Legal and Program Director – Ukraine Program

About Project Expedite Justice

Project Expedite Justice (PEJ), founded in 2016, is a United States-based NGO with 501(c)(3) charitable organization designation.

PEJ's mission is to use all available legal options to seek justice for individuals inadequately protected under the law, who cannot access legal resources, and who are exploited by governments, corporations, or others.

PEJ applies a novel, victim-centered approach to addressing mass atrocities. PEJ's 3-step model includes training, mentoring, and providing independent legal consulting. We partner with and train local lawyers and investigators to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence according to international legal standards. Without evidence, there can be no accountability. We further build local capabilities and advance the justice process through case-specific mentoring and strategic guidance to local legal practitioners and investigators. Finally, we partner with local NGOs, pro bono law firms, and legal clinics to represent victims of international crimes and serious human rights abuses in court or alternative judicial mechanisms.

PEJ has projects in several countries. Our inclusive team includes people working remotely from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the US. We are deeply committed to increasing opportunities for lawyers and other human rights defenders from the global majority or global south to participate in international rule-of-law-based nonprofit work. People from countries from the global majority are encouraged to apply for this role.

The Opportunity: Legal and Program Director – Ukraine Program

The Legal and Program Director is a full-time member of the Senior Management Team responsible for the strategic leadership and operational management of PEJ’s Ukraine Program. The Legal and Program Director oversees project planning, execution, and financial management to ensure that all program activities are aligned with PEJ’s goals, donor expectations, and legal accountability objectives. This role works closely with the Cooperation Lead, Senior Legal Coordinator, Senior Investigations Coordinator, Program Coordinator, and others. The Legal and Program Director reports directly to the Executive Director.

Key Deliverables:

• Strategic work plans and approved project timelines aligned with organizational goals.
• High-quality project proposals and reports meeting donor expectations and internal standards.
• Approved project budgets and accurate financial documentation in compliance with funder requirements.
• Timely and compliant narrative and financial donor reports.
• An annual fundraising strategy with measurable goals for the Ukraine program.

Key Responsibilities:

Project and Financial Management:

• Lead the design and implementation of work plans, ensuring alignment with strategic and operational goals.
• Approve project budgets and oversee financial planning to ensure resource efficiency and compliance with donor and internal financial policies.
• Monitor budget expenditures and ensure that they align with approved allocations.
• Approve payroll for Ukraine-based staff and ensure alignment with contractual agreements and SOPs.
• Lead and implement the drafting and development of donor reporting materials such as grant reports, interim reports, or meetings, and address other reporting requests in a timely manner and according to the expected quality standards.

Fundraising and Strategy:

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Senior Management Team to design and implement an annual fundraising plan.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities for the Ukraine Program.
• Lead the development and finalization of proposals and budgets for submission to donors.

Leadership and Oversight:

• Provide strategic leadership for Ukraine-based project teams, guiding day-to-day implementation and ensuring overall program effectiveness.
• Conduct regular check-ins with team leads and ensure coordination across legal, investigative, and operational tracks.
• Represent the Ukraine Project in internal planning and strategic meetings.

Document Oversight:

• Review and approve project-level proposals, reports, and communications for quality, consistency, and strategic alignment.
• Ensure compliance with donor reporting deadlines, formats, and quality expectations.

Profile: Qualifications and Attributes

• Advanced degree in Law (JD, LLM, or equivalent), International Affairs, or a related field.

• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible experience in legal program management, ideally within the fields of international justice, human rights, or humanitarian response.

• Demonstrated success in leading complex projects, including experience with donor engagement, proposal development, and financial and budget oversight.

• Proven leadership and team management skills, with a strong track record of supervising diverse, multidisciplinary, and remote teams.

• Exceptional communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, remote environment.

• In-depth understanding of the Ukrainian legal, political, and cultural context is highly desirable.

• Fluency in Ukrainian or Russian is a strong asset. Fluency in English is a must.

• Preferably based in Kyiv, Ukraine, with legal authorization to work in the country.

• Strong alignment with PEJ’s mission and values, including a demonstrated passion for social justice and commitment to accountability for human rights violations.