Deputy Chief of Party, USAID/Ukraine, New Workforce Development Activity

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.  

This Proposal Opportunity:

This new activity will serve as USAID/Ukraine’s flagship workforce project from 2024 to 2029. The new activity will support the upskilling and retraining of Ukraine’s labor force to adapt to the demographic and workforce shocks caused by war.  The activity will help adapt employers and employees to structural changes in the labor market. This is a 5-year project.  

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will lead the technical team to implement the Chief of Party (COP)’s strategic leadership and vision of the activity. S/he will have depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience, a solid professional reputation, interpersonal skills, and professional relationships to fulfil the requirements of the activity description, and close working relationships with key stakeholders in Ukraine. The DCOP must have experience managing large, complex activities and demonstrated experience working with and through the private sector. 

*This is a proposal position and is contingent upon award from USAID.*   

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The Deputy Chief of Party shall provide support to the COP with strategic leadership and oversight to the activity.
Serve as a member of the senior leadership team of the program and support the COP in oversight of project staff and activities
Co-lead and oversee programmatic functions, i.e., development of work plans, budgets, quarterly/annual reports, and ensure effective implementation of program strategy
Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with Chief of Party, USAID, Project Director, Objective Leads, project operations teams, and other relevant stakeholders
Work with the COP and other project staff to continuously refine implementation processes by integrating lessons learned and best practices
Identify activity opportunities and potential local partners in collaboration with staff as needed.
Ensure the technical team supports the strategic learning and communications teams in data collection, generation of lessons learned, and implementation of pause and reflect and other collaborate, learn and adapt activities.
Participate in and/or prepare project reports, including presentations.
Use analytical and evaluative techniques to identify, consider and resolve issues or problems.
Serve in an acting capacity in the absence of the COP.

Key Competencies Required:

Bachelor’s degree in business, international development, education, or other field relevant to the role;
At least 5 – 7 years of relevant program management experience implementing programs in Ukraine related to workforce development;
At least 3 years of senior management experience on programs funded by USAID or other donor agencies.
Familiarity with the policies, procedures, and reporting requirements of USAID or other donor agencies
Knowledge of USAID contract management, policies, procedures, regulations and reporting requirements.
Financial management experience including budgeting, financial management (tracking, reporting, accounting, and procurement).
Experience in activity and grants design and implementation, as well as monitoring and documenting project activities and outcomes
Professional proficiency in written and oral English and Ukrainian.

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred:

Microsoft office suite proficiency and the ability to operate spreadsheet and word-processing programs at a highly proficient level;
Relevant master’s degree;
Ukrainian Nationals are encouraged to apply.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodation to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.