Вакансія: Lead Expert / Component 2

KEY INFORMATION

Position: Lead Expert / Component 2
Programme: Fiscal Governance for Local Reconstruction and Recovery (FG4R)
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine (with regular travel to partner cities: Lviv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi)
Reports to: Component 2 Lead
Level of Effort: 260 days (Full-Time)

Duration: 1 year

1. Programme Background

The Fiscal Governance for Local Reconstruction and Recovery (FG4R) programme is a Swiss-funded initiative implemented by Cowater International to strengthen municipal fiscal resilience and support Ukraine’s local recovery. Operating in five partner cities (Lviv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Chernivtsi, and Khmelnytskyi), FG4R works with national and local authorities to rebuild transparent and accountable public financial management systems that can drive recovery and attract investment. The programme is designed for a four-year implementation period (2025–2029).

FG4R is structured around four technical components:

1. Internal Control, Audit, and Transparency: Strengthening financial oversight and budget openness.
2. Local Revenue Mobilisation and Debt Management: Expanding municipal revenue bases and supporting responsible borrowing.
3. Strategic Resource Allocation and Public Investment Management: Ensuring budgets align with recovery priorities through medium-term and performance-based budgeting, gender- and climate-responsive budgeting, and improved investment management systems.
4. Learning, Peer Exchange, and Communication: Capturing, sharing, and scaling learning across municipalities.

2. The Role

The Component 2 Lead Expert will complement the Component 2 Lead. The role focuses on on strengthening local revenue mobilisation and municipal debt management systems in partner cities. The role aims to improve the capacity of municipalities to expand their revenue base, strengthen revenue administration practices, improve forecasting and planning, enhance the management of municipal assets, and support responsible borrowing and debt management.

The Component 2 Lead Expert will work closely with partner city administrations; the Ministry of Finance; and other stakeholders to improve revenue collection and debt management and increase fiscal space for cities.

3. Key Responsibilities             A. Revenue Mobilisation

• Support revenue mapping and diagnostics to identify underutilized revenue sources.
• Support the upgrade of information systems and tools to improve local tax and fee administration.
• Support the Swiss Land Management Network (SNLM) to update Cadastre data leading to an increase in the number of property objects (land, immovable property) registered.
• Support coordination with relevant national and local stakeholders to improve the quality and completeness of land and property-related data used for local revenue administration.Propose and support the implementation of mechanisms for more effective collection of local taxes by the target communities.   B.Debt Management

• Support the development of guidelines and tools for municipal debt management, including risk assessments and debt sustainability frameworks.
• Coordinate and support capacity-building workshops delivered to local finance departments on issuing and managing local bonds.
• Support cities in designing and submitting proposals for accessing credit or development finance.
• Support coordination between partner cities and the Ministry of Finance on municipal borrowing and compliance with applicable debt management requirements and debt ceilings.  C. Coordination and Knowledge Sharing

• Contribute to learning materials, case studies, and progress reporting.
• Provide technical input to policy dialogue with government counterparts and development partners.

4. Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated expert role for a comparable project or in a senior government role.
• Advanced degree in Economics, Public Finance, Public Administration, or a related field.
• At least eight (8) years of professional experience in public financial management, fiscal decentralisation, or related reform areas.
• Expertise and experience in tax and fee administration. Knowledge of data and information systems used for managing taxable objects and collecting revenue.
• Knowledge of debt management risk assessment.
• Strong understanding of Ukraine’s fiscal framework and intergovernmental financial relations.
• Experience working with national and local authorities, donors, and development partners.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and strong English, with strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to provide practical technical assistance in diverse teams.

5. Deliverables

The Component 2 Lead Expert will complement the Component 2 Lead by:

• Preparing proposals for improving data quality for revenue mobilisation;
• Preparing requirements for revenue mobilisation and debt management analytical tools;
• Designing Component 2 activities based on the FG4R Work Plan;
• Designing training courses for debt management, based on the diagnostic; and
• Supporting monitoring and evaluation for revenue mobilisation and debt management activities.
• Technical inputs to core FG4R documents, covering Component 2 priorities, methodologies, findings, and recommendations.
• High-quality advisory support and capacity-building interventions delivered to partner cities.
• Regular technical inputs to FG4R reporting and communication processes, including donor-facing submissions where relevant.

6. Reporting and Working Arrangements

The Component 2 Lead Expert reports to the Component 2 Lead and works closely with the Team Lead, Finance Officer, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead. The position is full-time and based in Kyiv, with travel to partner municipalities. The Component 2 Lead Expert will coordinate technical experts and liaise with national counterparts to support timely and high-quality delivery of revenue mobilisation and debt management outputs under Component 2.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply by June 26, 2026 as soon as possible.

For your application to be considered, please submit your CV to email: [email protected] 

Cowater international strives to maintain a fair, transparent, and human centered recruitment process. As part of our commitment to responsible hiring practices and compliance with evolving recruitment regulations, we may use AI assisted tools to support limited aspects of our talent acquisition workflow, such as reviewing or shortlisting applications. These tools are used only to enhance efficiency and consistency in our processes. All assessments, interviews, and final hiring decisions are made exclusively by our human recruiting managers. Candidates may request additional information about the use of these tools or reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.