About DAI
DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world. DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.
DAI is seeking qualified candidates for the full-time Senior Legal Regulatory Specialist position in Kyiv or other regional HOVERLA office in Ukraine (Poltava, Lutsk, Lviv, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Odesa, Uzhhorod) to join USAID Governance and Local Accountability (HOVERLA) Activity’s team.
Applications will be accepted until 30 September 2024. Due to a high volume of applications received, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted in response to this job advertisement.
Project Background
DAI Global is implementing the USAID-funded Governance and Local Administration (HOVERLA) Activity, based in Kyiv, Ukraine. This project is designed to support Ukraine advance self-reliant local governance including legislative reforms, participatory strategic planning methodologies, service improvement, local economic development, civil society engagement, and capacity building of sub-national government entities. The Activity has three objectives:
Objective 1: Ukraine’s system of local self-governance is increasingly institutionalized and effective.
Objective 2: More self-reliant subnational governance.
Objective 3: Citizens play an increasingly influential role in local governance processes.
To support these initiatives, DAI seeks qualified candidates to fulfill HOVERLA’s goals.
Position Overview
Under the direction and supervision of Senior LED and Asset Management Lead, the Senior Legal Regulatory Specialist provides advisory and expert support to HOVERLA partner and other local government institutions (oblast, rayon, CTC), throughout Ukraine to effectively perform mandates and functions in local economic development and asset management, as delegated by national and sub-national legal frameworks. Senior Legal Regulatory Specialist will support HOVERLA efforts to align legal, regulatory, assets management framework of local self-governments with the national legislation and specific needs of consolidated territorial communities through development of model legal instruments, capacity building efforts, coaching and mentoring of local government officials, development and implementation of relevant grant activities, etc,
In collaboration with Senior LED and Asset Management Lead, Senior Local Finance Expert will provide administrative management of DAI team members in their Programmatic Cluster.
Objectives and Duties

• In collaboration with Senior LED and Asset Management Lead , provide administrative management of DAI team members in their Programmatic Cluster (review and approval of time sheets, leave approvals, compensation time approvals, business trip approvals, management of annual PMP process
• Provide consultative and expert support to Local state administrations (oblast and rayon), HOVERLA selected consolidated territorial communities (CTC) of Ukraine to perform mandates and functions delegated from national level.
• Provide expert support to CTCs of Ukraine in implementing of new legislation on decentralization, including assets, fiscal and sectoral, in cooperation with Objective 1 Team. Support relevant legal divisions/ department of Local state administration as well as CTCs in revising/ amending local ordinances in line with new legislation affecting functioning of local self-government bodies.
• Design, conduct, and moderate training on legal, regulatory, assets management framework of local self-government driven by consolidated territorial communities demands.
• Assist in the development of handbooks/ guidance/ recommendations for the CTCs aimed at the implementing of new legislation on decentralization, including assets, fiscal and sectoral.
• Support the increasing of institutional and organizational capacity building of the HOVERLA selected CTCs via developing of model legal instruments.
• Deliver timely, detailed, and accurate updates on oblast-based activities included activity, weekly, quarterly, annual, and final reports, and other deliverables.
• Assist in the development and review of such deliverables (the implementation plans, project guidelines, etc. as requested).
• Identify and contribute to success stories and good practices in local self-government and its legal framework as required by USAID.
• Maintain regular contacts and good working relations with different stakeholders on the subnational and local level.
• Provide technical input on Oblast/Rayon and CTCs profiles.
• Assist the Senior LED and Asset Management Lead in facilitating effective decision-making at subnational level.
• Participate in regular meetings with the HOVERLA Kyiv team to discuss technical, administrative, and other issues as requested.
• Oversee the field work done by the Project and the grantees related to legal, regulatory, and local ordinance issues and ensure that lessons learned are cycled back into the program’s future work planning.
• Communicates and cooperates effectively with colleagues in the LED and Asset Management Programmatic Cluster, Regional Offices.
• Liaise closely and regularly with colleagues in the other regional offices to contribute towards overall coherence and coordination of work.
• Collect quality data for the MEL plan for quarterly and annual indicators.
• Other duties as assigned by the Senior LED and Asset Management Lead and Local Governance Team Lead.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in law or equivalent and at least 10 years work experience in the public sector or in related areas.
• Work experience with, or knowledge of, public administration in Ukraine at national, subnational and local level and/or knowledge of international organizations.
• Knowledge of the government’s reform agenda, in particular in the field of decentralization.
• Deep knowledge of local self-government bodies functioning, regulations, needs, and problems.
• Good knowledge of the contract, labor, property, court laws are an advantage.
• Experience in the preparation of draft laws and/or local ordinances is an advantage.
• Very good computer skills (e.g. MS Office Suite incl. Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.).
• Professional proficiency in Ukrainian. English language is a plus.
• Work experience with USAID or other international organizations is an asset.