Programme Manager – South

Job Title: Programme Manager – South (International and national recruitment)

Department: Programming

Division: Programme Implementation

Duty Station: Odesa with frequent travel to South field locations

Line Manager: Senior Programme Manager

Line Management Responsibility: Team Leaders (Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson)

Position Type: Full-Time

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organisation. We work with people affected by violent conflicts to enhance their security and dignity through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP). We work to reduce violence, protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath, and help transform the world’s response to conflict situations.

OVERVIEW

NP first established a presence in Ukraine in 2014/2015 working on peacebuilding and conflict mediation. NP has had a sustained presence in Ukraine since April 2022. NP occupies a unique space in the protection response in Ukraine; simultaneously providing direct protection to at-risk civilians and providing hands-on support to front-line volunteer collectives to directly contribute to the sustainability and safety of their actions.

JOB SUMMARY

To manage the implementation of NP’s Programme, overseeing violence prevention programming in the South of Ukraine – covering Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts – ensuring the project is implemented in accordance with NP’s mission and vision, compliances, and allocated budgets. The PM advances the collective effort of ensuring that programmes are evidence and needs driven, monitored closely, and are risk appropriate. The PM promotes and actively encourages coherency, quality assurance and crosspollination across field teams. The PM will provide leadership for Team Leaders in close liaison with the SPM and will work directly with the Protection Advisor and Programme Development Team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Management

• Responsible for the overall planning and effective delivery of the project(s) in areas of implementation through the application of Unarmed Civilian Protection approach.
• Provide technical advice and oversight for the field teams implementing violence reduction projects, either directly or through team leaders in field sites.
• Together with the SPM, guide teams in strategic planning, development of work plans and adapting implementation to address emerging protection needs and contextual or operational challenges.
• Provide oversight, monitoring and review of Salesforce reporting and contribute to internal reporting upon request (including context, programming, staffing and welfare). Highlight to SMT key points from Salesforce Activity Reporting.
• The PM will support field teams and serve as interlocutor with Management and the Programme Development team if programming has to be adapted to address dynamic contextual realities and/or if changing circumstances renders the project objectives irrelevant or impossible.
• Work very closely with MEL team to ensure the effective implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, and learning strategy of program in each of the program locations.
• Engage in direct programme implementation as needed, participate in integrated capacities and needs assessments and emergency response if needed. This may include direct support with in-house and partner technical trainings. Stand in as Acting Team Leader when necessary.
• Contribute to broader country programme strategy development together with the rest of the Programme and Management team.
• Participate in grant inception process with programme development, finance and operations and then lead grant inception process with field teams in partnership with Programme Development department.
• When requested, contribute to donor reporting for area of operations.
• When requested, support assessments and start-up in new areas of implementation.

Representation and Advocacy

• Represent NP in coordination and advocacy fora where appropriate and needed, including on issue-based advocacy in the South of Ukraine.
• Represent NP at the sub-national level (with local authorities in field locations) when Team Leaders request senior support.
• Provide guidance and direct support on access related negotiations in areas of operation as needed in close coordination with the SSA and HoM.
• In collaboration with the Programme Development team, represent NP in the South of Ukraine to donors, engaging in proactive communication to keep donors updated on the progress of the project and the evolving conflict and protection context.
• Represent NP in the South of Ukraine during donor visits to areas of operation and planning donor visits together with the Programme Development team and will whenever possible, accompany the donor on field visits.

Financial & Operational Management

• Supervise and ensure that teams comply with their internal and external reporting requirements.
• Support FPO and TL with field level budget management including coding of field level expenses in accordance with approved project budgets.
• Work directly with TLs to prepare monthly site forecasting and monthly reporting of actuals against forecasts and flag under/overspends and offer corrective measures.
• In coordination with SPM, establish site spending strategies to ensure best use of available funds as well as allocating team attention towards necessary budget line spending.
• Serve as interlocutor between field teams and programme support departments (HR, Finance and Operations), ensuring that the needs of field teams are met and that field teams are fully aware of what is happening operationally in the Country Office as it relates to their sites.

Personnel Management

• Serve as Line Manager for Team Leaders.
• Facilitate strong staff morale and positive working environment using and practicing the NP values as central guidance.
• Coach and guide team leaders on field-based personnel management, with the support of Human Resources colleagues, ensuring that labour law is adhered to, and NP Human Resources policies are known and implemented.
• Ensure sufficient level of staffing, identifying the need for new recruitment in a timely fashion.
• Participate in recruitment panels for South-based recruiting.
• Support Team Leaders to ensure that all field team staff (programme and programme support) receive timely performance reviews in close coordination with HR department.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in project management, conflict resolution, conflict transformation, peace studies, international relations, political science, negotiation, mediation, human security or related area of study.
• 4-6 years work experience in civilian protection, violence prevention, social cohesion, peacebuilding.
• Minimum 1 year experience as a Team Leader or similar position with Nonviolent Peaceforce
• Demonstrated management experience in working in complex security environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with state authorities and negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to live, work and solve problems independently and effectively in remote, highly challenging locations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze conflict, security and political contexts.
• Identify with NP values and UCP principles.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Independent Judgment/Analytical:

• Ability to set priorities, solve problems and analyze data.
• Ability to manage information with discretion.
• Demonstrable conflict analysis skills, identify entry points and design prevention and protection strategies.

Interpersonal**:**

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and motivate and provide leadership to team and to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Solutions focused, creative problem solver.
• Proven ability to build relationships with the full range of actors including government, various community leaders, military, police and non state actors.
• Genuine commitment and interest in living and working at the community level.
• Flexibility and adaptability.

Language**:**

• Ability to interact confidently in English with colleagues and external contacts, to write documents and reports, and to present effectively relevant information.
• Working Ukrainian language skills are an added benefit.

Information Technology**:**

• Good skills in Microsoft Office applications. Hardware IT skills a definite asset.

Other Specialized Requirements:

• Ukraine is a complex security environment where conditions change rapidly – experience in insecure environments is essential to success in this position.

Working Conditions:

• This field position may include challenging living conditions, limited access to amenities, and potentially unstable security situations.
• You must be prepared to live in basic or non-traditional accommodation, which may include shared housing, camps, or field-based settings
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to strict security protocols.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.

Nonviolent Peaceforce acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of employees, contractors, volunteers, interns, communities we work with, and other stakeholders and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities and government guidance and complies with best practices in the Humanitarian and Development sector.NP expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We prioritise ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. NP also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

NO FEE

We never ask for payment as part of our selection process, and we always contact candidates via our corporate accounts and platforms. If you are approached for payment, this is likely to be fraudulent. Please check whether the role you are interested in is posted here on our website.

How to apply

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to submit a CV (max. 2 pages) and cover letter (max. 1 page), through our website detailing their experience and how they qualify for the role. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The closing date for applications is Friday, 9th May 2025.
• This position is open for recruitment to International and National candidates.
• Candidates may be selected before the closing date; apply early.
• As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a technical assignment before participating in an interview.