Project Manager – Technical Survey Dog (TSD) Capacity Building

Duty station: Ukraine (with regular travel to project training and operational sites)
Contract duration: fixed term contract, aligned with project duration (anticipated 21 months)
Reporting line: APOPO Dogs Program Manager / Head of Programs
Collaborates closely with: Donor offices, project partners, and APOPO teams in-country and abroad

Project Context

APOPO is preparing to implement a large-scale Technical Survey Dog (TSD) capacity-building project aimed at establishing a nationally owned, accredited, and sustainable canine technical survey capability within a government emergency response institution.

The project includes infrastructure development, personnel recruitment and training, operational mentoring, accreditation and quality management systems, logistics and welfare arrangements, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement, in line with international and national mine action standards.

Overall Purpose of the Position

The Project Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and successful delivery of the Technical Survey Dog capacity-building project. The role ensures that all project components are implemented on time, within budget, and in compliance with international standards, donor requirements, and APOPO policies, while maintaining strong coordination with national counterparts and partners.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Management & Coordination

• Lead day-to-day management of the project in line with the approved workplan, budget, and contractual obligations.
• Coordinate infrastructure upgrades, training activities, operational deployments, and mentoring components to ensure coherent sequencing and delivery.
• Ensure effective coordination across APOPO technical, operational, logistics, and finance teams, including the organization and facilitation of regular planning and review meetings.

2. Planning, Monitoring & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain detailed implementation plans, schedules, and risk registers.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, security, financial, and reputational risks.
• Adapt implementation plans in response to operational realities, security developments, and performance data.

3. Standards, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure project activities comply with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), national regulations, and APOPO standard operating procedures.
• Support the development and implementation of technical guidelines, SOPs, and accreditation systems related to TSD operations.
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control processes across training, operations, and infrastructure components.

4. Financial & Administrative Oversight

• Manage project budgets in coordination with APOPO finance teams, ensuring accurate forecasting and cost control.
• Review and approve procurement requests, contracts, and expenditures linked to project activities.
• Ensure timely and compliant financial and administrative reporting.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

• Oversee implementation of the project MEAL framework, ensuring systematic data collection and analysis.
• Ensure the production of high-quality monthly and quarterly narrative and performance reports.
• Use monitoring and evaluation findings to support evidence-based decision-making and potential scale-up.

6. Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Act as the primary project focal point with national authorities, regulators, donors, and mine action partners.
• Support national ownership of the TSD capability through structured coordination and engagement.
• Contribute to advocacy, visibility, and communication activities in line with donor guidelines.

7. Security, Duty of Care & Safeguarding

• Ensure appropriate security risk management measures are in place and followed by all project personnel.
• Promote high standards of safeguarding, ethics, and welfare for both personnel and dogs throughout the project lifecycle.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in project management, international development, security studies, engineering, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree combined with additional relevant experience may be accepted.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible project management experience in humanitarian mine action, development, or security-related contexts.
• Proven experience working with non-profit or humanitarian organizations, including collaboration with United Nations agencies.
• Proven experience managing donor-funded projects with strong compliance and reporting requirements.
• Experience in humanitarian demining or canine projects is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated experience working with government institutions and national counterparts.
• Experience managing projects that combine infrastructure, training, and field operations.
• Experience managing donor-funded projects in Ukraine is a strong asset.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership, planning, and coordination skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Solid understanding of risk management, compliance, and accountability frameworks.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, high-risk, and rapidly changing environments.

Languages

• English: Fluent (written and spoken) – required
• Local language(s): Asset

Assets

• Familiarity with IMAS and mine action quality management systems
• Experience in conflict-affected or post-conflict environments
• Understanding of working dog programmes, welfare standards, or accreditation systems

Other

APOPO is an equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified women and men to apply. Recruitment and selection are conducted on the basis of merit, qualifications, and organizational needs, without discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, disability, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.

APOPO is committed to achieving gender balance and diversity within its workforce and strongly encourages applications from under-represented groups.

All staff are expected to adhere to APOPO’s Code of Conduct, including policies on safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), child protection, and ethical behaviour.

Employment with APOPO is subject to background checks, reference verification, and compliance with organizational safeguarding standards.

This position may require work in remote and high-risk environments, and candidates must be willing and able to operate under challenging conditions.

Recruitment for this position is initiated in anticipation of project approval. Final appointment is subject to the successful signature of the funding agreement.

How to apply

Please submit (in PDF):

• Your CV
• A motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Contact details of at least two professional referees

Reference checks are part of our standard recruitment process. Referees will only be contacted with your prior consent.

The closing date for applications is 22 February 2026. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.