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 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency 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 highly-qualified Head of Support Services to join our team in Kyiv.

About the job

As the Head of Support Services, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight of all support functions in DRC Ukraine (Finance, Supply Chain & Logistics, HR, IT and Administration) to ensure that programmes are delivered efficiently, compliantly and at scale in a complex and high-risk operating environment. The role ensures that support services enable, rather than constrain, programme delivery by providing timely, high-quality and risk-aware operational support, while safeguarding DRC’s assets, staff and donor resources in line with DRC policies, donor requirements and national legislation.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Management and Leadership

• Serve as a core member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to strategic prioritisation and daily decision-making.
• Provide leadership and line management to support function managers, including workforce planning, performance management, staff wellbeing and professional development.
• Ensure delivery, monitoring and reporting of support services in line with programme priorities and operational needs.
• Build and maintain high-performing support teams that consistently deliver high-quality, compliant and efficient services.
• Lead the strategic development, management and continuous improvement of support operations, systems and compliance frameworks.
• Ensure timely and appropriate technical support to programmes in line with organisational priorities and risk appetite.
• Oversee support to annual planning, budgeting and review processes.
• Ensure that DRC Ukraine operations comply with DRC policies, global guidelines, donor requirements and national legislation.
• Develop and implement strategic approaches to ensure robust legal, financial and administrative compliance across all country operations.

Operational Management

• Provide strategic oversight and technical leadership to all country-level operational support functions.
• Ensure DRC maintains and strengthens its operational capacity to support rapid emergency response, particularly within procurement, logistics and finance.
• Ensure support services adapt continuously to changes in DRC’s geographic footprint, operational scale and programme strategy.
• Ensure Area Offices receive adequate, timely and fit-for-purpose support from Country Office support teams.
• Lead the development and implementation of a country-level risk management plan, identifying key financial, legal and operational risks and corresponding mitigation measures.
• Ensure all administrative, legal and compliance systems are accurate, up-to-date and effectively maintained.
• Build the capacity of support staff across the operation through structured mentoring, coaching and in-service training.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of DRC global initiatives and systems strengthening efforts.
• Ensure the Country Master Budget is regularly updated and used to inform project development, resource allocation and cost-containment decisions; provide regular budget analysis to SMT to support strategic decision-making.
• Maintain oversight of all active projects to ensure expenditure is aligned with approved budgets and donor compliance requirements.

Risk, Compliance and Audit Management

• Support the Country Director and SMT in engagement with donors, auditors and authorities on matters related to compliance, registration and audits.
• Ensure effective supervision, internal controls, audits and follow-up on corrective actions related to DRC operational standards within support functions.
• Support SMT in maintaining an up-to-date risk register and ensuring timely implementation of agreed mitigation actions.
• Participate in audit kick-off and exit meetings and ensure full cooperation throughout audit processes.
• Lead the preparation and submission of management responses to internal and external audit findings.

DRC Dynamics (ERP)

• Lead strategic planning to strengthen staff capacity and systematic learning related to DRC Dynamics (ERP) functionalities.
• Use reports and data analytics from DRC Dynamics to improve operational efficiency, compliance and overall performance.
• Act as a power user of DRC Dynamics, particularly across finance and project management modules.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years' experience in relevant field and at least 3 years' experience with people management. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Proven operational management experience in one or more of the following thematic areas within conflict settings: finance, supply chain, human resources and/or information management
• University degree in economics, business management, international development, or other relevant fields.
• Experience in a similar role in an international NGO
• Proven leadership skills and competence in people management
• Understanding and experience of institutional fundraising
• Understanding of the context and sensitive to the cultural dynamics
• Experience working in an ERP system, including supply chain, finance, and HR systems
• Experience in capacity building of national colleagues as well as partners
• Full proficiency in spoken and written English required.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Ukrainian language would be an asset.

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: Until January 2028, renewable based on performance and funding following a successful 3-month probation period
• Band: E1 - management
• Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv
• Start date: May 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national and expatriate 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: February 9th, 2026

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.