Operational Manager/Operational Manager in Lifeline Ukraine

Operations Manager - Kyiv office (with potential to grow to General Manager)

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine (with regular trips to areas near the frontline)
Type of contract: Full-time, paid position

https://www.lifeline-ukraine.org/

About LifeLine Ukraine

LifeLine Ukraine supports the civilian population at a distance of 50-100 km from the front line, providing rapid, needs-oriented humanitarian aid and necessary reconstruction. We work quickly, responsibly and transparently, offering practical solutions in a changing environment, where needs change quickly and results are important immediately.

Our Kyiv office is the operational heart of the organization, coordinating projects in the areas of care, mobility, critical infrastructure and humanitarian supplies.

Purpose of the role

We are looking for an Operations Manager who can take over the day-to-day operational processes of the office and contribute to the development organizations This is not an administrative position - this is a real leadership role with responsibility and growth potential to the General Manager of the Kyiv office.

The main goal: to reduce operational dependence on the founder, create effective systems and ensure stable work of the team and projects.

Main responsibilities

• Daily management of operations
  • Manage the daily operations of the Kyiv office (4 employees)
  • Transform priorities into clear task planning
  • Ensure the execution of humanitarian projects from planning to delivery
  • Control deadlines, budgets, logistics and results
  • Be the main contact for solving operational issues in Ukraine
  
  
• Leadership and team development
  • Manage two operational by employees
  • Provide clear instructions and monitor performance
  • Implement a basic work structure (planning, reporting, accountability)
  • Create a predictable rhythm of work (daily reviews, weekly planning)
  • Develop team autonomy through structure, not micromanagement
• Operational independence
  • Take charge operational solutions from the founder
  • Independently identify problem points and risks
  • Propose solutions and improvements proactively
  • Ensure continuity of operations without daily intervention of the founder
• Coordination and control of projects
  • Control several short-term projects at the same time
  • Collaborate with local partners, communities and suppliers
  • Ensure documentation, reporting and compliance with standards
  • Track results and lessons learned for reuse
• Strategic and long-term planning
  • Recreate the mission of LifeLine Ukraine on operational priorities
  • Contribute to medium-term planning (3–12 months)
  • Help to professionalize internal processes with the growth of the organization
  • Support the transition from founder management to managerial management
• Relationships with the Board of the Foundation (hereinafter the Board) and donors
  • Be the contact person for the Dutch LifeLine Board Ukraine
  • Inform the Board about key operational issues
  • Manage the implementation of the tasks set by the Board and the Ukrainian co-founder
  • Maintain contact with key donors from the moment of donation to the final report

Candidate profile

Required experience and skills

• 5–10+ years of experience in managing operational processes, projects or field coordination
• Experience working in complex, fast-paced environments (NGO, humanitarian, crisis or emerging markets)
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Experience managing people who need structure and direction
• High level of autonomy and initiative
• Ability to make practical decisions under pressure
• Fluent command of Ukrainian and English

Personal qualities

• Structured and disciplined
• Ready to take responsibility
• Able to combine urgency with long-term thinking
• Oriented to the result and efficiency of the team, not personal glory
• Understands the complexity of front-line work and accepts realities
• Shares the values of LifeLine Ukraine: dignity, transparency, influence

Career development

This position involves growth to the General Manager of the Kyiv office within 12-24 months.
 As a General Manager, responsibilities extend to:

• Full responsibility for operations in Ukraine
• Strategic planning and budgeting
• Coordination with partners and donors
• Leading an extended local team
• Reporting to the Dutch LifeLine Ukraine Board

Proposal

• Significant work with a visible impact on the lives of civilians
• A central role in a respected Dutch-Ukrainian humanitarian organization
• High level of trust and autonomy
• Opportunity to shape and professionalize operations
• Clear development path to General Manager
• Competitive salary according to experience and responsibility

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Operational Manager – Kyiv Office
(with growth potential to General Manager, Kyiv)

 Our Kyiv office is the operational heart of the organization, coordinating projects across care, mobility, critical infrastructure, and humanitarian supplies.

