We are currently looking for a Country Representative to lead our Ukraine country office.

Position: Country Representative

Contract duration: 24 months

Start Date: 13 January 2026

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Application Deadline: Applications close on 30 November 2025, but early applications are encouraged and will be processed as they are received.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW

IMPACT has been active in Ukraine since 2015, working primarily in government controlled and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. Following the full-scale invasion in February 2022, IMPACT significantly scaled-up its activities, operating across the whole country to support evidence-based planning and prioritization. IMPACT Ukraine’s research portfolios are structured across four strategic objectives:

Providing timely and relevant data and analysis to inform decision-making in response to new and evolving information needs.Ensuring systematic and independent tracking of humanitarian needs and vulnerabilities to inform effective prioritization, accountability to affected populations, and coordination.Making information and analysis available to support sustainable and community-focused planning, policy, and programming in response to longer-term challenges associated with the conflict.Strengthening the capacity of civil society and authorities to use data to collaborate and respond sustainably to current and future needs.

IMPACT provides operational data and analysis to support the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid in areas close to the frontline and informs countrywide humanitarian prioritization. In addition, we work closely with partners and coordinating bodies to support stabilization, early recovery, and community-planning initiatives that offer longer-term solutions to mitigate the effects of the war on individuals and communities.

FUNCTION AND PROFILE

IMPACT is seeking a proactive, resilient, and results-driven Country Representative to lead the Ukraine team. This role will oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day running of the mission, influence decision-makers, and lead critical projects that inform the humanitarian response in Ukraine. This is an excellent opportunity for a dynamic leader with strong analytical, management, and communication skills. It is different to many Country Director roles, as it requires an understanding of research and analysis, and how this can be used to shape humanitarian programming and decision-making. This role would suit someone with a strong understanding of the humanitarian system, experience engaging with high-level officials and policy makers, and who gets excited about advocating for a more effective and informed humanitarian response. At a time when the humanitarian sector is facing unprecedented challenges, this role presents an opportunity to play a pivotal function in ensuring increasingly scarce aid is prioritized according to need.

Under the management of IMPACT’s Regional Coordinator in Geneva, the Country Representative is responsible for representing IMPACT and managing and developing IMPACT’s programs in Ukraine. S/he leads the IMPACT team to achieve program excellence, ensuring the highest levels of impact and accountability while adhering to IMPACT guidelines, policies, and standards across the mission. The Country Representative maintains regular communication with HQ, promptly and clearly conveying organizational risks to the Regional Coordinator, the Director of Country Programs and Operations, and other relevant HQ Senior Management. S/he promotes the organizational vision and core values across the mission and actively contributes to implementing IMPACT’s global strategies in coordination with HQ.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Country Representative’s responsibilities include:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

Lead the Ukraine SMT to develop and execute an updated and effective Country Strategy, thinking critically about how country objectives are aligned with the needs of the context, setting clear goals for implementation, and ensuring all staff are aligned to this vision and able to effectively implement.Translate complex organizational objectives into manageable portfolios of work across multiple teams and departments.Identify new and emerging strategic opportunities, consolidate ongoing initiatives, and explore new areas to maximize IMPACT’s relevance and effectiveness in Ukraine.

PROGRAMME & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Provide structure and effective delegation to enable robust humanitarian research and needs analysis, by creating and managing structures that enable the effective roll-out of research on multi-sectoral needs, cash and markets, emergencies, displacement, localisation, and disaster risk reduction, among others.Oversee and guide project teams to ensure timely, compliant, and results-driven implementation.

FUNDRAISING & DONOR ENGAGEMENT

Actively identify and secure funding opportunities in line with the Country Strategy and in coordination with HQ, to ensure sufficient resources are in place to deliver on strategic outcomes.Lead on proposal development, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and program priorities.Develop and maintain strong donor relationships, ensuring alignment with key priorities and open and ongoing exchange of evidence and ideas.

FINANCE & BUDGET OVERSIGHT

Ensure rigorous financial management of projects, including accurate budgeting, forecasting, and timely financial reporting to HQ.Proactively identify and mitigate financial risks, ensuring optimal and efficient use of resources.

OPERATIONS

Ensure adequate operational structures are in place to facilitate the implementation of IMPACT Ukraine’s programmatic strategy including HR, finance and logistics.Alongside Acted, support the implementation of security measures and contingency plans to ensure that duty of care and staff safety remain the utmost priority.

HUMAN RESOURCES & TEAM LEADERSHIP

Provide leadership and guidance to the IMPACT Ukraine team of 65+ national and international programme and operations staff, fostering professional development, performance excellence, and adherence to organizational policies.Serve as the direct line manager for 2 Deputy Country Representatives overseeing programme strategy and implementation, as well as Operations, Project Development, and Field managers and focal points.Ensure transparent and strategic recruitment and career management processes, coordinating closely with IMPACT HQ.

REPRESENTATION & COORDINATION

Proactively seek out, establish, and maintain productive relationships across the sector to enable effective representation of IMPACT’s strategic interests, ensuring access to forums and discussions where data-driven decisions are made, including the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group, the Humanitarian Donor Group, the Humanitarian Country Team, the NGO Platform, and other key fora.Actively contribute to key humanitarian forums, events, and discussions, and enhance the visibility and impact of IMPACT’s work in Ukraine.Ensure close collaboration, coordination, and coherence with Acted, IMPACT’s operational partner hosting our team in Ukraine.

REQUIREMENTS

Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Development Studies, or similar).Management experience Previous experience in a senior management role in an INGO at field level. Track record in successful management of teams in humanitarian contexts.Familiarity with the aid system Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community.Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings.Years of work experience At least 5 years of relevant working experience.Research skills Experience in assessments, M&E, field research, evaluations an asset.Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines in complex environment.Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently.Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment.Language skills Fluency in English required.Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary Salary between 5’760 CHF and 5’880 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 500 USD. IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied, to recognise locations where living and working conditions are more difficult than elsewhere.Accommodation Accommodation provided in the guesthouse or through monthly living allowance for rental of private accommodation. Please note that, based on current security phasing, this is an un-accompanied post.Annual Leave Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.Pension Scheme Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salaryInsurance Health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance. IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of staff and health insurance includes up to 1000€ per year of psychosocial counselling fees.Travel Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered.Relocation Luggage allowance of 20 – 100kg, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)Induction Three days at IMPACT Initiatives’ HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a four day in situ security training; andEnrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.