Policy Adviser (Decentralisation and Local Self-Government) for the Regional Office in Dnipropetrovsk oblast (full time)

Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Ukraine is seeking qualified professionals for U-LEAD with Europe | Ukraine – Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development Programme to fill the position of 

Policy Adviser (Decentralisation and Local Self-Government) for the Regional Office in Dnipropetrovsk oblast (full time)

In the last few years, Ukraine has developed and adopted various laws in favour of an ambitious decentralisation reform, which reshapes the relations between the national, regional and local levels and builds institutional capacity. The success of the decentralisation reform greatly depends on the coordination and cooperation between different stakeholders involved into reform implementation at the national, regional and local levels.  Given the important new tasks, responsibilities and financial resources that local self-governments have gained, the implementation of the reform has to be accompanied by expert advice, trainings and diverse support measures. U-LEAD (Ukraine - Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development) is a special measure which is conducted as a multi-donor action by the EU and its member states Germany, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia and Poland to support the Ukrainian government in the implementation of the decentralisation reform. 

For our regional team in Dnipropetrovsk oblast we are looking for an experienced and highly motivated policy adviser with an innovative mind-set, a strong team player with solid knowledge of decentralisation and legal aspects of local self-government with the practical experience of supporting hromadas in the course of decentralisation reform implementation.

Areas of responsibility

• Providing capacity development and consultative legal support to municipalities of Dnipropetrovsk oblast aimed at assisting them to efficiently perform tasks and carry out new responsibilities acquired in the course of reforms’ implementation.
• Contributing to policy analysis.
• Ensuring good communication and information flow with all stakeholders (political and implementation partners and within the GIZ team) and supporting them. 
• Contributing to the planning, monitoring and evaluation processes at U-LEAD Regional Office.       

Tasks

• Provides consultations, conducts trainings and other capacity development events for municipalities of Dnipropetrovsk oblast on legal issues, which include but are not limited to public service and HR/related issues, the transfer of property, management of resources, assets and communal property (legal aspects). 
• Coordinates the organisation of trainings and professional advice to municipalities of Dnipropetrovsk oblast together with short-term experts according to GIZ values, standards and rules. Contributes to the quality assurance of the experts’ work.
• Provides to Administrative Officer responsible for the data entry into U-DATA data for all events (e.g. trainings, consultations, conferences) within his/her responsibility as well as further necessary data (e.g. trainers, good practices, support to municipalities, etc.) according to U-DATA guidelines. 
• Follows personal data protection rules during handling of participant lists and entry of personal data into U-DATA.
• Collects and analyses feedback from municipalities on challenges they face as well as their needs in amending policy and legislation in the field of the Policy Adviser’s expertise.
• Provides consultations and advice on cross-cutting topics such as integrity and anti-corruption, while applying a gender-sensitive approach.
• Participates and contributes to public discussions and policy dialogue events aimed at supporting reforms’ implementation, contributes to U-LEAD communication and visibility activities.
• Participates and contributes to the strategic and operational planning, monitoring and reporting of U-LEAD Regional Office in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
• Provides short reports and pictures from the attended events on time upon request.
• Contributes to the overall knowledge and data management of U-LEAD Regional Office in Dnipropetrovsk oblast. 
• Collects good practices and success stories, checks their progress over time and shares the information in the respective field for public awareness raising and communication purposes.
• Provides technical support to international and local experts during their field visits. Communicates regularly with local stakeholders.
• Regularly communicates with local partners
• Communicates and cooperates effectively with the colleagues in the Regional Office, the U-LEAD team and other GIZ projects in Ukraine.
• Ensures discreet behavior vis-a-vis third parties in all internal matters.
• Communicates and reports regularly to the Head of Regional Office.

Requirements to the candidates

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Law, Public Administration or other relevant fields.

Professional experience

• At least 2 years’ work experience in law in public service, in local self-government bodies or in an NGO.
• Experience with providing consultations and conducting trainings on decentralisation reform and legal aspects of local self-government will be an advantage.
• Proven track record of active involvement in the implementation of the decentralisation reform for the period of at least one year.

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Sound knowledge of legal aspects of decentralisation and local self-government reform.
• Deep understanding of the specific set-up, its actors and political environment of the respective oblast.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Team player with excellent communication skills, including public outreach and media relations.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• High degree of self-organisation.
• Very good Ukrainian language skills. 
• An intermediate level of English or higher is required.
• Good computer skills (MS Office Suite, Excel, PowerPoint etc.).
• Availability for frequent travel within the assigned oblast.

Employment conditions

Full-time position with 40-hours working week. Frequent travel within the relevant oblast is required. Starting in the beginning of May 2021. The contract duration is until the end of December 2023. 

GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and offers an attractive and challenging working environment with opportunities for skill enhancement.

Application

Application comprising of the candidate’s CV and a cover letter in the English language explaining the motivation to apply for the job is to be sent until COB Tuesday, 27 April.

By sending the application the candidate gives the consent for the personal data processing for recruitment processes solely. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stages of the recruitment process.