The Role: Why This Position Exists

LifeLine Ukraine is entering a new phase of organizational maturity. 

We are therefore seeking a hands-on Operational Manager who can:

• Take full ownership of daily operations of the Kyiv office
• Translate strategy and intent into clear tasks, planning, and execution
• Manage and structure the work of a small operational team
• Reduce operational dependency on the founder
• Build systems that allow the organization to scale responsibly

 This role is not administrative support. It is a lead operational role with real responsibility and clear growth potential toward General Manager of the Kyiv office.

Key Responsibilities

 1. Daily Operations Management

• Manage daily operations of the Kyiv office (4 people total)
• Translate priorities into clear daily and weekly task planning
• Ensure smooth execution of humanitarian projects from planning to delivery
• Monitor timelines, budgets, logistics, and deliverables
• Act as first point of coordination for operational issues in Ukraine

2. Team Leadership & Structure

• Directly manage two operational staff members
• Provide clear instructions, priorities, and follow-up
• Introduce basic performance structure (planning, reporting, accountability)
• Build a predictable rhythm of work (daily check-ins, weekly planning)
• Gradually develop team autonomy through structure, not micromanagement

3. Operational Independence

• Take over operational decision-making from the founder
• Independently identify bottlenecks, risks, and gaps
• Proactively propose solutions and improvements
• Ensure continuity of operations without daily founder involvement

4. Project Coordination & Oversight

• Oversee multiple short-cycle projects running in parallel
• Coordinate with local partners, municipalities, and suppliers
• Ensure documentation, reporting, and compliance standards are met
• Track outcomes and lessons learned for replicable impact

5. Strategic & Long-Term Thinking

• Translate LifeLine Ukraine’s mission into operational priorities
• Contribute to medium-term planning (3–12 months)
• Help professionalize internal processes as the organization grows
• Support the transition from founder-led operations to manager-led operations

6. Board and donor relations

• Liaison for the Dutch board of LifeLine Ukraine
• Informing the Dutch Board of LifeLine Ukraine
• Managing the execution of tasks set by the Dutch board of LifeLine Ukraine and the Ukrianian co-founder of LifeLine Ukraine UA
• Liaison for key donors from the donation moment to the final reporting

Growth Path

This role is designed to grow into General Manager (Kyiv Office) within 12–24 months, depending on performance and organizational development.

As General Manager, the role would expand to include:

• Full responsibility for Ukrainian operations
• Strategic planning and budgeting
• Senior partner and donor coordination
• Leadership of an expanded local team
• Reporting to the Dutch Board of LifeLine Ukraine

Profile We Are Looking For

Required Experience & Skills

• 5-10+ years experience in operations management, project management, or field coordination
• Experience in complex, fast-changing environments (NGO, humanitarian, reconstruction, crisis, or emerging markets)
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Proven ability to manage people who need clear structure and direction
• High level of independence and self-starting capacity
• Calm, practical decision-making under pressure
• Strong communication skills (native Ukrainian and fluent English required)

Personal Qualities

• Naturally structured and disciplined
• Comfortable taking responsibility and ownership
• Able to balance urgency with long-term thinking
• Not ego-driven; focused on results and team effectiveness
• Resilient and realistic: understands that setbacks are part of frontline work
• Aligns with LifeLine Ukraine’s values of dignity, transparency, and impact

What This Role Is Not

• Not a junior coordinator role
• Not a purely administrative position
• Not a symbolic leadership title without authority

This is a real operational leadership role with real responsibility.

What We Offer

• Meaningful work with visible impact on civilian lives
• A central role in a respected Dutch–Ukrainian humanitarian organization
• High level of trust and autonomy
• Opportunity to shape and professionalize operations
• Clear growth path toward General Manager
• Competitive salary aligned with experience and responsibility

Reporting Line

• Reports directly to the Founder / General Manager (overall organization)
• Will progressively take over operational responsibilities from the founder
• Reporting to the Dutch Board
• Reporting to donors