Вакансія: Senior Lawyer, Category 1

1. Objective(s) and Linkages to Reforms

The Recovery and Reform Support Team (RST) at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine (Ministry) is a group of Ukrainian professionals (non-civil servants) funded on a temporary basis through the Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture (URA)[1] programme that provides targeted technical support and assists the Ministry in the design and implementation of priority reforms. The RST will assist in filling capacity gaps in the design and implementation of priority reform strategies and programmes, while strengthening links and partnerships between the Ministry`s priorities and relevant donor support.

Priority areas for the RST at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine will be: 

• Transport Infrastructure;
• Municipal Infrastructure;
• Regional Development and Decentralisation;
• Digitalisation;
• Public Administration Reform and Capacity Building;
• Public Investment Management.

The successful implementation of sectoral projects within the RST priority reform areas requires strong legal expertise to ensure compliance with national legislation and Ukraine’s international commitments. This involves evaluating existing laws to identify gaps and inconsistencies, proposing amendments or new provisions, and offering legal support throughout the legislative process, from development to advocacy and final adoption. These efforts are crucial for driving systematic reforms, supporting Ukraine’s recovery efforts and advancing the European integration agenda.

2. Position and Reporting Line

Senior Lawyer will be a full-time consultant in the RST cross-sectoral team and report to the RST Director. The consultant will closely collaborate with deputy ministers responsible for reforms. The expert will play a key role in supporting legal aspects by analysing current legislation, identifying regulatory gaps, and drafting necessary amendments to align with EU standards and best practices. Beyond sector-specific legal tasks, the highly qualified professional will ensure that reforms are implemented in line with the recommendations outlined in key strategic documents, including the Ukraine Facility Plan and the Annual European Commission’s Enlargement Reports on Ukraine.

3. Duration of the Assignment

The consultancy appointment is expected to start in August 2025. Duration of the assignment is subject to the availability of project funding, the consultant’s performance, and the specific requirements of the RST.

4. Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Lawyer is expected to support the Ministry with the following: 

• provide comprehensive legal analysis of draft legislation related to the Ministry’s strategic initiatives;
• prepare a comparative analyses and tables of correspondence between Ukrainian and EU legal acts as well as according to the EU-UA Association Agreement;
• develop and advocate proposals for amendments to current legislation, accompanied by drafting and legal justification of laws, bylaws and preparation of analytical reports assessing the effectiveness and alignment of current legislation with reform objectives;
• assist in the implementation of draft laws, bylaws and legal support during their approval process;
• interact with RST Senior Project Managers for timely preparation of draft legal acts of required amendments;
• prepare comprehensive progress reports and detailed status updates on the implementation of key reform initiatives;
• other responsibilities as assigned by the RST Director. 

Expected deliverables: 

• legal analysis reports: comprehensive legal analyses of draft legislation related to the Ministry’s strategic initiatives, highlighting key findings and recommendations;
• legislative gap assessments: detailed reviews of current legislation, identifying gaps and inconsistencies;
• legislative amendment proposals: well-substantiated proposals for amendments to existing legislation, including accompanying legal drafts of laws and secondary legislation;
• analytical reports: in-depth reports evaluating the effectiveness and alignment of current legislation with reform and policy objectives;
• draft legal acts: completed draft legal acts ready for advocacy and adoption;
• progress reports: regular, comprehensive updates on the status of reform implementation, including key achievements, challenges, and next steps.

The specified lists of the scope of work, services and expected deliverables can be modified and supplemented on request from the Ministry and in agreement with the EBRD and the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

5. Qualifications, Skills and Experience

5.1. Qualifications and Skills: 

• Master’s degree in law;
• a post-graduate degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Public Administration/Public Affairs, or Public Policy is an advantage;
• good understanding of the Ministry`s reforms and relevant regulations/legislation;
• strong analytical, communication and presentation skills;
• impeccable ethical standards, and outstanding leadership skills;
• PC literacy in Microsoft software (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Project), Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Docs);
• fluency in Ukrainian and English.

5.2. Professional Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of general professional experience;
• minimum 5 years of experience as a lawyer and/or legal adviser in law firms, government or international organisations.

5.3. Other Competencies:

• Proven knowledge of Ukrainian and EU legislation;
• familiarity with current Ukraine’s reform agenda, good understanding of policy formulation processes and policy dialogues;
• experience with government entities and their mandate and processes is an asset.

6. Funding Source

The funding source of this assignment is the EBRD Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA). Contributors to the MDA are Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

Please note, selection and contracting will be subject to the availability of funding.

7. Submissions

Submissions must be prepared in English only and be delivered electronically by July 10, 2025, 23:59 (Kyiv time) to [email protected]

All submissions must include:

• a completed Application Form;
• the candidate’s Curriculum Vitae;
• NDA form;
• contact details of three referees who, if contacted, can attest to the professional and/or educational background of the candidate.

Important notice: only Ukrainian nationals are eligible to apply; civil servants are not eligible to apply unless 6 months have elapsed since they left such employment.

Only applications, which have been submitted using the correct template and are fully completed, will be considered.

8. Selection Procedure

Following the evaluation of all applications received, selected candidates may be invited to the written tests. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to the interview. 

^[1] The Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture is a comprehensive technical assistance programme deployed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the European Union, to support critical recovery and reform processes in Ukraine. URA is implemented with the financial assistance of the EBRD-Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA).