People in Need Is Hiring a Deputy Country Director for Programme in Kyiv

People in Need, a Czech humanitarian and development organisation, is hiring a Deputy Country Director for Programme in Kyiv, Ukraine. It is a 12-month fixed-term contract with a gross salary of 3,700 to 4,000 euros per month, plus several monthly allowances.

Applications close on 30 November. This is a senior leadership role in an active conflict setting — not a desk job in a calm capital. Read the requirements honestly before you apply.

The key details at a glance

What the role actually involves

As Deputy Country Director for Programme, you are the senior manager responsible for the quality and direction of PIN’s programmes in Ukraine. You lead programme design and management across multiple sectors, in a country where the operating environment changes fast.

A large part of the job is donor relations. You manage relationships with major back donors such as the European Commission, USAID, and UK Aid, and you oversee large multi-sectoral grants. You also lead big teams, which means your management skills matter as much as your technical knowledge.

PIN works in conflict settings, and Ukraine is one of its largest responses. The listing asks specifically for proven senior programme management experience in conflict environments. Office-based theory is not enough here.

The pay package, in plain terms

The gross salary of 3,700 to 4,000 euros per month is only the base. On top of that come three monthly allowances: 400 euros per diem, 300 euros for accommodation and food, and 400 euros hardship allowance. Together, the allowances add 1,100 euros a month — a serious top-up that reflects the posting’s realities.

Beyond money, the package includes home travel every three months, 25 days of annual leave, international medical insurance, and 24/7 security staff in Kyiv. PIN also mentions professional development opportunities. For a one-year hardship posting, this is a well-structured package.

An honest word about Kyiv postings

A Kyiv-based leadership role is not for everyone, and you should decide with open eyes. The allowances and security provisions exist because the environment is genuinely demanding. Many humanitarian professionals find such postings the most meaningful work of their careers — but they also burn out people who arrive unprepared.

Ask yourself two questions. Have you worked in a high-pressure, insecure environment before? And can your personal life handle twelve months of it? If the answer to either is no, there are plenty of other NGO roles that fit better.

Do you qualify? Check honestly

The listing sets four hard requirements. First, at least three years of senior management experience, including a Deputy Country Director role or an equivalent position. Second, proven senior-level programme design and management, including in conflict settings.

Third, fluent English. Fourth, strong donor relations and experience managing large teams and multi-sectoral grants from major back donors. If your background is mostly small projects or calm development contexts, this is probably not your role.

You should probably not apply if:

• You have never held a senior management position.
• You have no experience working in conflict or emergency settings.
• You cannot relocate to Kyiv for 12 months.
• Your English is not fluent.

How to apply

You apply through PIN’s official career portal, where the vacancy is listed with the full description. Prepare a CV that shows the scale of what you have managed — team sizes, grant volumes, and donor names matter more than job titles. Apply well before the 30 November deadline.

More NGO leadership roles: the Danish Refugee Council Country Director role in Yemen and UNICEF’s Security Officer post in Caracas.

Questions applicants ask