Programme Officer

United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees

Posted on : 14-06-2025

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1 Vacancy

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Job Location

Kyiv - Ukraine

Monthly Salary

Not Disclosed

Salary Not Disclosed

Vacancy

1 Vacancy

Posted on : 14-06-2025

Job Description

Hardship Level

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Family Type

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Residential location (if applicable)

Budapest Hungary

Grade

PR3

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

Deadline for Applications

July 3 2025

Standard Job Description

Programme Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Programme Officer may be based in HQ field/regional bureau typically reporting to and be guided by the Senior Program officer and may supervise a small team of local and international staff. He/she may refer to UNHCRs Programme Manual (Chapter IV) UNHCRs corporate and regional strategic priorities operation plans and other relevant institutional rules and regulations for further guidance.
The Programme Officer will provide programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. S/he will coordinate with the other sections/units to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle. S/he will work in line with the overall UNHCR directions which crucially require working with partners including with forcibly displaced and stateless persons governmental institutions and the private sector ensuring that programme management is approached as per UNHCRs Strategic Directions Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs) Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) corporate positions on SDGs.

The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter UN Staff Regulations and Rules UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core functional cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCRs core values of professionalism integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Support in assessing and analysing the needs of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in a participatory manner using an Age Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning.
- Provide support on programmatic aspects of developing multi-year protection and solutions strategies and annual plans with corresponding priorities taking into account corporate priorities.
- Support Results Based Management and programme capacity in light of evolving requirements programming approaches and gaps.
- Support the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions.
- Review and analyse plans mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s) ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies guidelines procedures and standards.
- Support in the provision of overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders in order to maximize the protection and solutions response for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Provide support to ensure a consistent application of the framework for implementing with partners including the effective implementation of the policy on selection and retention of partners management of partnership agreements risk-based project performance monitoring and risk-based project audits among others.
- Contribute to ensure consistent and coherent monitoring approaches tools and systems in line with global standards and polices.
- Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contributing to improvements of programming tools and processes.
- Identify potential gaps and problems and in cooperation with other relevant sections recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the efficient implementation of programme activities.
- Oversee a timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audits observations and recommendations that relate to programmatic issues.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Field(s) of Education
Economics Business Administration Social Sciences
or other relevant field.

Essential
Demonstrated experience in programme management including familiarization with the OMC and sound knowledge Results Based-Management. Demonstrated experience in field operations sound knowledge on the centrality of protection in programming Joint Needs Assessments and the principles of targeting.

Desirable
Demonstrated experience in coordination within an inter-agency context and other actors in a refugee or humanitarian context. Sound experience in program management training and capacity building activities.

Functional Skills
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
PG-Results-Based Management
PG-UNHCRs Programmes
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse harassment including sexual harassment sexism gender inequality discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

Managing day-to-day programme activities related to each aspect of the programme cycle and following up with relevant functional units including Protection Supply Project Control External Relations as well as field offices on all issues related to implementation of programme;
Experience in monitoring and evaluation related activities such as establishment and follow up on the M&E plan of the operation
Have excellent command in use of UNHCR corporate tools such as COMPASS PROMS Cloud-ERP and Activity info. Have the ability to troubleshoot day to day issues related to above mentioned corporate tools.
The incumbent should have extensive and proven programme management skills technical expertise and experiences in diverse circumstances and operations both large and small scales including in emergencies.
They should be able to work effectively with people from all cultural and educational backgrounds and be comfortable in working with a large workforce that respects and appreciates leadership.
Performance orientation initiative and maturity are equally crucial to keep the workforce together and to yield the best results in the operation.
Proven record of interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to foster team spirit is paramount to the nature of this culture and the staff of UNHCR Ukraine.
The incumbent is expected to have solid and proven experiences in coordinating conducting and delivering key products throughout the different phases of new programme management cycle (PLAN GET SHOW) such as Strategic planning process (multi-year strategy) Annual implementation planning or Annual result reports.
The position requires excellent drafting skills networking capacities and the right communication skills with sensitive partners and counterparts.
Experience in urban settings including refugee large-scale IDP and returnee programmes and is adept at applying creative non-standard solutions beyond traditional camp-based operations
The incumbent for this position is expected to possess proven experience in leading and coordinating with multiple field offices and relatively large teams.
Political awareness is of essence given the complexity of the operational context in Ukraine and experience in large/complex operations is desired.
The incumbent is also expected to have strategic planning experiences as they are expected to perform as one of the backup planning coordinator for the operation.
Incumbent should also be familiar with resource management related processes resource allocation framework resource mobilization and fundraising.
Knowledge of other programme/CBI training or Protection courses is considered an advantage.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Desired languages

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station please visit this link: of Position:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Ukraine since 1994 and substantially increased its presence and response after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The geographical presence within Ukraine has significatively expanded to deliver the emergency response. The country office is located in the capital Kyiv and sub- and field offices are currently located in Dnipro Kyiv Lviv Odesa and Kharkiv.

