Senior Advisor on EU Accession (for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine)

Application Deadline | 12 April 2026 Expected Starting Date | 2nd Q, 2026 Organisation | Central Project Management Agency (CPVA), Lithuania Duty Location | Kyiv, Ukraine Senior Advisor on EU Accession provides strategic, senior-level analytical and advisory support on matters related to Ukraine’s EU accession process, including issues related to EU cohesion policy, to the Secretariat of the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine within the Ukraine2EU framework. The Advisor contributes to informed political and institutional decision-making by delivering high-quality, evidence-based analysis, policy recommendations, and briefing materials on EU enlargement, accession negotiations, and Ukraine’s alignment with the EU acquis. The role includes monitoring and assessing Ukraine’s progress in fulfilling obligations under the EU accession process, including the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis, European Commission Enlargement Reports, the Ukraine Facility and other EU accession–related instruments and documents. The Advisor shall identify key challenges, risks, and opportunities, and shall provide regular updates, analytical reports and briefings to support strategic decision-making. The assignment requires availability for travel within Ukraine and internationally. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Provide high-level analytical and advisory support to the Secretariat of the First Deputy Speaker on Ukraine’s EU accession, including enlargement policy, negotiations, institutional and legislative alignment with the EU acquis. Prepare analytical notes, policy briefs, speeches, talking points, and draft official statements to support political and parliamentary engagement on EU accession. Monitor and assess Ukraine’s implementation of commitments under the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis, the Ukraine Facility Plan, and European Commission Reports. Analyze EU accession negotiations and sectoral policies, providing evidence-based updates on progress, risks, and priorities. Conduct research on EU legislation, standards, and best practices, including comparative analysis of EU Member States and candidate countries. Prepare briefing materials for meetings, official visits, and international engagements related to EU accession. Support coordination with government bodies, EU institutions, international partners, civil society, and expert networks. Summarize outcomes of events, consultations, and hearings on EU integration, providing recommendations for follow-up. Support organization of meetings, agendas, and briefing packages aligned with EU accession priorities. Contribute to coherence between political objectives, legislative initiatives, and Ukraine’s EU accession commitments. Undertake official missions and travel within Ukraine and abroad as required for advisory and coordination tasks. Prepare analytics and work on the formation of cohesion policy in Ukraine, in the process of accession to the EU. Analyze regional policy development practices in the European Union and candidate countries. Consult on issues of building the architecture of state institutions regarding cohesion policy and regional development. Monitor institutional capacity building in Ukrainian communities and regions regarding inclusion in EU cohesion policy. Education University degree in International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, Law, or a related field. Experience At least 7 years of relevant experience in legislative and policy-making processes, oversight and monitoring, and/or policy analysis in Ukraine, related to EU integration processes. At least 3 years of professional experience in monitoring and oversight processes, preferably linked to the EU accession process, the Association Agreement implementation, or related reforms. Experience in drafting high-level policy briefs, analytical reports, and official statements. Experience in working with or within parliamentary and/or government institutions, particularly those involved in EU integration, law-making or international technical assistance projects. Skills Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to track policy developments, synthesize information from diverse sources, and produce clear, insight-driven outputs. Strong written communication skills, including preparation of high-quality reports and briefs. In-depth knowledge of the institutional frameworks of EU integration processes and of the Ukrainian context in relation to Ukraine’s EU accession. Knowledge of the EU structure and functioning, EU policies, the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the public sector in general. Knowledge of Chapter 22 of the EU negotiation acquis (Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments) and the principles of EU cohesion policy, their impact on the development of regions in EU Member States and overcoming development disparities. Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, coordinate expert inputs, and support reporting cycles. Ability to consolidate and present complex information in a user-friendly and policy-relevant format. Ability to work proactively, independently, and collaboratively in a multi-stakeholder environment. Experience in capacity building and/or institutional strengthening in monitoring and oversight processes would be an advantage. Languages Proficiency in Ukrainian and English (written and spoken). APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS Interested candidates are invited to complete the Application Form and upload their CV in the “Resume” section. The CV should clearly reflect experience relevant to this assignment and demonstrate the qualifications and assets indicated above. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stages of the selection process. BACKGROUND The overall objective of Ukraine2EU is to support Ukraine’s progressive alignment to the EU acquis and its overall EU integration efforts with a view to future EU membership. Ukraine2EU is aiming to build strong and efficient state mechanisms for managing Ukraine's EU accession process and implementing related reforms. Ukraine2EU will follow the emerging and evolving needs of the main stakeholders and build a solid institutional capacity to meet the accession criteria. Ukraine2EU is structured around four components , each addressing a core area of EU integration support: Component 1 . Management, coordination and monitoring of EU integration processes – aimed at strengthening capacities of Ukraine's key actors and stakeholders in overall management, coordination, and monitoring of the EU accession processes and related reforms agenda. Component 2 . Legal approximation processes and translation – focused on increasing availability of the legal expertise necessary for an efficient approximation of Ukrainian law to the EU acquis and enhancing overall institutional, procedural and methodological capacities of competent institutions in EU acquis translation. Component 3 . Communication – designed to raise awareness of Ukrainian society and key stakeholder groups on the EU accession process and related reforms agenda. Component 4 . Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) related activities – contributing to the outcomes of component 1, 2 and 3. The main partner (beneficiaries) institutions in Ukraine: Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (DPMO), Government Office for Coordination of European Euro-Atlantic Integration at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (GOCEEI), Committee of Verkhovna Rada on Integration of Ukraine to the EU (VR EIC), Verkhovna Rada Secretariat, line ministries. The Central Project Management Agency of Lithuania (hereafter – CPVA) was designated to implement the Ukraine2EU project, overseeing the implementation of all activities and ensuring the coherence and sustainability of the project results. More information on CPVA: https://cpva.lt/en/about-us . CPVA embraces diversity and respects human rights in all areas of its work. Discrimination of any kind including based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or culture is not accepted. More information on the Ukraine2EU can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ukraine2eu/ , https://www.facebook.com/Ukraine2EUProgramme/ PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION Responding to this Expression of Interest you give consent to process your personal data. Please note your data will be stored on the central server at CPVA. Please find more information by visiting the following website: https://cpva.lt/en/protection-of-personal-data All information received will be stored on our secure servers, which are not accessible from the public website for third parties. The purpose of processing of the data you submit is to manage each expressed interest in view of a possible pre-selection at CPVA. The lawfulness of the processing is based on Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data.