Anunțuri de Angajare

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

PROJECT TITLE: EU4 Moldova: Local Communities Phase 2
POSITION: Team Leader
STARTING DATE: Tentatively May/June 2026 (this vacancy is announced in anticipation of signing of the Multi Partner Contribution Agreement)
CONTRACT PERIOD: 12 Months with the possibility of extension (max. 39 months)
LOCATION: Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is recruiting Team Leader (full time, f/m) for the project EU4 Moldova Local Communities Phase 2.

1. Background and Introduction

The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) has been delegated by the European Union (EU), under the Lead of the German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and in partnership with Solidarity Fund Poland (SFPL) to implement a strategic project supporting Moldova’s key transformation processes, including EU accession, regionalization of services, territorial administrative reform, improved local service delivery, and preparedness for EU funds, by providing a framework for multi-level cooperation, capacity building, and practical support.

The project is entitled EU4 Moldova: Local Communities Phase 2 and will target legal, institutional, operational, and human capacity gaps to enable local public authorities (LPAs) to effectively implement local governance reforms, while also supporting Moldova’s progress in the EU accession negotiations.

The Overall Objective of the project is to contribute to stronger, more efficient, and citizen-responsive local self-governance in Moldova, supporting the country’s long-term progress toward EU accession.

The Specific Objective is to strengthen the capacities of national institutions and local public authorities to effectively implement territorial amalgamation and enhance preparedness for absorption of EU funding for efficient, demand-oriented service delivery to citizens.

Within the project, ADA will implement a volume of 4,3 Mio. EUR focusing on enhancing the capacities of national institutions and local public authorities to implement territorial amalgamation effectively and improve citizens’ living conditions through citizen-centered public service delivery.

The project will be implemented over a period of 36 months. To support the ADA Office for Technical Cooperation in Chisinau in ensuring the successful implementation of this project, ADA is recruiting an experienced Team Leader for a maximum of 39 months (including closing period) starting tentatively in May/June 2026. The position will be based in Chisinau.

Further background information and documents regarding Austria’s engagement in Moldova are available on our homepage: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/.

2. Detailed Terms of Reference

Role Summary: The Team Leader (TL) will be a senior expert in social sciences, management, public administration, urban or regional planning, or law with proven experience in managing EU-funded projects. Additional expertise in decentralization, local governance/administrative modernization, territorial reform, and amalgamation processes and/or environmental science, public service delivery (water supply, sanitation and environmental engineering) are considered strong assets. As the primary person responsible for the EU4 Moldova: Local Communities Phase 2 throughout all phases, the TL will oversee both strategic and operational aspects. S/he will work under the guidance of the Head of Office of ADA, who holds overall responsibility for all disciplinary, organizational, and contractual matters of this employment, and will collaborate closely with the Programme Manager at the ADA Head Office in Vienna. S/he will supervise the project team, ensure quality assurance, and deliver timely internal and external narrative and financial reports, including the final project report. Coordination and cooperation with central, local and regional authorities and institutions, as well as with non governmental partners, is a core task of the assignment.

The position is based at the project management office in Chisinau and requires regular business travel within Moldova and occasional travel abroad.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management and Leadership
• Overall results oriented technical and financial management of the project in line with EU and ADA regulations.
• Provide overall leadership, guidance, and technical expertise to the project management team in line with the project’s objectives and work plan.
• Regularly monitor and analyze the project environment and adjust implementation as needed.
• Lead and supervise the project management team (6 national staff).
• In line with ADA rules and procedures, select national and international short and long term experts, and provide overall coordination and monitoring of their performance.

Compliance and Procurement
• Ensure compliance of procurement and grant award procedures with EU and ADA regulations.
• Contract and support external audits and evaluations in line with ADA rules and procedures.

Stakeholder Liaison and Representation
• Serve as the project’s key liaison with government counterparts, the EU Delegation, project stakeholders, beneficiaries, other donors, and the public to develop professional relationships.
• Ensure high EU and ADA visibility in line with the project’s communication and visibility plan.

Quality Assurance and Risk Management
• Provide quality assurance of project interventions and outputs.
• Regularly monitor potential risks and develop and implement risk mitigation measures.
• Ensure compliance with ADA’s Environmental, Gender, and Social Impact Management (EGSIM) Manual.

Monitoring and Reporting
• Coordinate monitoring activities, including backstopping missions from ADA HQ, and oversee analysis and aggregation of collected data.
• Prepare regular project reports and coordinate the reporting process with the ADA local team and ADA HQ.

Other Duties
• Carry out any other duties as required by the supervisor.

3. Requirements and Qualifications

Education and Professional Experience
• University degree in Economics, Business, Public Administration, Management, or another related field.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in managing international development projects of similar scope and nature; successful experience with EU funded projects in Eastern Europe is considered an asset.
• Proven experience with results based project management and project cycle management, including monitoring and evaluation.
• Solid understanding of donor procedures and rules applicable to funding from large institutional donors, particularly European Union external actions.
• Experience in the EU approximation process, especially under Chapter 27, is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of international development cooperation principles and quality standards, including gender, diversity, inclusiveness, and environmental considerations.
• Experience in managing contract implementation and budget oversight.

Skills and Competencies
• Excellent written and oral communication, reporting, and representation skills in English, Romanian and Russian is essential.
• Ability to effectively manage and coordinate a multidisciplinary team of staff, experts, and consultants.
• Strong interpersonal, social, and communication skills.
• Adherence to the highest standards of ethics.
• Self motivation and a proactive working style.
• Ability to work in multinational and multicultural environments.
• Capacity to build and maintain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Technical Proficiency
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications.

Mobility
• Ability and willingness to travel within Moldova and occasionally abroad.

4. How to apply

Please submit your application to chisinau.application@ada.gv.at by CoB 28 April 2026 at 24:00 hrs EET (12:00 p.m. Moldova time), indicating the position name “Team Leader” in the subject line.

Applications must include the following documents:
• Letter of motivation in English, including salary expectations and highlighting relevant experience for the assignment.
• Curriculum Vitae in English.
• Names, contact details, and working relationship of three professional references (at least one referee should have been your direct supervisor).
• Copies of academic certificates and testimonials.

This project position is subject to the pending signature of the Contribution Agreement between the EU and ADA. ADA retains the discretion to re advertise the vacancy, cancel the recruitment, or offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply. ADA supports gender equality at all levels and attaches great importance to achieving gender balance in senior positions. In cases of equal qualification and absent other outweighing factors, preference will be given to female candidates. Applications from persons with a migrant background and/or persons with disabilities are also welcome.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. No application fees or bank account details are required by ADA during the recruitment process. Please note that ADA is unable to reimburse costs incurred for in person interviews. Candidates should expect that references from previous employers will be requested. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for subsequent stages of the recruitment process.

Note: The Terms of Reference are intended to provide an overview of the position and key responsibilities. They may be subject to revisions and refinements based on project needs, ADA regulations, and EU guidelines.

Please see also pdf version of the vacancy announcement.