DIGNITY is seeking a country director and CEO for Ukrainian fund

Do you have extensive experience in NGO management and human rights development work? And are you dedicated to developing a fund in Ukraine on behalf of the Danish NGO DIGNITY?

DIGNITY is in the process of establishing a fund in Ukraine to develop DIGNITY’s activities in the country e. We are therefore looking for a country director (CEO) for the fund, who will establish an office and drive the fund’s work forward in Ukraine, building on DIGNITY’s existing initiatives in the country.

The position is initially temporary, ending on 30 June 2026, but we currently expect to be able to extend our work in Ukraine in the fund over several years.

Who are we

DIGNITY is a Danish human rights and development organization fighting for a world without torture. For more than 40 years, DIGNITY has been a driving civil society force in the global fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

In addition to our work in Denmark, DIGNITY works in more than 20 countries worldwide in close partnerships with human rights defenders, civil society organisations and, where possible, local authorities. In our international programmes, we pursue three core objectives: to prevent torture and other forms of violence, to strengthen access to timely and quality rehabilitation to survivors, and to pursue justice for survivors of torture and accountability for perpetrators

DIGNITY’s modus operandi is the human rights-based approach to development work. We work in close partnership with civil society organisations to strengthen local capacities to document torture and ill-treatment, conduct advocacy, and deliver trauma-informed Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services and other relevant support to survivors.

DIGNITY has had partnership engagements in Ukraine since 2019. Since February 2022, DIGNITYs primary focus has been on extending its network to human rights organizations engaged in documenting international crimes in the context of the war and monitoring places of detention and strengthening access to trauma-informed MHPSS to survivors.

Currently activities of our partners are focused on provision of mental health and psychosocial support, provision of legal assistance, development of referral network, conducting training on mental health issues for CSOs and public authorities, establishment of victim support centers in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy and Mykolaiv, provision of legal and psychological aid to victims of war crimes, development of trauma-informed approach in the work with victims; strengthening of partners’ capacities in terms of documentation of war crimes direct and indirect monitoring of places of detention. DIGNITY works with numerous civil society organisations and human rights organisations, with activities primarily focused on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy – regions.

For more information on our work, please go to our website, www.dignity.dk.

Scope of Work

It is our strategic priority to further strengthen and position the work of DIGNITY and our partners in Ukraine by establishing a country representation through a fund in Kyiv, Ukraine. The country director must expect travel to DIGNITY’s project areas, depending on the security situation. Currently this is in Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy.

The country director will refer to DIGNITY, Copenhagen, as the founder of the fund. On behalf of DIGNITY, Copenhagen, the responsibility for the management of the fund is primarily placed with our deputy director of the department of International Programmes.

With presence in Ukraine, the country director is tasked to:

• Represent DIGNITY with key stakeholders, including coordination fora.

• Promote DIGNITY and partners in-country for new projects and funding opportunities.

• Promote and coordinate collaboration with partners with relevant stakeholders.

• Further support the development of a coherent and scalable programme in Ukraine with multiple partners and stakeholders.

• Ensure compliance with Ukrainian law, in close collaboration with external law firm.

Firstly, the country director will establish an office in Kyiv in close cooperation with DIGNITY, Copenhagen and our external law firm. Following setting up the office the primary tasks are:

• Participation in relevant meetings, conferences, fora and events taking place in Ukraine and potentially regionally.

• Strengthening relations with duty-bearers (health and prisons authorities, Persecutor General’s Office, Ministry of Justice, regional law enforcement actors, etc.) and build relations with key stakeholders and donor community.

• Following future funding opportunities and support DIGNITY and partners in applying for new funding opportunities.

• Following contextual developments and the potential impact on DIGNITY’s priorities in Ukraine.

• Support DIGNITY in the conceptualization and development of a comprehensive programme with multiple partners in close dialogue with existing partners in Ukraine.

• Provide recommendations to the implementation of DIGNITY’s strategic priorities through the programming in Ukraine.

• Explore new partnerships and new areas of collaboration with existing partners.

Knowledge, competences and experience requirements

The relevant candidate for the country director post will:

• • Have a relevant university degree in social sciences, human rights, law or the like.
• • Be fluent in written and oral Ukrainian and/or Russian, and English.
• • Have solid IT skills and mastering of online working flows (Word, Excel, Power
• • Point, Outlook, online meeting tools and so forth).

We also require:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience with responsibilities in NGO Management and/or humanitarian work and 5 years of professional experience in human rights/protection assistance/development work in Ukraine.

• Solid experience in building strong and positive relations with partners and stakeholders.

• Solid experience in developing and managing large-scale development programmes.

• Solid experience in engaging and facilitating processes with multiple stakeholders (local, national and international actors).

• Strong understanding of the donor landscape in Ukraine and solid experiences in fundraising.

• Strong coordination and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and as a team player.

Terms of employment

The position is temporary and expires on June 30, 2026. There is a possibility of extension.

Salary, holidays and other terms of employment will be negotiated based on experience and skills, and in accordance with Ukrainian legislation.

How do you submit your application  

Further information regarding the position can be obtained by contacting the deputy director of our International Programmes department, Jeanette Kørner, by email: [email protected].

Applications with CV, diploma and any other relevant documents are submitted via the link no later than March 6, 2025, at 12:00 hrs.

We expect to hold interviews on March 13, 2025, and possibly a second round of interviews on March 20. The first round of interviews will be held digitally, the second round might be held with physical presence in either Kyiv or Copenhagen.

You can read about DIGNITY’s processing of your personal data in our privacy policy, which you can find here: https://www.dignity.dk/privatlivspolitik/

DIGNITY is an international human rights and development organization that has worked for a world free of torture and violence since 1982. We prevent torture and violence, treat traumatized victims and document serious human rights violations so that those responsible can be prosecuted. You can read more about our organization and work at www.dignity.dk. DIGNITY regards diversity as a strength and therefore encourages all qualified persons to apply for the position regardless of ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age.

To apply for the vacancy follow this link https://dignity.dk/en/job-openings/?hr=show-job%2F240298%26locale%3Den_US