EU4Reconstruction is seeking a Project Manager to support the implementation and improvement of Public Investment Management (PIM) systems in selected large municipalities with populations of more than 150,000 residents.
Background
The EU4Reconstruction. The European Union (EU), together with Denmark, Germany, France and Lithuania, launched EU4Reconstruction, a €37 million Team Europe Initiative that unites the strength, experience and solidarity of the EU to support Ukraine’s ongoing recovery and reconstruction.
The initiative aims to strengthen governance, improve public investment management, and enhance coordination across levels of government, with a strong emphasis on EU values. The Team Europe Initiative is divided into two parallel and communicating streams; one stream will be composed of GIZ (Lead Organisation) and Expertise France (Partner Organisation) and the other will gather the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Lead Organisation) and CPVA (Partner Organisation).
EU4Reconstruction will reinforce the leadership of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, strengthen the State Agency for Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure (SARDI), empower local governments to manage reconstruction professionally and sustainably, and support civil society and independent media to play an active role in oversight, ensuring public trust and reducing corruption risks.
The programme will strengthen the policy dialogue around reconstruction and recovery and will focus in particular on the governance of public investment management, public infrastructure management at national, regional and local levels and how to link this with necessary capacity development to make the system work. Part of this process will ensure that the stakeholders in the programme and their policy and regulatory setup are prepared for EU accession. This will, in particular, ensure resources are allocated effectively, transparently, accountably and with broad inclusion in infrastructure planning and execution, reflecting the subsidiarity principle.
This assignment concerns specific sub-output of Stream 2 of the EU4Reconstruction programme, namely “Capacities in cities to undertake strategic long- and medium-term planning and monitoring of strategic plans related to reconstruction”.
Ukrainian cities require a comprehensive transformation of their approaches to strategic planning, development management, and performance monitoring. As a result of the war, significant demographic shifts, and growing reconstruction needs, municipalities face challenges that demand professional support to update their strategies, define investment priorities, and modernize governance systems.
There is an urgent need for high-level expert assistance in municipal governance and in ensuring data-driven, professionally structured reconstruction planning aligned with EU standards. Strengthening the strategic capabilities of cities is a key component of the national reform of public investment management and an essential factor for improving the effectiveness of local self-government. This transformation aims to overcome fragmentation between departments, address weaknesses in management structures, and establish effective mechanisms for coordination and oversight of strategic implementation.
The introduction of modern methods of strategic planning, structured development plans, governance regulations, and monitoring systems will enable cities to form realistic, prioritized, and institutionally aligned reconstruction plans. By applying performance indicators, data-collection tools, and regular progress assessments, city councils will be able to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with the expectations of citizens, donors, and partners. A well-established system of strategic management will serve as a foundation for trust, efficient resource utilization, and effective implementation of recovery projects.
The position
Title: Project Manager for Public Investment Management (Project Manager).
Place of service: The EU4Reconstruction office in Kyiv.
Contract: We offer a contract for a fulltime position with the Danish Embassy.
Conditions: A salary according to qualifications and embassy staff policy and a benefit package for embassy staff, including performance bonus, health insurance and five weeks of paid holidays.
Team: The Project Manager will report directly to the Team Leader for the Capacity Development of the Municipalities and will work in close cooperation with other project managers within EU4Reconstruction Stream 2.
The Project Manager will coordinate a multidisciplinary team of external experts and contractors supporting the assessment, improvement, and institutional strengthening of public investment management (PIM) systems in five selected municipalities. The role requires ensuring the effective planning, implementation, and quality control of technical assistance activities, while maintaining alignment with broader Stream 2 initiatives related to municipal strategic planning and corporate governance of municipal enterprises.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and coordinate project activities, including the preparation and regular updating of work plans related to the assessment and improvement of public investment management systems in selected municipalities, ensuring alignment with related Stream 2 interventions.
- Coordinate analytical assessments of existing PIM systems, including governance arrangements, institutional capacity, planning and prioritisation procedures, integrity mechanisms, and performance management practices.
