The Business Ombudsman Council of Ukraine announces the open selection of candidates for the position of the Business Ombudsman. The selection is supported by Boyden Global Executive Search, appointed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on behalf of the BOC Supervisory Board. Boyden is a premier executive search and leadership consulting firm with 75 offices in 45 countries and Global HQ in New York, US.
The Business Ombudsman Council (BOC) was created under the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding on the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Initiative, signed by the Government of Ukraine, five business associations, the EBRD and the OECD. It has operated since 2015 as an independent, permanent advisory body to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
The BOC’s mission is to promote a fair and transparent business environment by addressing complaints from companies facing abuse or corruption by public officials. It serves as a neutral, non-judicial mechanism and fosters constructive dialogue between business and government.
In addition to resolving complaints, the BOI identifies systemic causes of misconduct and works to eliminate them, contributing to Ukraine’s broader reform agenda. While not a law enforcement body, the Institution operates on a "name and shame" principle to drive accountability.
The BOC is comprised of a Business Ombudsman, two deputies and a secretariat. Currently, the Council’s team consists of 30+ people: distinguished experts with mostly western education and practical experience in law, strategic management, economics, auditing, and risk management. The BOC is headed by the Business Ombudsman.
Scope and Responsibilities
• Setting strategic priorities and overseeing operations of the Council;
• Reviewing and supervising the investigation of complaints submitted by businesses related to corruption or malpractice by state or municipal authorities;
• Leading the professional team;
• Ensuring the public visibility and credibility of the institution, including active communication with businesses, government stakeholders, and the media;
• Reporting regularly to the Supervisory Board, composed of representatives of the Government, business associations, and international donors;
• Have such other authority and perform such other responsibilities as specified in the BOC Rules of Procedure or as the BOC Supervisory Board may decide.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Qualifications
• Advanced degree in law, economics, public policy, or a related field;
• At least 10 years of leadership experience, ideally in roles combining public accountability, institutional development, and/or governance reform;
• Proven leadership qualities, including the ability to lead, inspire, and manage diverse, high-performing teams;
• Strong public profile and communication skills; ability to represent the institution at the highest levels and engage with the media, stakeholders, and civil society;
• Deep understanding of Ukraine’s economic, political, and regulatory context, with a commitment to institutional integrity and reform;
• Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of Ukrainian is strongly preferred.
Independence and Restrictions
• Candidate shall not hold any position, or perform any activities that are, or may be perceived to be, in conflict with the performance of his/her duties as a Business Ombudsman;
• Candidate may not hold any elected position or any other positions in state and municipal authorities in Ukraine, perform any other paid or non-paid work for such authorities or legal entities within the scope of administration of the state or municipal authorities and any other businesses engaged in business activities, except for non-paid advisory or consulting activities performed in connection with their official capacity;
• Candidate shall not be members of any political party in Ukraine or engage in activities that conflict with the principle of unbiased performance of Business Ombudsman’s duties;
• Candidate shall not have financial or other investment interest in businesses, institutions, organisations irrespective of the form of ownership, which are established or which perform business activities on the territory of Ukraine.
To participate in the selection, please send us the following documents in English:
• A resume (CV) specifying key accountabilities and achievements;
• A motivation letter;
• Reference letters;
• Any additional information or documents which you think might be relevant to submit.