Project Manager / Expert on Employment (Youth Guarantee Programme, Ukraine)

Job Announcement: Project Manager / Expert on Employment (Youth Guarantee Programme, Ukraine)

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Contract Type: Consultant 

Duration: 15 October 2025 – 31 December 2027

Language Requirements: Ukrainian, English (full working profeciency)

Supported by: Enabel – the Belgian agency for international cooperation

Background

Ukraine is advancing the implementation of the Youth Guarantee (YG) — a key European initiative ensuring that every young person under 30 receives a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.

In July 2024, the Government of Ukraine established the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG), co-led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, to coordinate YG preparation and roll-out. The IAWG involves a broad coalition of ministries, social partners, youth organizations, and international partners including the EU Delegation, Enabel, UNICEF, ILO, ETF, Helvetas, and others.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Project Manager / Expert on Employment to lead and coordinate the Youth Guarantee Expert Group.

The Project Manager will guide the development of Ukraine’s Youth Guarantee framework — ensuring EU alignment, institutional readiness, and sustainable national roll-out.

This position combines policy advisory, project management, and stakeholder coordination functions, with a focus on building the foundations for an inclusive, evidence-based, and scalable youth employment system in Ukraine.

Key Responsibilities

Policy & Legal Framework

• Draft and refine legislative and regulatory proposals on youth employment and social services, aligned with EU acquis.
• Support integration of Youth Guarantee measures into national and regional employment frameworks.

Coordination & Institutional Strengthening

• Facilitate structured cooperation among ministries, social partners, and service providers.
• Ensure YG coordination mechanisms are institutionalized within governmental and inter-agency systems.
• Support capacity building of key institutions (MoYS, MoEEA, SES, social partners) in coordination with the EC and ETF.

Project Management

• Lead planning and delivery of activities, ensuring alignment with national priorities and donor standards.
• Oversee project reporting, stakeholder consultations, and progress reviews.
• Coordinate with international partners to ensure EU-aligned standards of service delivery.

Data & Monitoring

• Contribute to the design of evidence-based monitoring tools and indicators for the YG.
• Translate raw data collected by YGCT and partners into actionable insights for decision-making.

Profile and Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in Economics, International Relations, Law, Public Policy, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience managing national or international projects.
• Proven experience in youth employment, skills development, ALMPs, or private sector engagement.
• Demonstrated expertise in project management, coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with Ukraine’s employment, education, and social policy frameworks.
• Prior experience with Youth Guarantee programmes in EU or Eastern Partnership countries is a strong asset.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong leadership, coordination, and analytical skills.
• Proven ability to work across institutions and with international partners.
• Experience in drafting policy and legislative proposals.
• Monitoring and evaluation expertise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in Ukrainian and English.