Head of Quality and Program Development for Ukraine

Head of Quality and Program Development for Ukraine

Country Programme: Ukraine

Contract Length: 1 year with possible extension

Base: Kyiv

Starting date: asap

Line Manager: Deputy country director for program (DCDP)

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 conflict-affected communities. After the escalation of the war in 2022, PIN programme scaled up across the country and focuses on emergency preparedness and response, access to basic services and rights, as well as quality reconstruction and early recovery. PIN’s contribution to the Ukrainian humanitarian response is amongst the largest, with an annual turnover of close to $100 million, engaging full-time staff members across Ukraine.

About the role:

The Head of Quality and Program Development (HQPD) supervises the quality of entire program portfolio and is responsible for defining programmatic strategies and planning, including formulation of new proposals and continuous quality improvement of programmatic work. Together with the Country Director and DCDP, the HQPD represents PIN to donors and partners, ensuring that PIN is recognized for its field experience and models of action.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Senior Management:

  • Support the DCDP in the management of the Country Program (CP);
  • Participate in senior management meetings and strategic decision making;
  • Lead the program quality management and coordination;
  • Ensure that the overall programmatic  frameworks are designed, managed and implemented in conformity to CP strategy, People in Need’s policies, Relief and Development Department (RDD) strategy and guidelines and appropriate to contextual needs;
  • Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects PIN’s values, promotes accountability, safeguarding, and high performance. Encourage a culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and support CP team to deliver outstanding results.

Program and Project Development:

  • Under the leadership of DCDP, lead the design and development of high-quality programmes and projects, ensuring alignment with CP strategy;
  • Lead or support needs assessments, feasibility studies, and situational analyses, translating findings into evidence-based program designs;
  • Coordinate and oversee the development of donor-compliant concept notes and proposals, in collaboration with Technical Leads, MEAL and Grants and Reporting departments, and operations teams;
  • Provide technical leadership in project cycle management, including context analysis and problem definition; in collaboration with MEAL department and other departments as needed, lead on theory of change, logical frameworks, results frameworks, and risk analysis;
  • Ensure the integration of cross-cutting priorities (protection, gender, accountability to affected populations, safeguarding, climate/environment, conflict sensitivity) into program and project design;
  • Ensure learning from ongoing and completed projects is systematically captured and incorporated into new program designs;
  • Provide quality assurance and final technical review of program/project proposals prior to submission, ensuring coherence, feasibility, and donor compliance;
  • Contribute to donor intelligence and opportunity analysis, supporting the identification and prioritization of funding opportunities aligned with strategic objectives.

Portfolio Management:

  • Ensure effective quality management of PIN’s program through line management of Technical Leads, and oversight of key processes; Oversee revision/development of high quality program plans, technical frameworks and standard operating procedures;
  • Ensure clear guidance on technical aspects of implementation, such as sector-specific compliance and technical alignment; ensure that programmatic tools are in line with PIN’s technical standards and project-specific technical requirements;
  • Ensure that projects meet high quality standards in terms of design andimplementation through supporting proper Project Cycle Management;
  • Ensure technical coherence and harmonization across projects and locations as appropriate;
  • Ensure humanitarian principles, Conflict Sensitivity, Gender, Protection, Locally-led action, and other cross-cutting themes as relevant are mainstreamed, safeguarding integrated, and the program strategic plans are followed;
  • Ensure collaboration with HQ Knowledge and Learning Department Advisors, engaging their support and involve new expertise as required to support projects’ implementation;
  • Validate timely and high-quality reporting to donors and HQ, working closely with the Grants and Reporting department and MEAL department;
  • Collaborated closely with  MEAL Department to ensure  adequate monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning and good practices to measure achievement and progress towards program goals and to validate Lessons Learned of projects; all with due respect of high-quality programmatic standards, and data protection requirements.

Learning and information sharing:

  • Contribute to sharing of experiences, lessons learned, and good practice across sites and from other PIN country programs and promotion of learning from relevant best practices internally and externally;
  • Contribute to information flows to and from area offices, including updates into and from Clusters, Coordination and other relevant platforms;
  • Ensure a smooth coordination and communication among the program staff and between the program and support staff;
  • Ensure a collaborative work environment between the different program’s units.

Team management:

  • In cooperation with the Country Director and the Deputy Country Directors and Senior Management Team as appropriate, ensure the sound development of the Programme Quality and Development Department structure and staffing in view of the programme strategy and portfolio development, including both maintaining capacity as appropriate for the response;
  • Directly manage a diversified pool of national and international staff; ensure solid performance management and recommendations for capacity building;
  • Lead the recruitment of key programme quality staff as line manager, and validate other recruitments of programme staff with due respect of high-quality standards and fair and unbiased procedures;
  • Ensure collaborative team work and exchange of experience across the Program structure; directly facilitate team work among line-managed staff and units, and recommend and ensure that team work and integrated approaches are streamlined in different levels and with other units.

Representation, communications & networking:

  • Support the Country Director and Deputy Country Director for Programto ensure that PIN is well represented and visible in the donor community, among key stakeholders and partners, and within coordination fora, delegating as appropriate to other program staff;
  • Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with local authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, local and international NGO, and other actors of the local civil society;
  • In cooperation with and support to Communication and Advocacy team, engage in advocacy and policy dialogues where appropriate, ensuring PIN represents the needs of local communities and based on its field experience in order to campaign for needed system change and donor commitments;

Main requirements:

  • 3-5 years of programme management experience in humanitarian, recovery and development work required;
  • Strong grasp of all stages of the programme cycle and quality standards in humanitarian and development programming, including safeguarding and accountability mechanisms;
  • Experience with managing multisector projects as a programme director/manager in at least three of the following sectors: education; water, housing and energy infrastructure repairs and development; CSO engagement; Climate change, economic and psychological recovery;
  • Strong experience in recovery and development phases of the response
  • Strong leader and team player with proven people and partnership management skills;
  • Excellent communication skills and strong ability and willingness to transfer knowledge;
  • Strong critical analysis and problem- solving skills;
  • Ability to organize and plan effectively;
  • Proven experience in proposal development;
  • Understanding of and experience working with MEAL systems;
  • Experience within the region and understanding of regional dynamics preferred.
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Fluent English both spoken and written
  • Knowledge of Ukrainian (or Russian) is an advantage

We offer:

  • Working environment in a well-established humanitarian organization in a challenging context;
  • Starting Salary and benefits based on PIN’s salary scale and HR policies;
  • 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:

If you are interested in this position, 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 behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and 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.