Regional Coordinator for Return and Reintegration

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Ukraine is looking for a qualified professional for the global project: "
Centres for Migration and Development (ZME)
"

to fill the position of the:

Regional Coordinator for Return and Reintegration (full-time, Kyiv)

(Internal SAP: Specialist Crisis, Conflict, Disaster (incl. Emergency Aid, Peace, Security, Flight and Migration))

Implemented by GIZ on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the global programme "Centres for Migration and Development (ZME)" focuses on the topics of regular migration as well as support for self-determined return from Germany and other countries to reintegrate socio-economically in their country of origin. In this way, the programme enables the partner structures to support people in all phases of the migration cycle. ZME operates in various countries, with the aim of promoting social and economic development as well as facilitating relevant migration processes.

With possible return and reintegration scenarios gaining traction and importance within the political discourse in Ukraine as well as in Germany and other EU member states, the ZME global programme will be extended to Ukraine. The aim of ZME in Ukraine is the provision of transnational advisory and information services. At the same time, the programme will provide migration policy advice to policy partners and strengthen their capacities to support Ukrainians abroad on their self-determined return and their sustainable reintegration, as well as with promoting regular migration in a target group-specific and sustainable manner. The approach includes the fields of action of (1) research and data analysis, (2) digital platform, services and case management, (3) policy advice on national level, (4) capacity building and piloting on local level, as well as (5) outreach to Ukrainians abroad.

As part of ZME-Ukraine, you will cooperate with public and private institutions, civil society and international partners at national and local level, as well as ensure interaction with other (GIZ) projects. In addition, you will strengthen support mechanisms and structures aiming at guiding and informing Ukrainians abroad on return and reintegration options. Within this component, you will be working in a very sensitive and complex environment, which is also highly dynamic and politically charged.

Key responsibilities:

· Overall support of the leader of ZME-Ukraine in the management of the component.

· Responsibility for the project field of action (4) of strengthening the local ecosystems and piloting innovative approaches to successfully reintegrate Ukrainian returnees.

· Representation and coordination of the ZME project activities in the project's selected partner regions/ municipalities/ cities in Ukraine (in close coordination with ZME-Ukraine component leader), particularly liaison and networking on the local level.

· Coordinating the needs-analysis, planning and implementation of target group specific socio-economic activities and support measures on municipal level.

· Advising local project partners on the topics return and reintegration and accompanying their respective needs-based capacity building and organisational development.

· Co-designing (in close coordination with ZME-Ukraine component leader, the ZME Ukraine team as well as project partners and key stakeholders), and implementing the piloting of an innovative approach for return and reintegration of Ukrainian refugees.

· Continuously improving the innovative reintegration approach by analysing the pilots' results and utilising them to improve Ukrainian refugees' return/reintegration journey.

· Establishing, maintaining and ensuring excellent communication flows based on mutual confidence and trust with all relevant local stakeholders (political and implementation partners as well as other relevant public, private or civil society entities).

· Facilitating sustainable interaction between local and national structures to strengthen ties and develop national and local policies that address the needs of returnees, also relaying identified issues on local level for policy making on the national level.

· Design and facilitate active stakeholder dialogues with local authorities, developing and coordinating respective events, workshops, study visits inside Ukraine and abroad.

· Building and strengthening partnerships with local authorities, NGOs, and community-based organisations to support the long-term socio-economic reintegration.

· Supporting the planning and the monitoring of ZME activities in Ukraine, including timely contributions of accurate information to the overall results-based monitoring and knowledge management processes at GIZ Ukraine / ZME.

· Actively promote cooperation and coordination with other GIZ projects in the selected regions and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information within the SED cluster and GIZ Ukraine.

Required qualifications, professional experience and personal competences:

· Master's degree or equivalent in political sciences, economics, international relations, migration studies, social sciences or any other relevant field.

· Minimum 5 years of proven professional experience in a comparable position.

· Sound knowledge of ongoing migration governance processes and respective national policies and local initiatives, particularly on return and reintegration of Ukrainians.

· Sound knowledge of local economic development, particularly different socio-economic integration measures and initiatives for different population groups.

· Experience in employment promotion, especially labour market integration is an asset.

· Gender sensitive work experience is required, working experience with vulnerable groups, especially IDPs and / or returning Ukrainians is considered an asset.

· Proven track record in working with Ukrainian municipalities and local administration.

· Proven experience in liaising with stakeholders such as government officials, private sector representatives, and civil society actors, including proven experience initiating and/or facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues, especially public and civil society sector.

· Excellent representative competences, diplomatic and communication skills, in particular cooperation, networking and negotiating as well as a high degree of discretion, integrity and sense of tone.

· Work experience in (international) technical assistance, particularly in the field of development cooperation is considered an asset.

· High proficiency in written and spoken Ukrainian and English is mandatory; knowledge of German is considered an asset.

· Readiness to travel locally in Ukraine and abroad (depending on the security situation).

We offer:

· Official employment, salary fixed in EUR, performance-related bonuses and 13th salary.

· Medical insurance, 29 vacation days annually.

· Language classes, hard and soft skills trainings.

· Individual and group psychological support.

· Possible flexible and remote work (depending on projects' needs up to 10 days a month within Ukrainian border).

· Meaningful and valuable work, international environment.

Employment conditions:

Full-time position with 40-hours working week. Place of assignment is Kyiv.
Starting as soon as possible.
The contract duration will be 12 months with the possibility of prolongation.

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

Application:

We are looking forward to your application in English, comprising your CV and a Cover letter explaining your motivation to apply for the job to recruitment-  until
COB 02 October 2025, Thursday
.

Candidates are requested to submit their documents with the following title:

• Surname Name_CV

• Surname Name_Cover letter

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.