Regional Portfolio Manager for Economy in Eastern Europe (F/M/D) 100%

Job Description

Helvetas is an organization specialized in development cooperation and humanitarian response, anchored in Switzerland. Our vision is a just world in which all people determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, using environmental resources in a sustainable manner.

We welcome applications from motivated individuals for the following post in one of our branch offices in the Western Balkan and Eastern Europe region or Switzerland. The expected starting date is April 2025 or upon agreement.

Helvetas implements a wide portfolio of projects and initiatives in eight countries throughout the region, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine. With our nearly 200 staff across the region, we promote green and socially inclusive transition processes by focusing our systemic actions and partnerships on creating new economic perspectives and promoting good governance and civic engagement.

The Regional Portfolio Manager ECONOMY for Eastern Europe is responsible for leading the development and implementation of Helvetas’ regional project portfolio in the thematic area of Skills, Jobs, and Income (Economic Development). The position plays a key role in business development, strategic positioning, quality assurance, and knowledge sharing to drive economic growth and employment opportunities in the region. The Regional Portfolio Manager is part of the regional management team and reports to the Regional Director for Eastern Europe. The role entails frequent travel within the region and close collaboration with country teams, donors, and partners.

MAIN TASK

1. Business Development

• Identify and pursue funding opportunities aligned with regional and organizational priorities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders to enhance funding prospects.
• Lead and contribute to the development of high-quality project proposals, ensuring strategic alignment with Helvetas’ goals and donor expectations.

2. Coordination of Support to Projects

• Act as the main liaison between country teams, thematic advisors, and support units to ensure successful project implementation.
• Ensure alignment of projects with regional strategic priorities, especially regarding the green transition.
• Address challenges and bottlenecks to keep projects on track, within budget, and achieving intended outcomes.

3. Positioning and Communications

• Position Helvetas as a key player in economic development by engaging with donors, government agencies, and the private sector.
• Develop external communication strategies to highlight project successes, innovations, and Helvetas’ value proposition.
• Represent Helvetas in relevant forums, policy dialogues, working groups, and events to enhance visibility and credibility.
• Collaborate with country teams to create high-quality materials (e.g., case studies, success stories, and social media content).

4. Quality Assurance

• Ensure all projects meet Helvetas’ standards, donor requirements, and international best practices.
• Provide guidance to project teams to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, and impact.
• Support the implementation of inclusive economic development models focused on livelihoods, SME growth, employment, and financial inclusion.
• Lead monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes to drive continuous improvement and sustainability.

5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Support country teams in strengthening their capacities in project management, communication, and thematic expertise.
• Promote cross-country learning and knowledge exchange within the region.
• Integrate lessons learned and feedback into future project planning and strategy development.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in economics, development studies, or a relevant field (mandatory). Advanced training in Market Systems Development (MSD) and DCED Standard for Results Measurement is required.
• Experience of at least 12 years of professional experience in development cooperation, including 5-8 years in project management or advisory roles in MSD and economic development.
• Proven track record in business development and securing funding from donors such as SDC, SECO, Sida, EU, and USAID.
• Strong organizational skills with experience in leading cross-country teams and ensuring high-quality project execution.
• Leadership competencies, including results-orientation, accountability, communication, and team empowerment.
• Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and act as an ambassador for Helvetas.
• Excellent written and spoken English. A language spoken in the region is of advantage (Albanian, Bosnian, Georgian, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian/Croatian, Ukrainian) and/or German/French.
• Full proficiency in MS Office 365, online collaboration tools, and digital project management systems.
• Strong interest in applying digital solutions and AI tools for improved project management and communication.

WE OFFER YOU

A contract in accordance with national regulations (excluding international/expat contract), with a competitive remuneration and benefits package. Helvetas provides investment and a conducive and collaborative work environment for personal development and growth, encouraging leadership and teamwork. We promote a diverse working culture in which people feel respected and supported. The position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the field of economic development and green transition in Eastern Europe. Additionally, it offers regular travel opportunities and engagement with regional and global development stakeholders.

We look forward to receiving your complete application, including a CV, motivation letter, and relevant work certificates, by February 28, 2025. Please send your electronic application via our online recruiting portal. For additional information, please contact recruitmentEE@helvetas.org.