- Oversee the delivery of technical assistance aimed at strengthening planning, prioritisation, and implementation of municipal public investment projects in accordance with national PIM requirements and international good practices.
- Lead capacity development activities for municipal staff, including mentoring and practical support to strengthen institutional capabilities in public investment management.
- Supervise and coordinate external experts and service providers, ensuring consistency, quality, and timely delivery of analytical outputs, methodologies, and recommendations.
- Facilitate coordination across municipal departments and institutions, supporting integrated planning and prioritisation processes, including the preparation of pre-feasibility studies for at least three investment projects per municipality.
- Ensure effective communication and collaboration among municipalities, municipal enterprises, project teams, and other stakeholders.
- Monitor implementation progress, track outputs and performance indicators, identify risks and bottlenecks, and propose corrective actions to ensure timely delivery of results.
- Ensure coordination with related initiatives, including collaboration with EUACI Integrity City teams and other partners working on governance, integrity, and municipal enterprise reforms.
- Support procurement processes, including drafting Terms of Reference (ToRs), designing technical interventions, and coordinating procurement activities in accordance with Danish MFA procedures.
- Ensure administrative and financial oversight, including verification of deliverables, compliance with contractual requirements, and timely processing of invoices and supporting documentation.
The Successful Candidate Has To:
- Demonstrate the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels, translating national reform priorities into practical solutions tailored to municipal needs.
- Apply a structured and results-oriented approach to managing complex, multi-stakeholder assignments involving several municipalities.
- Ensure the integration of public investment management improvements with municipal strategic planning processes and governance reforms.
- Maintain a strong focus on quality, compliance, and accountability, ensuring that all activities follow donor and Danish MFA standards.
- Demonstrate the ability to build trust and facilitate cooperation among municipal leadership, technical staff, external experts, and development partners.
- Apply risk management and problem-solving skills to address implementation challenges in dynamic institutional environments.
- Maintain clear and consistent communication with stakeholders, ensuring transparency regarding progress, risks, and results.
- Contribute to cross-cutting project initiatives, ensuring coherence and synergies across Stream 2 activities.
- Perform additional duties as required by the Team Leader in line with project objectives.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
- University degree (Master’s degree preferred) in Economics, Public Administration, Management, Law, Public Policy, Urban Development, Finance, or another relevant field related to public sector governance and investment management.
Professional Experience
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in project management, institutional development, or capacity building within government institutions, local self-government, international organisations, NGOs, or donor-funded programmes.
- Proven experience working with local self-government bodies, including interaction with executive authorities, municipal councils, and sectoral departments.
- Demonstrated experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams, including external experts and consultants.
- Practical experience in analysing and improving public sector systems, preferably related to public investment management (PIM), municipal finance, strategic planning, or infrastructure investment.
- Demonstrated involvement in PIM reform or public sector modernisation initiatives at the local or regional level.
- Experience in capacity development, including mentoring, advisory services, or structured learning activities for public institutions.
- Experience supporting investment project preparation, including feasibility or pre-feasibility work, will be considered an asset.
- Experience working with EU-funded programmes or international development projects will be considered an advantage.
Technical Competencies
- Strong understanding of public investment management (PIM) frameworks, including links between strategic planning, prioritisation, budgeting, and project implementation.
- Good understanding of municipal governance structures and institutional arrangements.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the use of indicators, performance frameworks, and governance assessments.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality technical documentation, including analytical reports, policy recommendations, ToRs, and progress reports.
- Familiarity with donor-funded procurement and reporting procedures will be considered an advantage.
Core Skills and Competencies:
- Strong project management and organisational skills, including the ability to coordinate complex assignments across multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to build productive working relationships.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
- Ability to work effectively in multi-stakeholder and institutional environments.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in Ukrainian, both written and spoken.
- Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, including the ability to prepare professional documentation and communicate with international partners.
Deadline for applications
Interested candidates should submit their documents in English:
1) short motivation letter
2) CV with three reference contacts
to [email protected] and cc [email protected], [email protected] before close of business on 30 of April 2026.
Please write in the email subject “Project Manager for Public Investment Management of Municipalities”.