Humanitarian NGO Platform Deputy Director

Save the Children International  

Save the Children International is a leading global humanitarian organization that has been protecting children's rights worldwide for over 100 years. We operate in more than 100 countries, responding to emergencies, implementing innovative development programs, and advocating for children's rights on a global scale. 

Our work in Ukraine began in 2014. Since then, we have significantly expanded our presence, providing support to children and families affected by war. Our key areas of focus include education, child protection, food security, social support, and advocacy to drive lasting change in children's lives. 

ROLE PURPOSE:  

The Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine was established in February 2023 and brings together local, national and international NGOs engaged in the humanitarian response. The Secretariat currently consist of the Director, a Deputy Director, a Policy and Advocacy Advisor, and a Comms and Admin Officer, and is supported by the Steering Committee comprising of five NGOs including the NGO Platform host, Save the Children. The NGO Platform currently has over 120 members.

The Platform serves its members by strengthening collective coordination, advocacy, information-sharing and representation to support an effective, principled and locally informed humanitarian response.

The Deputy Director leads the NGO Platform’s subnational coordination and engagement. Based in Kyiv or Dnipro or Kharkiv, the role creates spaces for information sharing and coordination across NGO Area Managers, ensures that operational realities and priorities from frontline regions inform national coordination and advocacy efforts, and supports engagement with local authorities, local NGOs, and UN.

The Deputy Director also provides strategic support to the Director, contributing to governance processes, engagement with the Steering Committee and members, and representing the Platform when delegated.

The post requires strong diplomacy, analytical capacity and relationship-building skills to navigate complex humanitarian dynamics and support a coordinated, principled and locally informed response.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Subnational Coordination Leadership

Lead the NGO Platform’s engagement with NGO actors operating in eastern Ukraine. Facilitate coordination and dialogue among regional representatives / Area Managers of member NGOs. Convene and support Area Manager Working Groups to enable operational problem-solving, information exchange, and collective positioning where relevant. Monitor coordination needs across frontline and high-impact areas to identify gaps, duplication and opportunities for improved collaboration. Promote principled and effective humanitarian coordination that supports quality response and accountability to affected populations. Facilitate opportunities for peer learning, lessons learned and exchange of best practices among NGOs (and among NNGOs and INGOs) operating in similar contexts.

Engagement with Subnational Humanitarian Coordination Architecture

Support NGO engagement with humanitarian coordination mechanisms at regional level. Maintain regular engagement with Humanitarian Operations Coordination Groups (HOCGs) and other relevant coordination structures. Ensure transparent information flows between these structures and NGO Platform members. Ensure operational realities from frontline regions inform national-level discussions and advocacy. Monitor the evolution of area-based coordination approaches and identify opportunities to strengthen NGO engagement and leadership.

Government and Access Engagement (Subnational)

Support constructive collective engagement between NGOs and relevant authorities at regional level. Maintain dialogue with local and regional authorities on humanitarian NGO priorities and coordination challenges where appropriate. Support members in navigating operational challenges related to humanitarian access, regulations and coordination with authorities. Represent the NGO Platform in relevant subnational coordination forums where delegated.

Strategic Support to the Director

Act as a strategic deputy to the Director and support the overall functioning of the NGO Platform. Support the Director in implementation and follow-up of the NGO Platform strategy and engage with the NGO Platform Working Groups. Represent the NGO Platform in external engagements when delegated. Maintain situational awareness of humanitarian, political and operational developments in Ukraine. Support development of updates, briefings and analytical inputs to inform NGO Platform engagement with members and partners.

Support to localization

Promote meaningful participation of national and local NGOs in Area Manager Working Groups and other relevant coordination discussions. Facilitate exchange of practices and lessons learned that contribute to a more locally informed and locally led humanitarian response. Promote discussions on complementarity across INGOs and NNGOs to inform NGO Platform discussions and positioning where relevant.

Finance and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with donor and host agency (Save the Children) requirements.
• Contribute to monitoring of activities and budget implementation where relevant.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice) 

Accountability 

• Takes personal responsibility for decisions, effective use of resources, high-quality results, and acting in alignment with Save the Children values. 

• Supports colleagues and partners to take ownership of their responsibilities by providing guidance, opportunities for development, and constructive feedback. 

• Addresses underperformance proactively and fairly, ensuring accountability for outcomes. 

Ambition 

• Sets clear, ambitious goals for themselves and contributes to a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth. 

• Actively promotes and communicates the vision of Save the Children to inspire, motivate and engage others. 

• Thinks creatively and strategically to drive progress and long-term impact for children. 

Collaboration 

• Builds positive, trusting, and inclusive relationships with staff, partners, and stakeholders. 

• Values diversity and different perspectives as strengths that enhance the organization’s collective impact. 

• Demonstrates strong communication skills, showing empathy, openness, and willingness to support others. 

Creativity 

• Proactively seeks and encourages innovative, practical solutions to improve effectiveness and staff experience. 

• Confident in proposing new ideas and taking responsible, well-considered risks to enhance results. 

Integrity 

• Acts with honesty, fairness and professionalism in all interactions. 

• Promotes an environment of transparency, trust, and mutual respect, upholding the highest ethical standards. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

• Advanced university degree in international relations, political science, humanitarian studies, social sciences or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 7 years of experience in humanitarian response or coordination roles, including field-level engagement in complex emergencies.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian coordination architecture and operational dynamics in conflict contexts.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating coordination between multiple humanitarian actors.
• Proven ability to build relationships and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian (knowledge of Russian an asset).
• Ability to work independently in fast-paced and evolving contexts.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and ethical practice.
• Experience engaging with local authorities and civil society actors in conflict settings.

Desirable

• Experience working with NGO coordination platforms or civil society alliances.
• Familiarity with the humanitarian and civil society landscape in Ukraine.
• Proven experience engaging in or supporting localization/partnership work, advocacy, and/or coordination processes at national and/or international level.
• Strong understanding of localization, partnership models, humanitarian financing, and power dynamics within the humanitarian system.

Additional job responsibilities 

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience. 

Equal Opportunities  

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures. 

Save the Children is committed to create a truly inclusive, effective and representative organisational culture, encouraging equity and diversity among its employees and eliminating discrimination. Having a diverse profile of employees, different age groups, backgrounds, cultures, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientation etc., including a range of different experiences and capabilities helps us understand, represent and serve children better.  Therefore, all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or age.  

Child Safeguarding Policy: 

We are committed to ensuring children's safety. Our recruitment process includes strict background checks and reflects our commitment to protecting children from harm. 

Safeguarding our Staff: 

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Safeguarding, Code of Conduct and other policies. 

Health and Safety: 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures. 

Application Information: 

If you are interested in this position, please submit your CV and cover letter in English and include details of your salary expectation and English proficiency.  

We need to keep children and their families safe, so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the safeguarding of children from abuse. 

Disclaimer: 

Please be cautious of individuals who may misuse the Save the Children name to solicit fees from job seekers. We do not engage third parties or agencies to recruit candidates. If someone contacts you promising recruitment or placement at Save the Children for a fee, please do not proceed. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.