Programme Manager

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover — providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again.

In April 2022 ZOA started in Ukraine with relief activities for IDPs in Uzhgorod and Zakarpattia region. Today our teams work in Chernihiv and, Sumy covering northern Ukraine,and in Kryvij Rih and, Mykolaiv, covering Kherson and southern Ukraine. The focus of ZOA’s programming is on the most vulnerable people in rural areas with large scale cash, shelter, WASH and livelihood programmes. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Your challenge

As Programme Manager for ZOA Ukraine and committed, in this role serving to the people affected by the war in Ukraine, you will be dedicated to and responsible for the longer term strategic programming, as well as the realisation of project and programme goals in Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts, in accordance with applicable internal and external preconditions objectives and standards.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Responsible for all ZOA activities within the programme area;
• Participates in country wide programme and knowledge development;
• Member of country management team;
• Implementing and strategic partnership engagement at programme level;
• Ensures a gender-and conflict sensitive approach to team management and project activities under her/his responsibility.

Programme management

• Development of the Programme plan for the respective programme area, with annual review of needs for changes, based on ongoing context analysis and results of annual programme review;
• Annual planning for the programme area, with the corresponding annual programme area budget, as an input to the Country Strategic Annual Plan (CSAP);
• Planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities that were approved by donors with the corresponding project budget planning;
• Project cycle management, including needs assessments, formulation of concept notes and proposals and budget;
• Reporting — monthly and quarterly activity and financial reporting, including realisation of activities versus budget utilisation; (Providing input to) narrative and financial donor reporting;
• Annual review of progress towards programme objectives and outcomes;
• Initiating and maintaining effective working relations with relevant stakeholders at programme area level.

HR/admin/finance

• Budget owner for projects implemented in programme area;
• Approval of expenditures and related cost allocations, on the basis of approved project and programme organisation budgets;
• Human Resource Management (at individual- and team level) for programme staff;
• Supervision and periodical evaluation of the performance of the members of the Programme Team;
• Implementation and monitoring of financial, personnel and security policies and procedures;
• In collaboration with the Manager of Operations (MoO), prepares and processes the allocation of indirect costs to project budgets.

Security

• Ensures the design and maintenance of an effective security management system at programme level, in compliance with ZOA’s over-all security policy and procedures, and the monitoring of compliance to that system by staff and other relevant persons for whom the PGM holds security responsibility.

Your profile

Knowledge & experience

• You have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a humanitarian, development or other relevant field;
• You have experience with project (life cycle) management, preferably (but not required) in development/NGO sector;
• You have a good understanding of donor compliance requirements and experience working with institutional donors;
• Experience working with the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) / OCHA Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) is a strong advantage;
• Experience working with local implementing partners is an advantage;
• You have a proven track record as a team leader;
• Experience with working in armed conflict situations is a plus;

Skills

• Good command of spoken and written English, at least at B2 level
• Strong planning and organisational skills;
• Able to prioritise and manage multiple projects, tasks and deadlines simultaneously
• Analytical;
• Organisational sensitivity;
• Good communicator, good writer;
• Strong coordination skills and ability to work effectively across programme, MEAL, finance and support functions;
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities in a complex humanitarian context;
• Effective delegation;
• Participative leadership;
• Provides regular feedback, acknowledges success and the need for improvement;
• Coaches, motivates, challenges and provides opportunities for growth.

Attitude

• You are flexible and adaptable;
• You are interpersonally and cross culturally sensitive;
• You are able to work under pressures and meet deadlines;
• You are able to work in a sometimes fluid and insecure environment.

Special conditions/circumstances

• Based in Chernihiv or Kyiv or Sumy;
• Regular travel to ZOA offices and field locations within the area of responsibility is required, approximately 1−3 times per month.
• Please note that ZOA Ukraine is currently unable to provide employee reservation from military mobilisation

Our offer

• ZOA offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.
• We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector, including medical insurance.

Please note that, given the current circumstances, the organisation is unable to offer exemptions from mobilisation.

Do you need more information?

For more information about ZOA, please visit our website www.zoa-international.com.

Interested and ready to apply?

ZOA operates with an equal opportunities policy and is committed to diversity in the workplace. Qualified women and men, people of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds, and candidates with disabilities are welcome to apply.

If you are interested in this position, please apply at the latest by 17 September 2026.

CVs of no more than 5 pages in length are appreciated.

Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the process of recruitment. It is our aim to inform all other candidates of their status in the recruitment process within 4 weeks after the vacancy has closed. An assessment may be part of the recruitment procedure. Documents that do not match the profile above will not be considered. Internal candidates will have priority, in case of similar results.

Please note that, as part of its recruitment process, ZOA carries out background and reference checks for all candidates. As ZOA participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire, the ‘Statement of Conduct', which will be sent to past employers regarding misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early applications are highly recommended. Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.