Vice President, Empower (Hybrid, Full-Time)

Nova Ukraine is an international nonprofit organization that has supported Ukraine for over 10 years through projects in healthcare, education, infrastructure, advocacy, and support for vulnerable groups. With the support of our donors and partners, we have provided more than $160 million in aid and services, reaching millions of people across Ukraine.

Today, we are evolving from crisis response toward strategic projects that contribute to Ukraine’s long-term resilience. Our work is focused on four key pillars: HEAL, BUILD, EMPOWER, and ADVOCATE.

EMPOWER carries one clear mandate: direct service to individuals. The EMPOWER pillar manages a portfolio of direct-service programs focused on veterans, youth, families, and community resilience. One operating model across all of it: case management and direct benefit delivery to veterans, their families, and youth — delivered in close coordination with our HEAL, BUILD, and ADVOCATE pillars to ensure a consistent, well-supported experience for the people we serve.

The VP of EMPOWER owns this portfolio end to end: the implementation strategy, the budget, the team, and the results. We are hiring a Veteran for this role. Lived combat experience gives this pillar the authenticity and agency our beneficiaries deserve, and gives Nova Ukraine a leader who understands reintegration, social cohesion, and community-based support services from the inside.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Direct-Service Programs. Oversee and effectively implement our current portfolio of community and resilience centers and partner-site programming — warming centers, youth activities, and camps. Full accountability for program delivery, case management, budget, and donor reporting.
• Direct Veterans Programming. Manage the Program Manager for Veterans, and drive reintegration outcomes: employment pathways, adaptive sports, and cooperation with local administrations and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
• Grow the Youth Ecosystem. Oversee our Youth Camps activities, ensuring camps run safely, on budget, and deliver measurable outcomes for participants. Extend this work beyond camps into a broader ecosystem — mentorship, leadership development, and follow-on opportunities — that builds successful, conscious young leaders for Ukraine's future.
• Grow and Lead the Team. Build on the existing team: coach current staff, close capability gaps, and add capacity where needed, holding a high-performing team accountable. Foster a culture where staff are heard, developed, and given room to grow.
• Manage Partnerships. Manage relationships with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, local administrations, and implementing partners on the ground in Ukraine.
• Collaborate Across Pillars. Partner with HEAL, BUILD, and ADVOCATE leadership to align direct-service delivery with Nova Ukraine's broader strategy and ensure a consistent, well-coordinated experience for the people we serve.
• Report Up. Report clearly and honestly to the CEO on progress, risk, and budget — no surprises.

What This Role Requires:

• Mission commitment alone will not carry this role. Nova Ukraine is hiring for demonstrated operational discipline and inclusive leadership — the proven ability to lead a team, own a budget, and execute a project plan on schedule.
• Proven Project Management. A verifiable track record of designing, launching, and running programs against real budgets, real deadlines, and real donor expectations. Candidates should be able to speak concretely to specific projects delivered on time and on budget, including how risk, resourcing, and reporting were managed along the way.
• Demonstrated People Leadership. Direct, hands-on experience managing a team: setting clear expectations, delegating effectively, giving direct feedback, and coaching staff — including underperformers — toward measurably stronger results. Candidates should be able to describe how they have built a team's capability, not just supervised its output.
• Strong Comprehension and Listening Skills. The ability to absorb complex direction quickly, ask precise clarifying questions, and translate strategic intent into an executable plan without repeated correction. This role requires a leader who listens carefully to the CEO, peers, donors, and staff, and adapts accordingly.
• Confident Public Communication. Polished, confident communication skills suited to representing Nova Ukraine before donors, government officials, media, and the public. Candidates should be comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders, fielding difficult questions on the record, and communicating with equal precision in Ukrainian and English.
• Sound Judgment Under Pressure. Demonstrated composure and clear decision-making in high-pressure, fast-changing environments, including the operating conditions of wartime Ukraine. Candidates should surface problems early and directly rather than let them surface on their own, and should be able to hold a strategic line while managing the demands of daily operations.

Qualifications:

• Veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or comparable military service required.
• Humanitarian or international development experience highly desirable.
• Ability to regularly travel both domestically and internationally (U.S.A. and Europe)
• 5+ years in a leadership role managing teams and budgets — nonprofit, government, or private sector.
• Fluent Ukrainian required; professional level of proficiency in English required.
• Bachelor's degree required; post-graduate degree in relevant field highly desirable; equivalent leadership experience will be given full weight.

Join the Nova Ukraine team and help us create lasting impact and contribute to a strong and resilient future for Ukraine.