Management & Leadership Jobs in Odesa, Ukraine (Now Hiring) — 12 open

About Mercy Corps:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.  

Now, and for the future. 

The Program Summary

Enhancing resilience is at the heart of what Mercy Corps does and how we work. Mercy Corps strengthens sources of resilience to enhance the capacities of people, markets, and institutions to handle shocks, reduce risk, build more equitable and responsive systems, and improve well-being. Through our programs, partnerships, and influence, we support communities to cope, adapt, and ultimately thrive.

Mercy Corps’ resilience programs provide support to improve the food security and self-reliance of vulnerable, war-affected households and communities by protecting and restoring their food production and livelihoods.

Our programming applies a “push” approach by providing direct support to vulnerable populations—including farm and off-farm cash grants, skills training, and protection services—to help them cope and adapt within the ongoing crisis. These efforts are delivered in partnership with local actors and are designed to promote equity by enabling vulnerable households to transition from meeting immediate needs to economic self-reliance. Simultaneously, Mercy Corps wants to invest in complementary “pull” mechanisms to improve quality and responsiveness of the social and economic systems communities rely on. Through market systems analysis we identify systemic barriers that hinder micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises’ (MSME) resilience and growth. Ultimately, this analysis will form the foundation on which Mercy Corps, together with local stakeholders and partners, can design and pilot inclusive business models that catalyze local investment.

The Position

The Livelihoods Officer is part of Track 1 implementation team and is engaged in the activities related with farm and off-farm cash grants, capacity strengthening, and protection services envisaged by the programme. He/She will supporting the process of agriculture and business grants disbursement, including vetting and selection of initial business ideas, monitoring and follow-up of the assistance provided and evaluation of the impact on the programme participants. He/She at the same time should promote Mercy Corps values through various entry points in the project and preserve staff moral and enthusiasm for the programme’s work.

Essential Responsibilities

• Participate in implementation of the cash grants, capacity strengthening and protection activities envisaged by the programme.
• Support information dissemination and outreach activities to ensure active participation and engagement of the programme participants.
• Support the selection process of farm and off-farm cash grants recipients in the respective operational area and provide feasibility assessments as required.
• Ensure that vulnerable groups of populations, seeking for livelihoods opportunities, are included in the programme support schemes.
• Support identification the training needs of the programme participants and needs-based capacity building interventions.
• Prepare and execute grant agreements with cash grants recipients, control utilization of the funds as per signed the agreements.
• Undertake regular monitoring of the funded agriculture and business initiatives and provide ongoing support to the programme participants.
• Support in organizing the filing system for this programme component and ensure supporting documentation is in place.
• Enter and process information on programme participants, including business applications, vetting process, monitoring and follow-up, etc. in the online software operated by the programme.
• Maintain good working relations within Mercy Corps and other organizations in the area of responsibility.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the programme management.

Accountability to participants and stakeholders

• Collaborate with Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) staff members to strengthen systems to promote accountability to participants and communities.
• Support programme participants to understand their rights and are comfortable to provide feedback to Mercy Corps.
• Ensure Track 1 activities in the respective area are gender sensitive and in adherence with Mercy Corps’ and FCDO Gender Policies.
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure that Track 1 activities implemented in the respective area do not have adverse effects on communities.
• Support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners during implementation of the programme.

 Safeguarding responsibilities 

• Actively learn about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practice the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourage openness and communication in their team; encourage team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms, e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Reports Directly To: Livelihoods Manager

Works Directly With: Track 1 Lead, Livelihoods teams working in other operational areas, Track 2 team, partner organisation representatives.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• University degree in economics, public/business administration, or other related field.
• Knowledge of resilience, early recovery and livelihoods interventions in Ukrainian context, good understanding of possible durable solutions for conflict-affected population.
• Thematic experience in agriculture, market systems development, livelihoods programming in the Ukrainian context preferred.
• At least 3 years of overall working experience.
• Experience in working with IDPs and conflict-affected population.
• Proficiency in Ukrainian and English required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs required.
• Good communication, presentation and reporting skills.
• Practical understanding of the needs of IDPs and vulnerable population to engage in livelihoods
  activities.
• Small business / micro-finance / budget management qualification will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other trainings in humanitarian response preferred.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will demonstrate high-level communication skills, effectively conveying ideas and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders. Strong time management and prioritisation abilities will be essential for handling multiple tasks efficiently while maintaining productivity. Effective interpersonal skills will enable the candidate to build and maintain professional relationships, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. A keen attention to detail will ensure accuracy and precision in all aspects of the role. While self-motivation and the capacity to work independently are essential, the ability to collaborate effectively within a team is equally important. The ideal candidate will possess a solutions-oriented mindset with a strong focus on achieving results, ensuring the ability to analyse challenges and implement effective solutions independently.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Dnipro. During the field trips living conditions will be adjusted to the field conditions. 

Ongoing Learning 

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development. 

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Ethics Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]). 

Deadline for submission of applications: 05 August 2026

Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. 

People with disabilities and veteran status are welcome to apply.  

 Important Notice: Mercy Corps never charges candidates any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to make a payment for a job opportunity claiming to be from Mercy Corps, it is a scam. 

All official communication from Mercy Corps will come from an @mercycorps.org email address. We do not contact candidates via Gmail, Yahoo, WhatsApp, or other unofficial channels. 

If you receive a suspicious job offer, please report it to us immediately. 

Mercy Corps is becoming Prosper Global later in 2026! Learn more here.