Partnership Officer
Support the effective management of DRC’s partnerships with civil society organizations in Ukraine.
Overview
Support the effective management of DRC’s partnerships with civil society organizations in Ukraine.
You have:
- At least 2 years of relevant experience working on NGO projects, ideally involving partnerships, civil society engagement, or project cycle management.
- University degree in political science, international relations, social sciences, finance, international development, administration, languages, translation, or another relevant field.
- Proven skills in writing and editing reports, proposals, and documentation for diverse audiences, including partner organizations.
- Fluency in Ukrainian and full professional fluency in English.
- Strong computer literacy, with confident use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
Contract
This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.
DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 700 staff in Ukraine and will continue to implement humanitarian response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.
DRC is currently looking for a Partnership Officer for its activities in Sumy.
About the job
Under the management of the Area Programme Manager and technical supervision from the Partnership Unit, the Partnership Officer will support the effective management of DRC’s partnerships with civil society organizations (CSOs) and local authorities in Ukraine. The role contributes to the full project cycle of partner-led programming, including CSO mapping, partner due diligence, preparation of sub-grant agreements, project initiation, implementation, and closure. The Partnership Officer serves as the first line of communication with partners, provides day-to-day guidance, coordinates with internal and external stakeholders, and ensures compliance with DRC standards and donor requirements.
Your main responsibilities will be:
Programming & Operations:
- Support the mapping, assessment, and categorization of civil society organizations (CSOs).
- Conduct partner due diligence and risk assessments, ensuring timely and high-quality reviews in coordination with relevant colleagues.
- Assist in the preparation and design of sub-grant agreement packages and partner project implementation tools.
- Support partners in project initiation and implementation by providing day-to-day guidance and coordination, ensuring activities are carried out in line with agreements and standards.
- Organize and participate in partner project management meetings, ensuring accurate reporting, documentation, and monitoring of progress.
- Coordinate project closure processes, including review of final reports, close-out meetings, and documentation archiving.
Coordination and Representation:
- Act as the primary point of communication with partners during project implementation.
- Support coordination between DRC partners, internal teams, and support service units.
- Assist in external coordination with stakeholders, including participation in relevant forums and meetings.
- Liaise with local authorities at oblast and sub-oblast levels; prepare and follow up on Memorandums of Understanding and other agreements.
- Maintain updated contact databases and ensure strong relationships with local authorities and partners in line with DRC’s partnership principles.
Accountability and Reporting:
- Ensure accurate and timely partner reporting and maintain partner tracking tools.
- Document best practices and lessons learned from partner-led programming.
- Provide updates and inputs for internal and donor reporting.
Other Responsibilities:
- Support colleagues and teams as required to ensure effective program delivery.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Area Programme Manager.
About you
To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 2 years of relevant experience working on NGO projects, ideally involving partnerships, civil society engagement, or project cycle management. Your main duties and responsibilities will be:
Required:
- University degree in political science, international relations, social sciences, finance, international development, administration, languages, translation, or another relevant field.
- Proven skills in writing and editing reports, proposals, and documentation for diverse audiences, including partner organizations.
- Fluency in Ukrainian and full professional fluency in English.
- Strong computer literacy, with confident use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
- Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
- Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
- Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
We offer:
- Contract length: 6 months renewable depending on performance and funding.
- Band: H non-Manager
- Designation of Duty Station: Sumy
- Start date: November 1st 2025.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national employees.
Application process:
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.
Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: September 24, 2025.
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.
Potential interview questions
| How do you manage relationships with civil society organizations? | This question assesses your experience and approach in dealing with partners. | Describe specific past experiences and techniques you used to build and maintain these relationships. |
| Can you provide an example of a successful project you managed and explain your role? | The interviewer wants to understand your project management skills and contributions. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What do you consider when conducting partner due diligence? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a situation where you had to coordinate with multiple stakeholders. How did you ensure effective communication? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you keep track of project progress and ensure accountability? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| In your opinion, what are the key components of a successful partnership in humanitarian work? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you handle a situation where a partner is not meeting their obligations in a project? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What motivates you to work in humanitarian response and partnerships? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |