Director, Project Operations

Location of position: Kyiv, Ukraine 

Length of contract until 30 September 2026

About FHI 360 and EpiC

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing—creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 50 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project is an eight-year (2019–2027) global health project initially funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). EpiC operates in approximately 50 countries, addressing key public health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, pandemic preparedness, and global health security. 

In Ukraine, the project receives Global Health Security (GHS) funding to strengthen global, regional, and local public health systems, building on broad experience and existing capabilities that align with national GHS priorities and US Government goals. EpiC will support the national and regional public health institutions, health care facilities, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection’s research institutes and regional departments, academic institutions, as well as civil society organizations to strengthen GHS capacities in infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), health emergency management (HEM), with a particular focus on the prevention, detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks of epidemic significance. All activities will be aligned with national regulations, guidelines and standards, as well as relevant international frameworks.  

FHI 360 is seeking qualified candidates for a Director, Program Operations.  This position will be based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Professional proficiency in written and spoken English and fluency in Ukrainian is preferred.

Job Summary:

The Operations Director will play a key role in the day-to-day management and functioning of the EpiC Ukraine project, supporting the EpiC Project Director. The position serves as a critical member of the senior leadership team in country overseeing operations staff and activities supporting project delivery, including finance, grants and procurement. The Operations Director will have oversight of grants, financial management and procurement for the EpiC Ukraine project, working closely with the technical, M&E and People & Culture teams to move forward activities in an efficient manner to meet the goals of the overall project. Drawing from home office guidance, the position will be responsible for adhering to and standardizing operations and ensuring finance, grants and procurement are responsive to the needs of the program and harmonized with the larger program. The Director will collaborate with colleagues across departments and in headquarters to identify system needs, process bottlenecks, and to develop solutions to enable more timely, efficient, and accountable operations in challenging humanitarian contexts.  The Director works closely with management to ensure financial, administrative, contractual, and logistical efficiency and compliance. They will serve as a liaison between staff and the organization’s administrative and enterprise services to maintain smooth operations between headquarters and field offices.

Accountabilities:

• Provides support to the EpiC Ukraine Project Director to ensure the project is implemented in an efficient, compliant, timely, and results-oriented manner.
• Accountable to the Project Director for establishing and overseeing operational systems that meet the programmatic and technical needs of the project while maintaining compliance with USG and FHI 360 rules and regulations.
• Oversees project financial management, procurement, logistics, administration and subaward management. Sets project operational standards in line with FHI 360 policies and provides or oversees the provision of support and training to staff as needed.
• Develops and oversees the implementation of the project’s procurement plan that meets programmatic and technical needs while ensuring compliance with EpiC award terms and conditions.
• Manages, implements, and monitors systems, services, staff, and budgets to achieve financial, administrative and project goals.
• Provides timely and accurate financial and project reports to company management and donors as required.
• Oversees a finance team that prepares and monitors approved budgets for the project.
• Oversees grants management functions.
• Supports the Project Director in the operationalization of project initiatives.
• Collaborates with staff to ensure that project implementation is managed closely through the development of structured work plans, indicator tracking sheets and approved monitoring plans.
• Ensures expenditures within each project are monitored monthly, and that well- structured corrective action is initiated and tracked where required.
• Provides leadership to staff to ensure the development of timely, high quality and regulation compliant activity reporting per organization and donor guidelines.
• Provides supportive guidance and supervision to staff, and managers who are charged to implement projects within the assigned area of expertise.
• Supports performance management and professional development of direct reports, including ongoing feedback, coaching, and career support.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Effective strategic planning, project evaluation and project management skills.  
• Strong business acumen, staff development, management, and reporting experience.
• Strong consultative and negotiation skills.
• Operations management, corporate policies, compliance, and procedures oversight experience.
• Demonstrated public relations and diplomacy skills required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Professional fluency in Ukrainian preferred. 
• Ability to build positive local working relationships with local communities, district government officials, UN and where appropriate, donor representatives.
• Ability to analyze and establish effective and supportive cross-project coordination, organizational procedures, and management systems.
• Experience working in Ukraine and knowledge of the operating environment strongly preferred.

Education: **

• Bachelor's Degree or its International Equivalent in Business Administration, Public Health, Social Sciences or Related Field.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

Experience: **

• Typically requires a minimum of 12+ years of relevant experience in project management with projects management principles and practices.
• Previous experience working with USG or PEPFAR supported programs and experience working in an international NGO environment desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with national MOH personnel, academic institutions, local public health and health care authorities, NGOs, and international partners.
• Demonstrated experience in managing large teams and achieving program goals on time and within budget parameters
• Ability to manage and complete numerous tasks with a high degree of organization and limited resources.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and well-developed computer skills.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• 10% - 25%

Only applications submitted in English will be considered.

Please apply via the link on the vacancy website: Careers

Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time. management skills.