Cluster Co-chair/Education Technical Coordinator and the Youth & Recovery Coordinator.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic guidelines and quality supervision:

  •        Support in development and quality assurance of PIN Education & Youth programme as per PIN Ukraine’s Country Strategic Plan
  •        Ensure that evolving contextual developments in the country’s emergency, as well as recovery needs, are well reflected in all education & youth implementation methodologies.
  •        Continuously evaluate PIN’s education & youth programming in terms of quality, relevance and effectiveness, help to identify gaps and implement improvements;
  •        Regularly coordinate with PIN HQ Programme Strategy & Impact department, to ensure PIN’s education & youth programming is in line with global trends and guidelines, including INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies and global education standards, as well as supporting development of global level tools and guidance together with HQ PSI where relevant

Education & Youth programme design and implementation:

  •        In close cooperation with the Programme Quality Director, Programme Implementation Director, Deputy Program Implementation Director and Area Managers, lead in the design of new education and/or youth-oriented project proposals, concept notes and initiatives, as per PIN Ukraine’s country program strategy;
  •        Lead in the development and revision of all education & youth technical SoPs and guidelines
  •        Lead in the design and implementation of education & youth-oriented needs assessments, studies and researches, as per PIN Ukraine Programme strategy priorities and areas of interest
  •        Provide technical support and capacity building to project teams to ensure the effective implementation of tools and SoPs;
  •        Supervise the quality of the implementation of PIN Ukraine’s education & youth programme both directly and through the supervision of the Youth & Recovery Coordinator & Education Technical Coordinator; organise and lead regular field monitoring and conduct audits of the implementation process as necessary to determine whether the implementation of the program is within the standards set in relevant SoPs and guidelines. Identify and flag issues and challenges impacting the quality of implementation to relevant staff.
  •        Work closely with other Technical Leads, MEAL, and programme implementation team, to ensure that PIN Ukraine’s education & youth methodologies reflect the latest best practice in terms of technical content, service delivery, data collection, targeting criteria, beneficiary selection and monitoring and evaluation.
  •        Provide technical advice to the MEAL team in the design and implementation of education & youth monitoring and evaluation plan, and development and use of adapted tools and processes;
  •        Identify capacity needs within PIN programme implementation teams in education & youth programming, develop and provide necessary capacity building activities

External representation and coordination:

  •        Develop functional partnerships with relevant partners, national and local authorities and other stakeholders, especially Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), and respective departments at regional and community levels
  •        Directly and through the supervision of the Education Technical Coordinator and Youth & Recovery Coordinator, contribute to technical capacity exchange with local CSOs working in the areas of education & youth
  •        Support as needed the Co-chair of the Sub-national Education Cluster for the North (Education Technical Coordinator), ensuring efficient coordination of partners implementing education programming in the respective area and contributing to strategic cluster technical discussions and prepared guidelines
  •        Represent and ensure active participation of PIN in national coordination and technical forums related to education and youth, including the national Education Cluster and other relevant working groups
  •        Identify opportunities for inter-agency learning, impact measurement and information sharing; exploring more formal opportunities to work in partnership with other agencies (e.g consortia).

Main Requirements:

  •        At least 3-year’s professional experience with education and youth interventions in a humanitarian context·
  •        Degree and technical experience related to education, child development, youth engagement, psychosocial support and/or international development
  •        Experience implementing large-scale education/youth programmes
  •        Experience developing technical guidance/standard operating procedures
  •        Technical expertise in relevant education and youth programming areas (catch-up/remedial, inclusion/social cohesion, youth empowerment, teacher professional development, infrastructure/school improvements, student participation, PSS, teacher wellbeing).
  •        Experience of working with and through the Education Cluster/Working Groups and demonstrable experience of developing/influencing technical guidelines.
  •        Familiarity working with INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies and other global technical guidelines
  •        Strong grasp of all stages of programme cycle management and quality standards in humanitarian and early recovery programming, including safeguarding and accountability mechanisms
  •        Ability to work independently and demonstrate organizational and problem-solving skills.
  •        Experience of line management, capacity building and supervision of teams 
  •        Excellent teamwork, communication, coordination and representation skills.
  •        Proven ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural team environment, with appropriate sensitivity to social and cultural norms.
  •        Proven ability to work in a high-pace environment
  •        Experience working in an insecure environment

Desirable:

  •        Experience working in Ukraine or similar middle-income/conflict-affected context
  •        Knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian language
  •        Experience working with local partner organisations and in consortiums, including capacity exchange/training/technical monitoring of partners
  •        Experience with remotely managed programming is a plus.

PIN offers:

  •        Working environment in a well-established humanitarian organization in a challenging context;
  •        Salary & Benefits: Salary based on PIN’s salary scale and HR policies; expected salary range between 2600 - 2800 EUR super gross (based on experience).
  •        Additional allowances include:

-      Monthly Subsistence Allowance of 1440 EUR;

-      Monthly Hardship Allowance of 400 EUR;

-      Accommodation provided by PIN/Monthly Housing Allowance up to 1000 EUR;

  •        Time off and Rest:

-      25 days of holiday annually;

-      10 sick days

-      Rest & Recreation (R&R) policy in place

  •        Travel benefits:

-      Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once every 6 months of work;

-      Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with the visa application procedure;

-      Reimbursement for the medical check-up before and after the deployment;

-      Travel health insurance covering medical care, incl. the repatriation;

  •        Health and Well-being:

-      24/7 Medical Support available online;

-      Free psychological consultations available online;

  •        Professional Development: Free access to e-learning platforms and PIN Learning Hub; PIN’s global Induction Training, and tailored capacity-building opportunities, including Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)

Security situation in Ukraine:

Humanitarian workers continue to operate throughout Ukraine, although the front-line areas are being shelled almost constantly, and main cities are being targeted with missiles and UAVs quite regularly. PIN security SOPs require PIN staff to proceed to shelter should the risk level be assessed by the Security Department as the highest (launch of missiles or drones) and remain there until the air raid siren is cancelled, which cumulatively can be several times a week, occasionally for several hours at a time (although shorter periods are as well occurring). While air strikes that were targeting energy, infrastructure have finished after winter, they have succeeded in reaching their goals and are likely to resume in late autumn/winter. At the moment military and civilian objects are being targeted, including the west of Ukraine. While Kyiv enjoys relatively strong air defence systems that are intercepting most of the missiles and UAVs, other regions are covered much less significantly which results in bigger damage. Outside of the areas in the vicinity to the contact line, services such as medical care, shops, public transportation as well as restaurants or leisure facilities remain operational.

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Great. Send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct, and is committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves.

People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.