The war in Ukraine has caused death and suffering on a dramatic scale. In 2025 more than 12.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection according to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced while around 6.8 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded across Europe and beyond. Some 75000 people including some of the most vulnerable notable older people and people with disabilities live in collective sites spread across the country. Ukraine also hosts asylum-seekers and refugees and is home to thousands of people who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.

The massive destruction of civilian infrastructure with the energy sector being particularly targeted has made life extremely challenging for millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods and has severely disrupted access to electricity water heating as well as critical services including healthcare education and social protection services. Humanitarian access continues to be hampered particularly in frontline areas as well as to areas under temporary occupation of the Russian Federation. Civilians remain exposed to serious risks to their physical security and integrity particularly in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The risk of GBV including sexual violence continues to prevail alongside family separations loss of housing and properties as well as identity and civil documentation. Populations displaced or otherwise affected by the war live in situations of deprivation following the loss or damage of their housing loss of income and often become dependent on an overstretched social protection system.

The Government of Ukraine maintains a strong lead role in responding to the needs of its population and UNHCR supports the Government and its central and local institutions to provide protection shelter/housing cash and in-kind assistance to displaced and other people impacted by the war. Currently UNHCR has MOUs with five-line ministries the First Ladys foundation as well as the Office of the Ombudsman 19 regional state administrations and agreements with 14 partners to deliver assistance and support the localization of the response.

Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator UNHCR operates as part of the Inter-agency humanitarian response working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading three clusters - Protection Shelter and NFIs and CCCM. The strategic orientation of UNHCRs response is to reach people particularly those with specific vulnerabilities who remain in frontline and heavily affected areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced people and those who have remained in their homes or returned with protection advice housing support livelihoods advice and cash assistance to enable their recovery and attainment of durable solutions.

Protection needs to be truly at the center of this response as the highest critical needs of the population caused by the international armed conflict are in the area of protection. Since Ukraine is a highly sophisticated country with a strong government leadership and well-established administrative social protection and digital systems it is essential to design and deliver UNHCRs protection programs in a way which simultaneously addresses immediate needs and supports the further development of sustainable and inclusive national protection systems.

With the EU having voted to confirm Ukraines accession to the EU at the end of 2023 Ukraine will also embark on a series of substantial and long-term reforms in numerous sectors including justice and home affairs which presents an opportunity to contribute to strengthened and more inclusive protection asylum and statelessness reduction systems. Working closely with government authorities local community representatives and partners from the embassies UN civil society and international financial institutions amongst others is thus key to ensuring that UNHCRs response is closely aligned with and complementary of national and local strategies and recovery plans.

As the war continues new urgent humanitarian needs are created every day alongside protracted ones and peoples and communities efforts to recover and rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Among the IDPs and refugees from Ukraine the majority express a hope and desire to return to their homes as soon as the security situation allows. The protection needs of the population thus need to be analyzed and addressed both from a humanitarian as well as from an early recovery and durable solutions perspective with UNHCR playing a leading role in this work.

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the Senior Programme Officer. The incumbent may also receive guidance from more senior operations staff in the operation and indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country programme(s) or to global quality assurance standards.

The Programme Officer position requires programming skills and knowledge that are both flexible and pragmatic. In particular the incumbent will need to have experience in working in similar emergencies and/or operations handling resources of significant volume including partnerships and the ability to multitask and deliver in an extremely demanding work environment with a high level of pressure. The incumbent will provide strategic analysis and advice on all issues pertaining to programme management and management of operational budgets to senior management and field programme staff. Additionally they will manage the larger operational budget and ensuring it is implemented efficiently and effectively with high implementation rates by establishing and maintaining sound financial control mechanisms ensuring compliance with UNHCR and UN rules and procedures. They will also provide close monitoring and oversight of the cash assistance logistics and housing programme.

The incumbent will be responsible to oversee partnership management policies and procedures partner selection/retention establishment of partnership agreements including NGOs government UN to UN PoC led grant agreements. They will guide and train UNHCR as well as partners staff in UNHCR standard procedures related to the Results Based Programme management.

The incumbent is expected to undertake proper collection use and monitoring of baselines standards and indicators needed to measure and analyze UNHCRs performance trends and target interventions as well undertake field visits to evaluate and improve the planning programming implementation and monitoring of assistance projects. The incumbent will be requested to assist in monitoring compliance with the organizations resource allocation framework providing support and taking corrective action. The incumbent will also be expected to provide inputs toward proposals and plans for donor submission as well as donor reports such as budget indicators data and narratives.

