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, the Employment and Professional Education Officer will support the coordination and implementation of employment, skills development and professional education interventions under the Programme. The incumbent will contribute to Programme planning, stakeholder coordination, implementation support, monitoring and knowledge management related to employment and professional education components. 

The incumbent will accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment in all implementations and promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

A.    Support the Employment and Professional Education Programme implementation
•    Programme and technical support to the design and implementation of employment, skills development and professional education interventions under the Programme, with a focus on employability, labour market relevance and inclusive access to skills development opportunities.
•    Support the planning and implementation of programme activities related to employment promotion, vocational and professional education, skills development and re-skilling initiatives at regional and local levels.
•    Contribute to the development and implementation of initiatives aimed at improving alignment between labour market needs and skills provision, including cooperation with employers and training providers.
•    Support the digitalization of employment and professional education services, including the development and integration of digital systems and tools to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and service delivery.     
•    Advance the mainstreaming of gender equality, social inclusion and youth employment considerations into employment and professional education activities.
•    Contribute to the preparation of technical inputs, background materials and programme documentation related to employment and professional education components.

B.    Establish partnerships and open channels of communication
•    Develop and maintain strong relationships related to employment and professional education interventions, ensuring effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders at national, regional and local levels, including line ministries, employment services, vocational education and training (VET) institutions, local authorities, private sector representatives and civil society organizations involved in employment and professional education initiatives.
•    Facilitate effective communication and strengthen cooperation arrangements among programme partners to ensure the coherent implementation of employment, skills development, and professional education activitiesContribute to coordination of employment and professional education activities with other relevant programme components and initiatives implemented under RLEDP and the Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Portfolio.
•    Support organization and follow-up of coordination meetings, consultations, workshops and stakeholder engagement events related to employment and professional education.
•    Facilitate alignment of information technology systems, data management processes and digital platforms used internally and by national partners across employment and professional education activities to support coherent implementation and effective information sharing.    

C.    Monitor and report on progress in implementing relevant activities; provide quality assurance
•    Support monitoring, reporting and quality assurance of employment and professional education interventions to ensure effective implementation and achievement of programme results.
•    Support monitoring of employment, skills development and professional education activities in line with approved work plans, results frameworks and indicators.
•    Contribute to collection, analysis and consolidation of data related to employment and professional education interventions for programme reporting and performance tracking.
•    Establish and maintain connectivity and data exchange between various monitoring systems and databases. Update and develop information management components, including data collection and aggregation tools relevant for the projects.     
•    Support preparation of technical inputs to periodic progress reports, donor reports and internal updates related to employment and professional education components.
•    Contribute to quality assurance of programme activities by supporting review of deliverables, outputs and reports produced by implementing partners and service providers.
•    Support identification of implementation challenges, risks and lessons learned related to employment and professional education interventions and contribute to proposing practical mitigation measures, in coordination with the supervising officer.

D.    Facilitate knowledge management and capacity development
•    Contribute to knowledge management and capacity development activities related to employment and professional education interventions under the Programme.
•    Contribute to capacity development of implementing partners, vocational education and training (VET) institutions and other stakeholders involved in employment and professional education initiatives, including through sharing of good practices and operational guidance.
•    Support documentation of lessons learned, best practices and innovative approaches related to employment, skills development and professional education interventions.
•    Contribute to preparation of knowledge products, briefs and learning materials related to employment and professional education components of the Programme.
•    Support the integration of knowledge and lessons learned into ongoing activities and future planning while contributing to knowledge sharing across the Programme, the Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Portfolio, and relevant communities of practice. Promote the use of digital platforms, online systems, and IT solutions to support knowledge sharing and strengthen the capacity of partners in labour market services and VET institutions.

E.    Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the field of expertise, promote a safe, enabling environment free of discrimination and abusive behaviour in line with corporate standards.
•    Use the principles of gender-responsive communications in line with the UNDP corporate standards.
•    Be aware of relevant gender issues and concerns in the field of expertise.
•    Demonstrate respect for gender equality in professional interactions, identify and address sexism and gender discrimination.
•    Assist with informing and briefing personnel and partners about corporate sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse policies.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
    Institutional Arrangement 
The Employment and Professional Education Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Livelihoods and Economic Employment Specialist and under the overall supervision of the Regional and Local Economic Development Programme Manager; may supervise Programme support personnel.
 

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination:  LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 
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.
Business Management Partnerships Management Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Business Management Results-based Management

Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Business Management

Communication

Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Partnership management

CSO engagement

Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs.
Partnership management Private sector engagement Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector.
Data Data analysis Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Education requirements
  • An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Economics, Business Administration, Information Technologies, Computer Sciences, Social Sciences, Education, Labour Studies, Development Studies or other relevant fields is required; or
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience
  • Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
  • Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at national or international level in employment promotion, vocational or professional education, skills development, labour market programmes, livelihoods, entrepreneurship or related areas.

Desirable Criteria
  • Experience working in development programmes or projects, particularly in recovery, livelihoods, employment, or education-related initiatives. 
  • Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including public institutions, education or training providers, private sector actors, and civil society organizations. 
  • Experience in using information technology and digital systems for data collection, processing, reporting, or knowledge sharing in programme or project contexts. 
  • Experience in supporting monitoring, reporting, or results-based management processes. 
  • Experience working with local or regional authorities.
Required Language(s)
  • Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required.

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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