Principal, Inst Capacity and Delivery

This position is based in Ukraine with possible temporary relocation to Warsaw, Poland, depending on business needs.

Purpose of Job 

Working within the Competitiveness and Economic Governance team, the Principal I, Institutional Capacity & Delivery is a core member of the team delivering the Bank’s flagship Economic Governance initiative in Ukraine: the Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture (URA) programme. The post holder is responsible for overseeing effective delivery of key programme components and outcomes; ensuring effective coordination of international and national stakeholders on reform and recovery implementation within the scope of the programme; and for monitoring, analysing and reporting on political and policy developments affecting the programme and the recovery and reform landscape in Ukraine.

S/he formulates proposals for potential new assignments within the areas of his/her responsibility; provides advice to senior management on reform and recovery related topics; supports high-level policy dialogue with the Government of Ukraine and liaises at an appropriate level with political leaders, international partners and inter-governmental organisations active in Ukraine. 

Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture (URA) is a flagship technical assistance programme deployed by the EBRD in partnership with the EU to support critical reform and recovery processes in Ukraine and accelerate the country’s EU accession. URA is one of the largest and most complex policy initiatives ever implemented by the EBRD and has contributed to hundreds of reform outcomes in Ukraine since its establishment in 2016. With over 300 reform experts embedded in Recovery and Reform Support Teams (RSTs) across Ukraine’s ministries and agencies and the Recovery and Reforms Delivery Office (RDO) located in the Office of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, URA provides expert, analytical and implementation support to key reform and recovery priorities of the Government of Ukraine (GoU).

The Principal I will work closely with URA reform teams, GoU counterparts, EBRD senior management, EU and other international partners to ensure successful delivery of reform and recovery outcomes through the URA programme. S/he will also engage with multiple internal stakeholders, including Banking, Legal, Donor Partnerships etc to ensure smooth operational delivery of programme activities.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Oversee the work of assigned Reform Support Teams, including oversight of formulation of priorities, work plans, results delivery and monitoring, team management, and overall support to ensure successful RST operations;
• Oversee effective coordination of project and other stakeholders involved in recovery planning and implementation, including URA teams in relevant Ministries, Agencies, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the URAF, the EU and other donor counterparts;
• Establish and maintain close cooperation with other international financial institutions, international organisations, civil society and donors working on recovery and reform implementation in Ukraine; 
• Participate in relevant governmental sectoral working groups in Ukraine as required, ensuring alignment of URA programme components (RDO, RSTs) with Bank and GoU priorities;
• Identify and analyse emerging needs of Ukrainian authorities with respect to short-term recovery as well as medium to long-term reconstruction and formulate proposals for new potential engagements/projects in support of Ukraine recovery within the specific areas of responsibility;
• Prepare briefing notes, updates and reports for Senior Management and other internal/external stakeholders, including donors, on the progress of relevant reform and recovery projects in Ukraine and relevant political developments for the programme as required;
• Ensure effective coordination and compliance with relevant EBRD internal teams in the management of the URA programme (e.g. Grant Review Unit, Donor Partnerships, Communications, Banking, Compliance, etc.);
•  Contribute to negotiations on priority reforms with government counterparts, in close coordination with relevant sector and banking teams in EBRD;

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field, such as public policy/politics, law, international relations/development, political economy, economics, business.
• Significant hands-on experience with project management and coordination of complex donor funded projects related to policy development and reform implementation in Ukraine; 
• Understanding of economic reforms, economic regulation, governance, public administration and political economy issues in the transition region and knowledge of economics/finance;  
• Knowledge of relevant local and international stakeholders in the field of Ukrainian reforms and wide networks developed through previous professional engagements;
• Exceptional ability to establish trusted professional relationships with local and international stakeholders; 
• Ability to operate independently in political, diplomatic and business environments, diplomatic skills required for regular contact with senior national and international officials; 
• Good understanding of the Bank’s mandate; 
• Effective communication, presentation and negotiation skills; report writing skills in English at the standard required for official documents;
• Fluency in Ukrainian.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD 

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.  

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment. 

The EBRD environment provides you with: 

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in. 
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness. 
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do. 
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits. 

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.   

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).