Senior Officer, Programme

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. 

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

The Senior Program Officer is based in Dnipro, Ukraine, within the Operations Unit of the International Department and reports to the Program Coordinator EAST. The position supports the implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of Norwegian Red Cross programmes in eastern Ukraine, working closely with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) regional branches, project teams, technical units and relevant local stakeholders. The role also facilitates coordination between the main Country Office and regional branches to ensure programme activities are aligned with the operational framework, technical standards and approved project plans.

Job Purpose

The Senior Program Officer optimizes humanitarian outcomes by coordinating the design, implementation and monitoring of country programmes in eastern Ukraine, in line with the Operational Framework and technical standards.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic responsibilities

• Ensure projects align with the Operational Framework, technical standards and project management methodologies.
• Support programme development and achievement of predefined humanitarian outcomes.
• Coordinate and support Host National Society (HNS) teams to enable effective collaboration and implementation of the programme portfolio.

Operational responsibilities

• Oversee and support day-to-day implementation of Norwegian Red Cross programmes in the East, in line with the country operational strategy and project documentation.
• Support development of quality project packages for internal approval before project start-up.
• Support the Program Coordinator EAST in monitoring progress and identifying adjustments to improve results across Norwegian Red Cross activities in the regions.
• Contribute to needs assessments that inform relevant project design.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of baseline surveys, ensuring methodological rigour and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Ensure logical project structures linking effects and results across HNS and Norwegian Red Cross results frameworks.
• Drive development of comprehensive SMART indicators and indicator guidance, including data collection, analysis, frequency and reporting methodologies.
• Ensure data quality and integrity through review and validation of HNS data and alignment with donor and organizational requirements.
• Support end-line studies and quantitative field-monitoring assessments to measure impact and changes in key project variables and inform evidence-based decisions.
• Conduct field monitoring to check compliance with programme standards and collect information for project improvement.
• Advise the Program Coordinator EAST on implementation issues and recommend actions to improve results and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Contribute to quarterly and annual reports, ensuring indicator tracking tables and reports accurately reflect progress and impact.
• Under Norwegian Red Cross direction, assure quality and provide advice and support on partner budgets and financial reporting.
• Support expense management to ensure alignment with budgets and action plans, and assist budget holders in approving expenses.
• Train and coach HNS project staff on applying technical standards and addressing implementation challenges.
• Contribute to country-level emergency preparedness and response initiatives when requested.
• Monitor project expenditure through regular budget-versus-actual (BVA) analysis; check spending against approved plans of action and budgets; escalate significant variances to finance colleagues.
• Perform other duties and provide support to colleagues as assigned by the line manager.
• Collaboration
• Liaise with Program Coordinator EAST to ensure compliance with Norwegian Red Cross rules, regulations, guidelines and deadlines.
• Liaise with the Technical Unit, where needed, to ensure alignment with technical guidance and standards in the Operational Framework.
• Liaise with HNS technical and project teams and key local stakeholders to ensure relevant technical assistance.

Mission-specific responsibilities

The position is based in Dnipro Region and requires frequent field visits to closely follow implementation and monitor results. It also plays a strong coordination role between the main Country Office and Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) regional branches.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Key Performance Indicators

• Programme activities in eastern Ukraine are implemented in line with approved project documents, workplans, budgets, technical standards and operational priorities.
• Project packages, assessments, baselines, indicators, monitoring tools and reports are developed or reviewed in line with Norwegian Red Cross requirements and results-based management standards.
• Regular field monitoring is completed, with findings, risks, recommendations and follow-up actions documented and shared with the Program Coordinator EAST.
• Programme data is reviewed and used to track progress, identify gaps and support evidence-based adjustments.
• Inputs to quarterly, annual, donor and internal reports are submitted on time and accurately reflect progress against activities, indicators and results.
• Expenditures and burn rates are monitored, with budget deviations or financial risks escalated promptly.
• URCS branch and project staff receive practical support, coaching and guidance on implementation, monitoring, reporting and technical standards.
• Coordination with URCS branches, technical teams, local stakeholders and the Country Office supports effective implementation in the East.
• Emerging needs, operational risks, access constraints and security considerations are monitored and communicated promptly.

Education

• Required: University degree in a relevant technical discipline (e.g., Medicine, Nursing, Public Health or another relevant field).

Experience

• Five or more years of work experience relevant to the position.
• Demonstrated experience managing programmes in challenging contexts.
• Proven project-management experience, including needs assessments, project design, MEAL planning and reporting.
• Experience applying relevant technical standards in humanitarian projects.
• Experience with basic financial management and reporting applications.
• Experience supporting capacity-building of partner organizations.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• In-depth understanding and practical application of relevant technical standards in humanitarian projects.
• Ability to support project design, results frameworks, SMART indicators, monitoring and reporting.
• Ability to review programme data for quality and integrity and use it to inform decisions.
• Basic financial-management knowledge, including budget monitoring and reporting.
• Ability to train and coach partner staff.
• Ability to work towards objectives and results, communicate effectively, find solutions and collaborate with others.
• Willingness to travel to security-sensitive areas in Ukraine.

Required: Fluency in English and Ukrainian

Competencies, Values and Comments

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.