Integrated Urban Planning and Urban Design Advisor

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the project “Just and Green Urban Recovery Accelerator” (hereinafter – the Project) represents a strategic response to Ukraine’s urban challenges while fostering long-term sustainable development. By aligning with EU policies, international good practices, and national priorities, the initiative strengthens Ukraine’s urban governance, enhances climate resilience, and promotes inclusive growth in cities. With targeted interventions in capacity building, policy reform, and integrated planning, the Project contributes directly to Ukraine’s recovery and European integration aspirations.

The Project goal is to improve the requirements for the implementation of socially equitable, climate-friendly, resilient urban reconstruction and revitalization in accordance with the principles of the New Leipzig Charter and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) considering the EU accession agenda of Ukraine.

This shall be achieved with the help of evidence-based “model projects” for integrated urban reconstruction and recovery, which will be developed in selected partner cities as part of the “Urban Living Lab” approach. These model projects encompass both spatial planning and implementation-oriented elements (demo projects). With their exemplary and forward-thinking solutions, the projects will provide good practices for scaling-up as well as lessons learnt to inform Ukraine’s urban recovery and reconstruction framework considering the EU accession requirements. 

Area of Focus:

• For duty stations Kyiv / Zhytomyr / Dnipro — focus on Kryvyi Rih
• For duty station Lviv — focus on Khmelnytskyi and Rivne

📌 Please indicate your preferred duty station in the application

Key responsibilities:

• Act as the main focal point for the project’s partner city Kryvyi Rih in Estern/Southern Ukraine for the implementation of the Project’s objectives and cooperation with the partner city in the field of just and green urban recovery.
• In coordination with the team colleauges in the JGURA Project Office Hub Central/South, provide technical and process- related advice to selected partner cities in central/southern Ukraine (partner cities include Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Kryvyi Rih) with the main focus on Kryvyi Rih in the integrated development of neighbourhoods in line with the New Leipzig Charta and the New European Bauhaus principles
• Provide technical and process- related advice to the Project’s partner city(ies) in central / Southern Ukraine in the integrated development of neighbourhoods in line with the New Leipzig Charta and the New European Bauhaus principles
• Provide technical expert and process-related advice in the development of demonstration projects considering strategic urban recovery topics for Ukraine as well as minding topics such as nature-based solutions, barrier-free and human centred design, gender-sensitive urban planning and inclusion of vulnerable groups.
• Provide process advice and support to the partner city in organising participatory approaches for urban recovery and development efforts, while taking into account the potential war-related traumatic experiences of local citizens (post-traumatic urban recovery approaches).
• Support knowledge management and institutional learning of the selected partner cities
• Coordinate with (international) consultants and experts to advise selected partner cities in the process of the integrated neighbourhood development and the design of demonstration projects taking into account European good-practices and values
• Provide strategic advice and support to the partner cities to link larger scale investment projects to further co-financing opportunities (IFIs, State Regional Development Fund)
• Support the development of case studies, good-practices and communication materials for joint learning and scaling up of green urban recovery solutions in Ukraine
• Project management tasks, including preparing of grant agreements and service contracts, conceptualising and organising event formats (workshops, peer-to-peer exchange formats etc).
• Advice and support to the project management to achieve the Project’s main objectives, contribute to the monitoring and evaluation as well as reporting to the Project’s donors.
• Close coordination and cooperation with other relevant projects in the GIZ Ukraine portfolio and beyond to build synergies in supporting the cities

Required qualifications, professional experience and personal competences:

• University degree in one or several relevant specialisations in urban planning, architecture, geography, climate studies.
• At least five years of professional experience in one of the following fields: urban and regional development, architecture, urban design
• Proven practical experience in working with city authorities in the field of spatial planning, urban design and/or climate mitigation and adaptation measures
• Professional experience working with Ukrainian cities in the East/South of Ukraine would be considered a strong advantage.
• Experience in coordinating participatory multi-stakeholder engagement process at city level
• Knowledge about the principles of the New European Bauhaus and the New Leipzig Charta; proven practical application of the principles in the urban context would be of strong advantage
• Professional experience and/or strong willingness to learn more about post-traumatic urban recovery and its application in the Ukrainian context
• Solid knowledge of key stakeholders in the fields of urban planning / green local recovery in Ukraine, including, civil society organisations, educational institutions, private sector, associations, and projects of other donors
• Additional knowledge and/or professional experience in one of the following fields would be a strong advantage: housing, landscaping, urban mobility, post conflict and disaster urban recovery, gender-sensitive urban planning, digital tools in urban planning
• Strong interest in broadening one’s knowledge, expertise and network on the abovementioned topics.
• Experience in project management tasks, including preparation of grant agreements and service contracts, conceptualising and organising event formats
• Excellent communication skills and experience working in highly sensitive political environments; strong empathy and sensitive behaviour in politically tense situations
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Diligence, responsible, service-orientated, and proactive working style
• Strong team player and abilities for horizontal and vertical coordination within the team
• Flexibility and ability to work in a multi-stakeholder environment
• High level of integrity and willingness to take up responsibility
• Very good user knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 ecosystem.
• Fluent in the Ukrainian and English language in verbal and written form
• Willingness to travel within Ukraine, also to the Eastern partner city, considering GIZ Ukraine’s risk monitoring and security regulations 

We offer:

• Official employment, salary fixed in EUR, performance-related bonuses and 13th salary.
• Medical insurance, 29 vacation days annually.
• Language classes, hard and soft skills trainings.
• Individual and group psychological support.
• Possible flexible and remote work (depending on projects’ needs up to 10 days a month within Ukrainian border).
• Meaningful and valuable work, international environment.

Employment conditions:

Full-time position with 40-hours working week. Place of assignment is Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Lviv or Kyiv. Starting as soon as possible. The contract duration will be 12 months with the possibility of prolongation.

GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and offers an attractive and challenging working environment with opportunities for skill enhancement.

Application:

We are looking forward to your application in English, comprising your CV and a Cover letter explaining your motivation to apply for the job to @email  until COB 28 January 2026, Wednesday. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stages of the recruitment process.

 

Dear candidates, we kindly request that you specify which city you consider suitable as your duty station: Kyiv / Dnipro/ Zhytomyr/ Lviv.

Candidates are requested to submit their documents with the following title:

•  Surname Name_CV

•  Surname Name_Cover letter

By sending the application you give the consent for the personal data processing for recruitment processes solely according to GIZ data privacy regulations. You can familiarize yourself with these regulations by the link Data protection | GIZ