Консультант/ка / Projects Implementation Consultant – USAID Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity

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.

Under Component 1, the Activity is focused on delivering a proactive mechanism of cybersecurity technical assistance and project management that will serve as an assistance function to address GOU’s critical cybersecurity challenges in wartime. The Activity is focused on short- and medium-term technical projects which include procurement of necessary digital and cyber technologies for the benefit of GOU and CI operators. With built-in flexibility, the Activity identify and set priority procurements in response to war effects on CI and the evolving security dynamics on the ground.

2. ROLE’S PURPOSE: 

Under the supervision of the Component 1 Enabling Environment Lead, the Projects Implementation Consultant will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the implementation of activities outlined in the Contract and AIP to execute the technical projects for the Activity’s recipients.

The Projects Implementation Consultant will lead engagement with relevant stakeholders (i.e. the Government of Ukraine (GOU), CI operators, other donors) and Activity’s subcontractors in the technical assistance efforts supported by the Activity.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing all the monitoring performance reports against the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MELP) targets and supporting the successful completion of activities.    

3. TASKS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan, coordinate, oversee, and manage the day-to-day tasks required to implement the following activities:
  • State Registries’ Protection
  • Safe Communication in State Bomb Shelters
  • Government Cybersecurity Infrastructure
  • UA30 Cyber First Aid
  • UA30 Lviv Backup Facility
  • UA30 Cybersecurity Sensor Infrastructure for Central Government and Regional Administrations
  • UA30 Cybersecurity Intelligence services
  • UA30 Cyber Center Regional expansion via Academy CSIRTs
  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
  • National DDoS Scrubbing Facility
  • Data Redundancy/Backup
  • Critical Infrastructure Registry Self-Allocation Tool
  • National DNS system development and integration
  • Fiber Repair Mobile Labs
  • Network Communications Hub
• Develop, maintain, and update implementation plan for carrying out activities and initiatives.
• Work closely with the selected subcontractors to ensure successful delivery of specific activities and initiatives.
• Performing assessments of IT-projects’ deliverables, namely correspondence of actual executed deliverables to planned tasks.
• Direct engagements with Contractors and vendors to check availability and usage of products (software and hardware) supplied under contracts.
• Technical specifications and high-level designs preparation and checkup for the technical tasks.
• Supervising and monitoring implementation process of IT-projects procured.
• Technical assistance (consultations) to recipients over the IT-projects preparation and/or implementation.
• Compiling ICT-assessments for the DAI for the planned by Activity IT-procurements.
• Work closely with GOU authorities and CI operators to ensure the smooth implementation of technical projects.
• Provide necessary technical assistance documentations focused on the technical architectures, key functions, methodologies, visualization software, etc.
• Reports should be presented and approved at the end of each month

4. Qualifications and Experiences

Master or higher educational degree in cybersecurity, information security management, public administration, or related field;

At least 5 years of experience working with OCIs in various sectors

At least 3 years of experience with technical projects implementation

Solid communications skills, including written and editing skills

Good command of English language is preferred