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About the Organization

Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Cooperation, founded 1955 as Switzerland’s first private organization for development cooperation, is registered as a denominationally and politically independent, non profit oriented, specialised development association. Helvetas is primarily committed to working towards the elimination of the causes of poverty and marginalization in the South and the East. Its mission is to actively contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of economically, socially and politically disadvantaged people within the frame of the Human Rights, with a focus on self-initiative activities and self-help in rural areas. Together with some 44’000 members and their local groups, Helvetas is as well actively engaged in Switzerland with respect to solidarity in development, to promoting fair trade, and raising public awareness of the cultural wealth of development and transition countries. In its international programme, Helvetas concentrates its actions in four working areas: 1. Infrastructure in Rural Areas including initiatives regarding water and sanitation, access and mobilization, livelihood, rehabilitation and construction of basic infrastructure, 2. Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, also comprising projects in the fields of climate, disaster risk mitigation and sustainable livelihood management, 3. Education and Culture, including a number of successful initiatives in Vocational Education and Training (VET), support to and lobbying for reforms in the VET System, improvement of teaching and learning environments, modernization of curriculum, assessment and development of learning materials, human resource development, development of alternative financing approaches, awareness-building and income generation through artistic forms of expression, promotion of cultural exchange and diversity of cultural expressions. 4. Civil Society and the State, which integrates projects supporting good governance, decentralisation and civil peace building/conflict sensitivity. Helvetas’ development initiatives are guided by five approaches: striving for equality between men and women (gender), learning through dialogue between different cultures, protecting the environment, acting with economic and social responsibility and conflict prevention. Helvetas is not only oriented towards material needs, such as procuring food and improved living conditions, but also towards aims regarding social, cultural, and spiritual aspects. These include the overcoming of paralysing dependence, reduction of inequality between the sexes, ethnicity, castes, building up of self-confidence or the strengthening of responsibility towards other human beings and the environment. Helvetas acts on the basis of human rights and makes every effort that these are also respected by its partner organizations. Also important are the promotion of democratic, decentralised structures, opportunities for participation, and joint responsibility as citizens. For its international programmes, Helvetas’ mission is: - to cooperate on a partnership basis with and in favour of the poor and disadvantaged population groups in the poorer regions of development and transition countries - to share knowledge and experiences between Switzerland and partner countries as well as to further promote mutual exchange between partner countries - to strengthen local structures and sustainable development and to promote human rights - to develop suitable measures that prevent or mitigate violent conflicts Wherever indicated, Helvetas applies a multi-stakeholder approach involving partners of civil society, the state and the private sector in reaching development goals. On the basis of participatory approaches, Helvetas strengthens its partner organizations. Their institutional sustainability is a key concern which is addressed through capacity building of the partner organizations. Furthermore, to leverage the best utilisation of its knowledge, to strengthen internal learning and to share experience and lessons learnt with other development actors, Helvetas (in 2000) elevated Knowledge Sharing (KS) to a strategic level. Helvetas nowadays plays a leading role in KS for Development, striving for continuous learning through an intranet and face-to-face workshops. Helvetas supports facilitation of international Communities of Practice (CoP), e.g. the “Water-for-food”-network () or the “KM4Dev” (Knowledge Management for Development) (www.km4dev.org). Helvetas currently employs 77 staff (56 full-time posts) at the Head Office in Switzerland, and 45 expatriates (42 full-time posts) and 630 local staff in 20 developing and transition countries. In 2009, Helvetas had a turnover of around 64.3 Mio CHF; 54.2 Mio CHF for programme support abroad, 3.4 Mio CHF for information and advocacy activities in Switzerland, and 6.7 Mio CHF for administration and fundraising in Switzerland. Helvetas’ Board of Directors (15 members) determines the overall strategy based on the bylaws and executes financial control functions. The operational implementation is with the Secretary General and the Management Board (7; Heads of Departments and Secretary General) based on department and working area strategies and financial plans. The International Programmes Department (19 full-time posts) at the head office is divided into a geographic team (steering, coordination, controlling of the country programmes) and the thematic team (technical assistance and expertise, monitoring). In the partner countries, programme offices with programme directors (15) are responsible for the implementation of projects and country strategies. The finance department (4) at the head office operates the financial control system. The Programme direction and programme country projects are audited yearly by an external, independent auditing company (KPMG, Zurich). Helvetas is ZEWO certified, avails a risk analysis system and a well elaborated monitoring and evaluation system. Helvetas’ monitoring and evaluation system pursues three objectives: a) to provide information for strategic steering, b) to allow organisational learning and c) to assure accountability to its constituencies, donors and the ultimate beneficiaries. Helvetas conducts therefore a) periodic monitoring, b) internal and external evaluations, c) qualitative case studies and d) impact assessments in a set of selected projects. For the periodic monitoring Helvetas has developed an electronic Project Monitoring System (pms), which is linked to its Internal Control System. Helvetas introduced a decentralized management system in 1990, delegating a high degree of autonomy to the country programme directors. A project monitoring system enables the programme directors to delegate operational responsibility to national project managers and staff. The Helvetas programme offices are responsible for coordination and strategic issues. Helvetas has links with networks and partner organisations, e.g. being actively involved in the SDC governance network, the KOFF (Competence Centre for Peace Building) intervision group on conflict sensitivity and gender network at university of Bern. Strategic partnership agreements exist particularly with SCA, SKAT and KOFF.