The World at Abt

Solving the world’s most pressing issues and improving the quality of life for people worldwide is what we do every day at Abt. Creating a more equitable world is no small task, but we are driven by big challenges.

We are a team of 3,000+ people in over 50 countries working in unison and focused on the bigger picture. Only by sharing our commitment, energy, and innovation do we affect change and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We welcome diverse ideas, backgrounds, and viewpoints – joining Abt means access to exceptional thinkers at the top of their game.

To thrive at Abt is to embrace flexibility and collaboration. Our open culture allows you to balance your work and personal life as needed to optimize personal well-being. Creating a more equitable world starts from within – we look after people around the world, and we’ll do the same for you.

Ready to embrace rewarding and meaningful work? Now’s your chance.

The Opportunity

Abt is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated five-year USAID-funded New Workforce Development Activity. The Activity will focus on strengthening both employer and employee capacity to respond to the structural changes in the labor market brought about by the war. This will be an inclusive project emphasizing the integration of women, youth, veterans, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) into the labor force across a range of traditional and non-traditional sectors of the nations’ economy.

As the COP, you will oversee a local team based in Western Ukraine. You will provide strategic vision, technical leadership, and overall managerial oversight. You will ensure the Activity meets or exceeds all required results and the expectations of the client by ensuring deliverables and activities are of high quality, timely, and impactful.

The position is currently an unaccompanied post based in Kyiv, Ukraine and reports to the home office director in Rockville, MD. Position is contingent upon project award to Abt.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide strategic technical vision, ensuring the Activity implementation enhances Ukraine’s workforce alignment with the current and future job market.

• Serve as the direct liaison with the USAID/Ukraine Mission to coordinate program direction and ensure strategic alignment, collaborative learning, and adaptation.

• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners. Actively engage, leverage and collaborate with local partners such as NGOs, private businesses, universities, and vocational training institutions.

• Ensure clear communications with clients and stakeholders about the activity results and accomplishments.

• Ensure activities are implemented on schedule, within budget, and well- coordinated with the client, stakeholders, partners, and Abt.

• Oversee and be responsible for the program budget and forecasting, financial management, compliance, and grants management.

• Integrate gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) throughout the Activity while promoting positive youth engagement.

• Foster an open and collaborative office environment.

• Supervise, manage, and mentor Activity staff.

• Ensure Abt’s policies and procedures are applied to all Activity and staff operations.

What We Value

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, International Development, or similar field.

• A minimum of 12 years of professional experience in the economic development sector. Background in one or more of the following areas of assistance preferred:

• Private sector engagement across multiple sectors.

• Use of labor market assessment and analysis to inform employer strategies that will build capacity of current workforce and improve staff retention.

• Development of inclusive Human Resource (HR) policies.

• Demonstrated success leading and implementing large, complex (over $30M USD) donor-funded programs, preferably in conflict settings.

• Proven ability to build strong working relationships across multiple stakeholders, including private sector, government agencies, local NGOs, and other donor-funded programs.

• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and motivate the project team.

• Ability to manage technical implementation, within budget, to achieve or surpass results.

• Experience working in Ukraine and/or Eastern European countries is preferred.

• Strong communication and writing skills.

What We Offer

We foster an environment where you can Thrive Your Way. Our innovative total rewards programs are designed to help balance your work and personal life. The approach toward your wellbeing centers around comprehensive benefits and professional development.

Abt is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.

Disclaimer: Abt will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.

Abt is committed to creating a safe and inclusive work environment. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate background checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Abt also participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (https://misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org/) . In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

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