Security Forces Engagement Officer, Ukraine

LOCATION: Kyiv, Ukraine (Hybrid)

TRAVEL: 30% of time

REPORTING TO: Senior Military Engagement Officer, Ukraine

STAFF REPORTING: N/A

Key Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Military Engagement Officer, the Law Enforcement Officer will be the focal point for CIVIC's engagement with law enforcement and other relevant security agencies under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and other government structures.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Support the effective implementation of project activities targeting law enforcement agencies, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with CIVIC and donor standards.
• Assist in developing and implementing strategies for policy advocacy and partner engagement with the National Police of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, State Emergency Service and other relevant force structures.
• Serve as a key liaison with designated law enforcement and security agencies for Protection of Civilians (PoC) advocacy and to coordinate joint training activities.
• Work with CIVIC personnel to develop the framework for the protection policy and work with relevant stakeholders on its adoption; analyze best practices and developing SOPs to maintain its functioning.
• Liaise with the relevant security and defense actors and other agencies for protection of civilian advocacy and coordinated training activities;
• Identify key trends in human security and PoC and propose concrete research projects to study trends affecting PoC in the security and military forces of Ukraine;
• In close coordination with the Senior Military Engagement Officer, adapt and deliver threat-specific training curricula on the protection of civilians and civil-military dialogues to law enforcement and security actors.
• Focus on ensuring the sustainability of PoC training by supporting its integration into the standard educational programs and in-service training of partner law enforcement agencies.
• Collaborate with national security and defense actors to identify and leverage existing training delivery mechanisms to amplify the reach and impact of CIVIC training materials.
• Conduct quality assurance and monitoring of training content and delivery for law enforcement audiences, ensuring high standards, contextual relevance, and adherence to adult learning principles.
• Provide field-based insights and subject matter expertise on law enforcement issues to inform CIVIC's research activities, proposals, concept notes, and donor reports.
• Support the Senior Military Engagement Officer in representing CIVIC with security and defense actors, international organization, and government stakeholders, with a primary focus on law enforcement partnerships.
• Keep the Senior Military Engagement Officer and relevant partners informed about project progress and developments within the law enforcement sector.
• Perform other duties as required to advance the organization's mission and goals in Ukraine.

Requirements

• Professional experience in the fields of security, law enforcement, or conflict management.
• Past operational and training experience as an officer within a law enforcement agency (e.g., National Police, National Guard, Border Guards) at a mid-to-senior level is required. Equivalent military experience with a focus on liaison with civil security forces will also be considered.
• Direct experience in training security actors on protection of civilians and related applicable legal frameworks at national and international level including on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and relevant International Human Rights Law (IHRL). Experience working with multiple agency types (e.g., police, border guards) is highly desired.
• Understanding of and commitment to humanitarian principles.
• Knowledge and understanding of the specific challenges civilians face in armed conflicts, particularly in interactions with law enforcement and other internal security forces.
• Experience in security force training and participatory facilitation techniques.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, demonstrating poise, flexibility, discretion, and professional judgment.
• Well-organized, self-motivated, and able to conceptualize and implement program activities in stressful environments.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to contribute to qualitative reports and internal updates.
• Familiarity with the Gender Base Violations (GBV) Agenda in the Ukrainian context.
• Demonstrated experience in building relationships and networking with government and law enforcement officials.
• Good knowledge of the operational context in eastern Ukraine and the specific challenges faced by law enforcement agencies there.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer literacy, including excellent knowledge of MS Office Suite, Google Suite, and key AI tools.

Qualifications

• University degree in law, international affairs, political science, human rights, security studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant work experience required, including experience in conflict or post-conflict zones.
• Demonstrated tireless work ethic and a commitment to the mission of CIVIC.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is mandatory.