Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations. DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.
DRC is currently looking for an HR Officer in Kharkiv.
About the job
Ensuring the effective functioning of HR processes within the area of responsibility by supporting the full cycle of HR operations, including recruitment, record-keeping, compliance with employment legislation and providing advice to employees, with the aim of supporting organizational effectiveness and compliance with internal policies and standards.
Your main duties and responsibilities will be:
- Provide HR guidance to employees and managers on policies, procedures, and HR-related concerns
- Support and lead recruitment processes, including: publishing and launching job postings on internal and external platforms to attract suitable candidates, communicating with applicants throughout the recruitment process, including scheduling, regret letters, and offer communication, coordinating reference checks and background verifications for shortlisted candidates.
- Supporting onboarding of new hires, including contract preparation, induction, and orientation scheduling.
- Assist with workforce planning and ensure job descriptions align with organizational structure
- Prepare timesheets for all employees in the Area of responsibility twice per month and provide payroll-related HR inputs
- Sets up and administers personal files of employees, ensures Personal Files were sent to the DRC Country Office in a timely manner.
- Process hiring, transfers, contract extensions, and terminations in compliance with labor law
- Prepare annual leave balance summaries for management, issue Internal HR Orders, coordinate archiving with the DRC Country Office, and ensure data consistency of leave records across all HR platforms
- Perform role of HR User in HR Systems, including hire, termination and extension of employees’ contracts, checking leave requests and approvals, benefits and compensation
- Coordinate submission of medical insurance information to the insurers in accordance with the existing changes in the list of employees
- Coordinate document flow, maintain a register of outgoing documents and ensure they are sent on time via Nova Poshta to the country office
- Performing other HR duties as assigned by the HR and Administration Team Leader or senior management.
About you
To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 2 years of work experience in Human Resources management, administration, information activity or in the related field. Moreover, we also expect the following:
Required
- University degree in “HR Management and Labor Economics", "Law", "Documentation and Information Activity", "Record Keeping" or related specialization.
- Practical experience in HR Administration (preparing and processing hiring, contract extensions,
- transfers, and terminations, maintaining employee records and personal files, etc)
- Strong knowledge of labor law
- Experience with HRIS/ERP systems and HR data management
- Experience in administering leave requests and time sheets preparation
- Ability to handle confidential information with integrity
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Knowledge of English (B2 level), fluent Ukrainian
Desirable
- Familiarity with humanitarian principles and practices;
- Experience working in multicultural environments;
- Proactive and collaborative approach to work;
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
We offer
Contract length: A three-month probationary period, after which the contract may be extended depending on funding and the quality of work
Band: H nm
Designation of Duty Station: Kharkiv
Start date: As soon as possible
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts; please refer to our website for more details.
Application process
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.
Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 17 April, 2026
We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.
Apply NowDRC as an employer
Founded in 1956, DRC Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest, and a leading international NGO. We have continuously been ranked as one of the best NGOs in the world - and are one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. In over 30 countries, we protect, advocate and build sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement-affected people and communities.
By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of over 6,000 employees. We pride ourselves on our:
- Professionalism, impact & expertise
- Humanitarian approach & the work we do
- Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution
- Culture, values & strong leadership
- Fair compensation & continuous development
DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.
Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and we consider all applicants based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50% balance of men and women in management roles and ensuring that at least 50% of management roles are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is crucial for achieving our organizational goals and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.