Олена

OLENA KULYK
PROJECT MANAGER
Kharkiv, Ukraine,| [open contact info](look above in the "contact info" section) [open contact info](look above in the "contact info" section)

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Project and programme management professional with 30+ years of leadership experience across donor-funded development, regional administration, agribusiness. Experienced in coordinating complex initiatives with public institutions, private-sector partners, local communities and international development stakeholders. In the USAID-funded AGRO programme, manages value-chain development initiatives and subgrant portfolios, monitors performance and donor resources, and supports delivery against project objectives. Brings strong operational planning, stakeholder coordination, analytical reporting, team leadership and risk-aware decision-making skills, with a practical, results-oriented approach and a commitment to accountable implementation.
CORE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES
• Project planning, coordination and implementation oversight
• Subgrant portfolio monitoring and responsible use of donor resources
• Work planning, progress tracking and delivery against objectives
• Stakeholder engagement, partner coordination and relationship management
• Regional development, needs-focused initiatives and field-level collaboration
• Monitoring performance, identifying implementation issues and supporting corrective action
• Analytical review, project documentation and management reporting
• Budget awareness, operational and financial coordination, and accountability
• Team leadership, cross-functional coordination and capacity building
• Strategic planning, risk-aware decision-making and continuous improvement
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Chemonics International Inc. | USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities in Ukraine (AGRO)
Project Manager | July 2022 – Present (completion on November 13, 2026)
• Lead and coordinate value-chain development initiatives designed to improve the competitiveness, market access and resilience of Ukrainian agribusinesses and rural enterprises.
• Directly managed 14 subgrant projects with a combined value of more than USD 7 million, overseeing implementation progress, donor-resource use and delivery against approved project objectives.
• Reviewed and approved project budgets, tracked budget execution, and reviewed or approved expenditures in line with project plans and applicable donor requirements.
• Assessed project results against planned outputs and indicators and used monitoring findings to inform project follow-up and reporting.
• Conducted monitoring visits to project sites, reviewed implementation quality and progress, and followed up on issues requiring corrective action.
• Worked with project logical frameworks and performance indicators to track progress, assess results and identify implementation gaps or risks.
• Coordinate with businesses, producer groups, public institutions, technical specialists and other stakeholders to align activities, resolve implementation issues and maintain productive partnerships.
• Support activity planning and delivery, including investment facilitation, capacity building and adoption of innovative agricultural practices.
• Track project performance, identify constraints and contribute to timely decisions to keep activities focused on intended results.
• Represent the project in stakeholder meetings and strategic industry initiatives, building cooperation across public and private sectors.
Regional Coordinator, Kharkiv Region | February 2021 – July 2022
• Coordinated regional engagement and implementation activities, maintaining working relationships with local authorities, businesses, producer communities and development stakeholders.
• Supported identification of regional needs and opportunities and connected local partners with programme activities.
• Facilitated communication between regional stakeholders and the project team to support coordinated, timely delivery.

Kharkiv Regional Council
Head, Department for Local Governance, Community Development & International Relations | June 2017 – January 2021
• Provided strategic and operational leadership for regional policy, community development and international cooperation initiatives.
• Coordinated cross-sector cooperation among government institutions, local authorities, donor organizations, businesses and communities.
• Supported regional development planning, investment promotion and decentralization initiatives, bringing stakeholders together around shared priorities.
Advisor to the Chairman Kharkiv Regional Council,| May 2016 – June 2017
Coordinated engagement with government agencies, local authorities, businesses and development partners; contributed to investment promotion, decentralization reforms and implementation of strategic priorities.

Independent Consultant | November 2015 – May 2016
Provided strategic and operational consulting to businesses, focusing on business planning and organizational development.

Agrofirm “Pishchanska”
General Director / Deputy General Director | June 2013 – November 2015
• Directed strategic, operational, financial and production activities of a diversified agricultural enterprise.
• Led business planning and organizational development, translating priorities into operational actions.
• Managed multidisciplinary teams and coordinated crop production, livestock and administrative functions.
Kharkiv Regional State Administration | Department of Agro-Industrial Development
First Deputy Director | January 2006 – June 2013
Head of the Department of Agricultural Production and Rural Development | 1995 – 2006
• Led implementation of regional agricultural policies and strategic planning initiatives.
• Oversaw programmes related to livestock development, agricultural production systems and rural development.
• Coordinated collaboration among public agencies, producers, research institutions and industry stakeholders.
EDUCATION
• Master of Public Administration (Administrative Management) — Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics, 2002
• Postgraduate Studies, Economics & Enterprise Management (08.00.04) — Kharkiv Petro Vasylenko National Technical University of Agriculture, 2016
• B.Sc. in Zootechnics (Zooengineering) — Kharkiv Zooveterinary Academy, 1994
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Project Management Training based on Lean Principles — Lean Institute Ukraine, 2024
Management Development Programme: Strengthening Business Associations of SMEs — Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, 2016–2017 (UNDP / KMBS / Swiss Cooperation Bureau)
TECHNICAL & PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
MS Office; project management tools and digital literacy; analytical thinking and forecasting; planning and organization; communication and negotiation; public speaking; stakeholder engagement; organizational leadership.
LANGUAGES
Ukrainian — Native | Russian — Fluent | English — Elementary