UNHCRs Manual Results-Based Management and protection principles UN/UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations and UN/UNHCR-wide reforms and developments globally and in a given country context will guide the work of the Programme Officer. The incumbent is also expected to stay abreast of the challenges posed to the country by the political context the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments.

Moreover the incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Programme management handbook ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle and providing programmatic support to operationalize UNHCR and sectors strategies.

Under this position the incumbent is also expected to coach and manage two or three national team members.

Working and Living conditions:

Ukraine is currently designated as a non-family country location with Dnipro and Kharkiv classified as E duty stations and Odesa as a D duty station with 4-week R&R cycle whereas Kyiv and Lviv are classified as D duty station with 6-week RR Cycle and Budapest being a designated R&R location for all duty stations. English is not widely spoken access to hard currency is possible from local banks (rents are normally paid in USD). International staff rent private apartments in the cities of their duty stations. The quality of life is of average European standard with relatively solid infrastructure. However the volatile security situation which includes frequent missile and drone attacks that trigger air raid alarms requiring immediate move to the shelters (frequently during nights) affects the living and working environment on everyday basis resulting with sleep deprivation high levels of stress affecting the staff welfare and wellbeing. In addition due to massive attacks on the countrys critical infrastructure there are frequent and prolonged electricity power cuts coupled with lack of generators in private multistorey buildings and apartments which may also affect elevators heating water and possible sewage systems leading to an overall unpredictable and at times difficult living situation especially in winter. Due to the state of war there is a country wide curfew in place from 00:00-05:00 every day. Also all airports are closed and air-traffic is not available resulting in travel within and in and out from/to Ukraine being done mainly by car and local trains supported by official shuttle for Poland and Moldova border crossing. Average train ride combined with shuttle by road from Kyiv to Poland Hungary or Moldova airports ranges from 11-17 hours with train tickets selling very quickly. Movement between different locations within and outside Ukraine is not allowed during workdays and weekends/public holidays unless there is a specific approval from the Agency Representative.

Security:

The international armed conflict in Ukraine is ongoing and the Russian Federation Armed Forces temporarily occupy parts of Donetsk Luhansk Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The frontline is the primary area of kinetic military operations particularly in the eastern and southeastern regions and north of Kharkiv. Cruise missiles ballistic missiles aero-ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been targeting vital civilian and military sites including airports since the start of the invasion. As a result commercial air travel is suspended and vehicles and trains are the only modes of transportation. Since 2023 there has been an increase in attacks targeting civilian infrastructure throughout the country.

Whilst the UN has not been targeted directly the threat of collateral damage continues to remain in place with cases of UNHCR IPs reporting collateral damages and several humanitarian workers recorded as been killed and injured since the start of the full-scale invasion. The UN Security Management System (UNSMS) applies a comprehensive Security Risk Management (SRM) process to identify security threats and evaluate risk levels. The security risk levels are regularly reviewed. Currently the most significant threats and hazards are associated with the international armed conflict with current risk levels ranging from high to Very High or Unacceptable in areas with ongoing hostilities.

This has resulted in a decrease of humanitarian space making it difficult and sometimes impossible to access people in need in frontline areas. When assessing risk levels the security personnel and the UNHCR Representative as part of the countrys Security Management Team adhere to the SRM process as defined by the UNSMS. In general the projected risk level in all three SRM areas where the UN/HCR operates is High.

Therefore applicants for positions in Ukraine should be prepared to work in a highly dynamic security environment where unexpected events occur frequently. Air raids are common and staff may be required to work from bunkers or underground car parks metro stations and other locations for extended periods. Power and water outages are to be expected and will make life more challenging during the winter months. Depending on the evolution of the war disruptions to public services such as shops banks and restaurants may occur. Curfews are in place throughout the country and mission travel must be authorized by the Representative or designated managers subject to the completion of mandatory BSAFE SSAFE and IFAK training and security clearance procedures. Private trips within the country are prohibited for international staff.

The Field Security Unit works closely with UNDSS and other interlocutors of the UNSMS to ensure that program activities can be implemented within the acceptable level of risk by following the required measures and procedures set up and approved by the Designated Official. Due to the countrys evolving operational and security environment UNHCR needs to maintain strong security contingency preparedness supporting its mandate of providing protection and assistance to people in need.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards) PG-Results-Based Management PG-UNHCRs Programmes

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration Bachelor of Arts: Economics Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability Analytical thinking Change capability & adaptability Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Judgement & decision making Managing performance Managing resource Negotiation & conflict resolution Organizational awareness Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium - Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesnt require a functional clearance

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority

Employment Type

Full-Time

Company Industry

Key Skills

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About Company

United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees

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Programme Officer

United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees

Job Description

Working and Living conditions:

Security:

Employment Type

Company Industry

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