Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a Economic Recovery Officer (Urban and Rural Livelihoods Officer) in Kharkiv.

About the job

Under the supervision of the Economic Recovery Team Leader, the Economic Recovery Officer will support the implementation of both urban and rural economic recovery activities. This includes sectoral cash assistance to subsistence and small-scale farmers, vocational training support, and grant and capacity-building assistance for MSMEs and agri-businesses. The role involves working closely with communities, CSOs, and local authorities to identify vulnerable individuals, conduct service mapping, and share information on available services. The position is based in the DRC Kharkiv office, with field activities across Kharkiv Oblast and Slovyansk.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Needs assessments

  • Regularly inform the line manager of changing needs in the hromadas/raions, based on field visits, to strengthen project design and implementation.
  • Upon request from line manager and in collaboration with the MEAL team, participate in multi-sectoral geographical needs assessments to feed into new proposals and improve the quality of project design and implementation. Follow the Safety team's recommendations during data collection. Report any problems promptly.

Project design and proposal development

  • Upon request of line manager, provide accurate and relevant information (in their respective areas of expertise) that can assist in the design and development of project proposals at the regional level, particularly regarding the suitability of the proposed activities to the identified needs.

Project initiation

  • Participate in operational briefings with other team members to ensure clear understanding of activities and targets.
  • Participate in key stakeholder's sensitization before the actual launch of activities. This should be done in collaboration with other sector teams of the same project to promote clear and consistent external communication.

Project implementation

  • Support the Economic Recovery Team Leader (or Economic Recovery Manager) in producing and updating monthly workplans.
  • Implement daily activities within the area of responsibility based on the operational schedule developed by the line manager. Report on achievements at the end of each day. Communicate promptly about any problems encountered. When possible, proactively suggest alternatives and solutions to challenges and problems.
  • Throughout project implementation, maintain all required documentation/ Means of Verification (MoVs) related to activities directly implemented.
  • Ensure compliance with the minimum standards of data protection, both digitally and physically.
  • Upon request from line manager, provide high-quality and up-to-date information for reporting purposes (including PMM-BFU meetings).
  • In collaboration with MEAL, participate in mainstreaming of Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) principles during project implementation: communities are informed; they actively take part and have a say in activities; they can share their concerns and receive feedback.
  • Mobilize and build strong relationships with communities through ongoing engagement with community structures and by adopting approaches that are dignified and culturally appropriate.

Project closure

  • Ensure that all MoVs for activities directly completed/achieved are available and archived.
  • Participate in centralizing and sharing lessons learned and good practices identified during project implementation in accordance with MEAL recommendations.

Sector specific expertise / technical expectations

  • Under the line manager’s leadership and in line with DRC UKR SOPs and other guidelines, perform Economic Recovery specific tasks such as: assessments of needs of IDPs, conflict-affected populations and vulnerable groups, market assessments, identification of selection criteria, registration of potential beneficiaries, analysis and selection of beneficiaries, preparation of documentation packages for beneficiary payments, distribution of assistance (in-kind or cash), maintenance of accurate registers of payment information, tracking beneficiaries who have received assistance, compilation and maintenance of beneficiary lists to facilitate the provision of material assistance, preparation and delivery of training, monitoring visits of agricultural beneficiaries, etc.
  • Report any gaps and duplication of services to the line manager in a timely manner.
  • Pay special attention to the accessibility/inclusivity and special needs of vulnerable groups, including people with reduced mobility. Support and facilitate the participation of women, youth, people with special needs and certain groups. Integrate gender, protection, and gender concerns into all aspects of work.
  • In the absence of a dedicated Emergency/Basic Needs team or upon request from APM, support the registration of beneficiaries and distribution of assistance (cash and in-kind).
  • Perform any other duties that may be assigned by the Economic Recovery Team Leader and/or Economic Recovery Manager, relevant to the achievement of Economic Recovery objectives.

Internal coordination and collaboration

  • Participate in relevant internal coordination meetings and coordination foras (team meetings, ad hoc integrated program meetings, etc.).
  • Under the direction of the line manager (and Sector Manager if different from line manager), ensure coordination with colleagues of other sectors and sub sectors regarding internal ways of working. Adopt positive, constructive and caring communication with all staff. Report any issue or challenge to the line manager.
  • Support internal referencing efforts between different DRC sectors in the same raions/hromadas.
  • Participate in exchange foras where the findings of MEAL activities are shared with the program teams.
  • Upon request from line manager, participate in meetings with Partnership personnel to discuss implementing partner(s).

External coordination

  • Upon request from line manager, act as substitute focal point in sectoral coordination mechanisms such as Clusters or Working Groups. Share information/minutes/ actions points with the relevant colleagues AO.
  • Collaborate with local authorities at hromadas level during implementation of activities. Report all the information to the line manager.
  • Participate in updating the mapping of complementary services delivered by other actors in the area of intervention to enable safe and effective external referrals.

About you

You should have at least two years of experience in livelihoods, economic recovery, business development, vocational training, employment services, or similar community economic projects preferably with an INGO and ideally in emergency settings. You should also have strong interest or experience in working with conflict-affected populations and be able to communicate clearly and empathetically with people in distress. Strong organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills are essential, along with integrity, confidentiality and high ethical standards. You should be able to build and maintain positive relations with communities, stakeholders, and humanitarian partners to ensure effective implementation, coordination, and long-term quality of DRC’s economic recovery activities. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agri-business, rural development, economics, business administration, vocational education, or related field. Relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
  • Supervision: Experience supporting or supervising field staff is an advantage.
  • Comfortable supporting people going through challenges or distress.
  • Strong understanding of confidentiality and humanitarian ethics (including PSEA).
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to engage vulnerable people and diverse stakeholders.
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills; ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
  • Proficient in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and standard Windows/email systems.
  • Languages: Fluency in Ukrainian is required; intermediate English is required, with professional working proficiency preferred.

Desirable

  • Good understanding of the country’s development status and overall social context.
  • Strong sense of personal integrity and understanding of confidentiality and ethics.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

  • Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
  • Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
  • Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
  • Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
  • Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

  • Contract length: 3-month probation period, with the possibility of extension as fixed-term contract based on funding availability and performance.
  • Band: H
  • Designation of Duty Station: Kharkiv
  • Start date: April 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts]; please refer to our website for more details.  

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 10 April 2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified. 

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.