Programme Associate, NPSA-6, DS - Kyiv, National Position

Background

Since the escalation to full-scale war in 2022, UNDP Ukraine has supported national and sub-national authorities in advancing early recovery, economic revitalization and resilience. The war has caused extensive loss of life, mass displacement, large-scale infrastructure destruction and deep socio-economic disruption, leaving millions in need of humanitarian assistance and protection while increasing exposure to poverty and economic vulnerability.

The Regional and Local Economic Development Programme (RLEDP) contributes to the UNDP Country Programme Document (2025–2029) and is implemented under the Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Portfolio. The Programme promotes inclusive, gender-responsive and sustainable local economic recovery, strengthening the resilience of war-affected communities and supporting alignment with national recovery and EU integration priorities. By 2029, the Programme aims to enhance the economic resilience of local communities through piloting and scaling integrated local economic development solutions that improve livelihoods and access to decent work, particularly for women, youth, veterans, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups. It will expand access to finance and business development services for MSMEs, strengthen local business support ecosystems, and facilitate job creation and sustainable enterprise growth, including through green and digital transformation initiatives.

The Programme will further support modernization of vocational education and training (VET) institutions and strengthen linkages between education providers, employers and local authorities to ensure demand-driven upskilling and re-skilling. It will contribute to the adoption and implementation of inclusive economic policies and local development strategies that promote women’s economic empowerment, remove barriers to labour market participation, and foster enabling conditions for private sector development. Through pilot initiatives promoting green, circular and innovative economic models, the Programme will also strengthen institutional capacities at the sub-national level to drive long-term, sustainable and EU-aligned economic transformation.

Focusing primarily on oblast and territorial community levels, the Programme assists decentralized authorities in early economic recovery, development planning, and implementation. It advances innovative, green and inclusive governance practices; strengthens local economic ecosystems; and reinforces linkages between crisis response, SDG localization, human capital development and long-term economic transformation.

Through a portfolio-based and area-oriented approach, the Programme delivers integrated programmatic and operational interventions, including grant schemes, development financing instruments, procurement and partnership modalities. These interventions support MSME recovery and growth, livelihood restoration and skills development for vulnerable groups, institutional strengthening of local partners, and the promotion of transparent, accountable and results-based management of resources in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures.

In this context, UNDP seeks a Programme Associate (NPSA-6) to provide programme, administrative, logistical and operational support to ensure the timely and compliant delivery of activities under the Regional and Local Economic Development Programme (RLEDP).

Duties and Responsibilities

following functions:

I. Programme implementation and coordination support
• Support day-to-day implementation and coordination of programme activities, including tracking agreed actions and work-plan milestones.
• Prepare background materials, briefings, correspondence, meeting documentation and other programme-related materials.
• Follow up with relevant programme colleagues, counterparts and service providers to support timely implementation of programme activities.

II. Administrative, logistical, event and travel support
• Support the organization of meetings, workshops, trainings, field visits, missions and other programme events, including logistical arrangements, participant coordination, venue and service-provider follow-up, supporting documentation and related records.
• Support official travel and business-trip administration for programme personnel, experts and consultants, including preparation and processing of travel requests and other required transactions in the corporate ERP system (Quantum), consolidation of supporting documentation, and follow-up on travel claims and related records.

III. Financial, procurement and personnel-related operational support
• Support financial and procurement processes, including processing of invoices and financial documentation, preparation of e-requisitions and procurement requests, and support to canvass and other procurement procedures.
• Support monitoring of programme expenditures and maintenance of relevant financial and procurement records.
• Provide administrative support to recruitment, contract-extension and other personnel-related processes.

IV. Fleet, assets and inventory administration
• Coordinate administrative arrangements related to programme/office vehicles and drivers, including driver schedules and trip requests, monitoring vehicle availability and operational status, and maintaining records on insurance, registration and scheduled maintenance.
• Follow up on timely renewal of required vehicle documentation in coordination with relevant UNDP units.
• Maintain and regularly update programme asset and inventory records, including information on equipment and other project property, location, assigned custodian/user, status and movements.
• Support periodic physical verification, handover, transfer, return and other asset-related documentation in accordance with UNDP procedures.

V. Reporting, records and knowledge management support
• Support programme reporting and knowledge management by consolidating monitoring information and supporting preparation of programme reports and official correspondence.
• Maintain programme electronic files, databases, contact lists and other records, ensuring that programme documentation is complete, accurate and properly filed.
• Support documentation of lessons learned and good practices.
• Provide written translation of programme-related documents, correspondence, materials and other content from Ukrainian into English and from English into Ukrainian, as required.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Programme and the Organization.

1. Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Operations Analyst and in close coordination with the Programme Operations Officer and programme teams within the Regional and Local Economic Development Programme (RLEDP) to support effective and timely implementation of programme, administrative and operational processes.

The incumbent will liaise with relevant operations units of the UNDP Country Office and other service providers as required, including on travel, procurement, finance, assets, fleet and other administrative matters.

Competencies

Core Competencies Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area Name Definition Business Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Administration & Operations Documents and records management Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving. Administration & Operations Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc. Administration & Operations ERP travel and expense module Knowledge of the ERP Travel and Expense Module; ability to provide help desk support to UNDP and other UN agencies. Administration & Operations Inventory management Each office to ensure sufficient inventory items are available for use as well as reporting for items which are beyond the corporate threshold of $5K and above. Administration & Operations Vehicle management Knowledge of policy & procedures on fleet management. Procurement Procure-to-Pay Knowledge of purchase-to-pay cycles, concepts, principles and policies, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements • Secondary education is required.
• University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Logistics, Social Sciences or another related field will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement. Min. years of relevant work experience • Minimum 6 years (with Secondary education) or 3 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of practical, progressively responsible experience in programme/project support, administrative support, operations or related fields. Experience, Knowledge, and Skills • Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), databases and web-based management systems such as ERP.
• Experience maintaining programme documentation, databases, records or inventories. Desirable Criteria • Experience providing programme, administrative or operational support, including procurement, financial or other operational processes, in national or international organizations or development projects.
• Experience organizing meetings, events, workshops, missions or field visits and processing official travel/business trips in an ERP or similar corporate system.
• Experience supporting vehicle/fleet administration, including coordination of drivers, insurance, maintenance or vehicle documentation.
• Experience maintaining asset, equipment or inventory records. Required Language(s) Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required. Professional Certificates n/a

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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