Project Analyst, NPSA-9, DS - Kyiv, National Position

Background

The district heating sector in Ukraine is in a critical condition at all stages of production, distribution and consumption of heat for space heating and hot water supply. The share of district heating in Ukraine steadily decreases. Over the past few years, it has fallen to 60%, although still about 11 million apartments are connected to the networks. About 35 large CHP plants, more than 200 industrial plants and more than 100,000 boiler houses provide for the needs of consumers of heat.

In response to these challenges, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has developed the Ukraine Energy Rescue Plan, which defines the strategic framework for EIB lending activities aimed at safeguarding energy security during wartime and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential utilities and social services. Within this framework, the Ukraine District Heating Programme provides long-term financing to municipalities and communal utilities through Ukrainian financial intermediaries for investments in district heating modernization, energy efficiency improvements, and related infrastructure upgrades. The Programme focuses on enhancing system reliability, reducing technical losses, improving fuel efficiency, and strengthening the overall resilience of heat supply systems in line with European standards and Ukraine’s recovery priorities.

UNDP supports public authorities in Ukraine in advancing sustainable recovery and resilience across key sectors, including the district heating sector. This support is provided through capacity building, project development, advisory services, and training that help national and local institutions strengthen governance, prepare investment-ready projects, and align with international standards.

Despite these efforts, there remains a substantial financing gap that constrains public authorities’ ability to modernize infrastructure and implement large-scale investments. While UNDP provides critical technical assistance and institutional support, it cannot on its own mobilize or cover the scale of financial resources required.

Against this background, the European Investment Bank offers a vital complementary role by providing access to long-term financing to Ukraine’s public sector. By combining EIB’s financial resources with UNDP’s technical expertise and capacity support, the two institutions can jointly address the dual challenge of limited local capacity and constrained financing.

Building on this, UNDP has developed and is implementing the Ukraine District Heating Programme Technical Assistance, financed by a financial contribution from the EIB. The project aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ukrainian public authorities and utilities, improve the quality and bankability of district heating investment projects, and facilitate effective access to sustainable finance. Through this integrated approach, the Programme supports the preparation and implementation of priority district heating investments that enhance energy security, operational reliability, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Within this context, UNDP Ukraine is recruiting a national professional for the position of Project Analyst. The overall objective of this assignment is to provide operational, administrative, and analytical support to the project, including support to planning, monitoring, reporting, and coordination functions. The incumbent will contribute to effective project implementation by ensuring alignment between work plans, budgets, and results, and by facilitating communication with key stakeholders and partners. The incumbent will also play a key role in ensuring gender mainstreaming across the duties and responsibilities listed below, including promoting women, peace and security (WPS), gender equality, and women’s empowerment in line with UNDP’s commitments and international standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Ensure delivery and quality of the Technical Assistance to the Ukraine District Heating Programme management results by the following:

• Ensure that the quality of Programme inputs meets the expected standards and is sufficient to produce project outputs and targets;
• Develop a detailed Programme implementation plan, coordinates and supervises the work of experts and consultants, including the preparation of the terms of reference for consultants, national experts and subcontractors recruited under the Programme, forward planning of project activities and budget expenditures, activity scheduling, and reporting;
• Provide substantive input to the project activities and outputs and ensure timely implementation of project’s activities, including reporting on progress vis-à-vis planned activities and expected outputs;
• Ensure timely preparation of project work plan, procurement and staffing plans, and other related documents for timely commencement of the project activities;
• Conduct regular monitoring to ensure achievement of targets in line with the annual work plan and that project implementation at all levels complies with the corporate SoP;
• Capture lessons learned during project implementation;
• Ensure compliance with UNDP project management policies and procedures;
• Ensure compliance of project’s business processes with UNDP Ukraine Standard Operating Procedures.
• Assure implementation of gender equality accountability framework and Gender equality Results Based management at project level.
• Facilitate project recruitment and personnel management. Assure due selection process of project experts and consultants is in place through advertisements in mass media, participate in the selection process;
• Control and monitor the finance and budget activities of the Programme;
• Maintain contacts with UNDP Operations Centre on a variety of the operations related issues: finance, procurement, administration, IT and human resources;
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
2. Interact affectively with senior levels of partner organizations to support activities under the Technical Assistance to the Ukraine District Heating Programme, promote the informed and meaningful involvement of stakeholders, including the following:

• Help to determine the partnerships landscape to ensure optimal partnerships for the Programme;
• Provide support to the partnership between UNDP and the Ministry of Energy, Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, oblast and local administrations, municipal energy companies, and other identified partners;
• Support partners to strengthen capacity as well as institutional coordination including the establishment of strategic partnerships for implementation of the Programme;
• Ensure effective and efficient positioning of the UNDP Programme in alignment with the national priorities and the Government short-term and long-term objectives;
• Assist in the identification of opportunities for cooperation and potential contributions with government agencies to promote information exchange and identify synergies;
• Support strategic contacts, dialogue and thematic exchanges;
• Represent the Programme at various panels and workshops as deemed;
• Lead and coordinate the building and management of new partnerships in support of the Programme implementation.
• Act as a knowledge based advisory service provider for establishment and maintenance of relationship with central and local national authorities, non-governmental organizations, associations and international organizations.
• Help build the UNDP Programme image via high-level meetings, events and government relations opportunities.

4. Institutional Arrangement

Under the direct supervision of Technical Assistance to the Ukraine District Heating Programme Manager and the overall guidance of Energy and Environment Portfolio Team Lead, the Project Analyst provides ongoing project and administrative assistance and support to the Programme, performing a variety of standard administrative processes ensuring high quality and accuracy of work.

Competencies

Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making Cross-Functional & Technical competencies Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy Effective Decision Making

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business Direction & Strategy Negotiation and Influence

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolv6e points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations

Administration & Operations Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings)

• Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

Finance Budget management

• Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Finance Financial reporting and analysis

• Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring. Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance

Business Management Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Gender

• Gender and Energy

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in business administration, management, economics, human resources, finance, accounting, social sciences, energy, engineering, climate, public policy, public administration or other related fields OR
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in business administration, management, economics, human resources, finance, accounting, social sciences, energy, engineering, climate, public policy, public administration or other relevant areas with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum 2 years (with Master’s Degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant experience, on the national or international level, in the field of administration, finance, programme/project support, quality assurance, international cooperation, sustainable development or other relevant fields

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling web-based management systems.

Desirable Criteria

• Familiarity with UN/UNDP procedures and / or experience with Quantum would be an asset;
• Experience of working in international organizations/projects will be considered as an advantage;
• Communication experience related to energy sector rehabilitation, district heating, environmental conservation, climate change, sustainable development, humanitarian or other related fields will be an asset;
• Strong experience in stakeholders coordination in the Energy sector coordinating the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports is desirable.

Required Language(s) Fluency in English and Ukrainian, both spoken and written, is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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