Expеrts Force Manager / USAID Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine

1. BACKGROUND/CONTEXT:

The purpose of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity is to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure from cyberattacks by establishing trusted collaboration between key cybersecurity stakeholders in the government, private sector, academia, and civil society. The activity aims to achieve this goal by implementing the following activity components: 

Component 1: Strengthen the cybersecurity enabling environment 

The legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for national cybersecurity in Ukraine needs to be strengthened and aligned with international standards and best practices. This component will strengthen the cybersecurity resilience of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure sectors by addressing legislative gaps, promoting good governance, enabling collaboration between stakeholders, and supporting cybersecurity institutions.  

Component 2: Develop Ukraine’s cybersecurity workforce 

Ukraine suffers from a severe shortage of cybersecurity professionals. This component of the USAID Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity will address workforce gaps through activities that develop new cybersecurity talent and build the capacity of existing talent. These activities will address the entire workforce pipeline, the quality of education received by cybersecurity specialists, and industry training programs to rapidly upskill Ukraine’s workforce to respond to immediate cybersecurity vulnerabilities. 

Component 3: Build a resilient cybersecurity industry 

A growing cybersecurity industry in Ukraine will contribute directly to national security and prosperity. This component will seek to build trust and collaboration between the public and private sector to develop innovative solutions for future cybersecurity challenges; spur investment and growth in the broader cybersecurity market in Ukraine through greater access to financing; support smaller cybersecurity companies to rapidly increase the number of local cybersecurity service providers; and offer mechanisms for Ukrainian firms to connect with industry partners to enable better access to innovations and business opportunities.  

2. ROLE’S PURPOSE: 

Under Component 1, the Activity is focused on build beneficiaries’ capacity via providing cybersecurity expertise to address GOU’s critical cybersecurity challenges in wartime. With built-in flexibility, the Activity identify and set priority expert assistance in response to beneficiaries and CI requests based on the evolving security dynamics. 

Under the supervision of the Component 1 Enabling Environment Lead, the Experts Force Manager will coordinate and support the ongoing expert assistance for Government of Ukraine (GOU) stakeholders, namely MDT, NSDC and SSSCIP. This assistance primarily targeted to close the gap in technical capacity of GOUs bodies in the cybersecurity sphere. 

This will include managing and maintaining the relationships with key GOU stakeholders, understanding their priorities, and determining areas where the Activity can / should provide expert support. The Experts Force Manager ‘s main activities will focus on managing such support in close collaboration with the GOU stakeholders. Those projects aim to assist cybersecurity initiatives and enhance experts capacity for MDT, SSSCIP, and NSDC.  

3. TASKS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Experts Force Manager will be responsible for the following key areas and related tasks:  

• Provide oversight and manage the efforts of the Activity consultants (experts) engaged by the Activity on the request of MDT, SSSCIP, and NSDC under Component 1, including (but not limited) next spheres: 
• Executing technical interventions under specific tasks; 
• Providing legal expertise to GOU stakeholders; 
• Developing analytical reports and summaries on the assigned tasks;  
• Managing Activity partners expectations and satisfaction.   
• Develop, maintain, and update detailed monthly plan on expert’s assistance for assigned projects under Component 1 to monitor the tasks implementation. 
• Provide administrative support in organizational efforts to implement the assigned tasks, including: planning meetings, following the project timeline, establishing contacts with stakeholders, administering memoranda of understanding, non-disclosure agreements, etc. 
• Prepare relevant technical documentation and facilitate the procurement process. 
• Work closely with Activity beneficiaries and recipients to ensure alignment on experts assistance with short- and long-term needs of beneficiaries related with cyber security issues. 
• Hold regular weekly management check-in meetings with the Activity consultants leading the implementation of projects. 
• Identify resources needed for executing beneficiaries` experts assistant need and define scopes for Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) if needed. 
• Produce regular and adhoc reports on tasks implementation assigned to STTAs 
• Develop, monitor, and report on deliverables, results and indicators on the Activity consultants in close cooperation with the Activity’s MEL Manager. 
• Provide Enabling Environment Lead, Chief of Party (COP), and Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) with updates on progress under each assigned Activity consultants on a weekly/monthly basis and upon an ad-hoc request. 
• Other tasks as assigned by the direct manager  

4. QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE: 

• An advanced degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, public administration, business administration or other relevant field; 
• Proven project management experience in the area of cybersecurity, IT or similar; 
• At least two years of experience serving in a technical position, preferably with donor-funded activities; 
• Experience of managing a big team of subordinates (up to 20 people); 
• Proven experience of dealing with various stakeholders to deliver on project objectives; 
• Experience working with the GOU in the field of cybersecurity is preferred; 
• Strong interpersonal skills and written/oral communication skills; 
• Strong organizational skills to meet deadlines are required 
• Advanced writing and analytical skills;  
• Fluency in Ukrainian and good command of English. 

Qualified candidates should send their CV and cover letter with the name of position in a subject line to [email protected] by  30 December 2022 by 6:00pm Kyiv time. Only short-listed candidates will receive notice requesting additional information.