HEIs Support Coordinator for USAID Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity

The purpose of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity is to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure from cyberattacks by establishing trusted collaboration between key cybersecurity stakeholders in the government, private sector, academia, and civil society. The activity aims to achieve this goal by implementing the following activity components: 

Component 1: Strengthen the cybersecurity enabling environment 

The legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for national cybersecurity in Ukraine needs to be strengthened and aligned with international standards and best practices. This component will strengthen the cybersecurity resilience of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure sectors by addressing legislative gaps, promoting good governance, enabling collaboration between stakeholders, and supporting cybersecurity institutions.  

Component 2: Develop Ukraine’s cybersecurity workforce 

Ukraine suffers from a severe shortage of cybersecurity professionals. This component of the USAID Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine Activity will address workforce gaps through activities that develop new cybersecurity talent and build the capacity of existing talent. These activities will address the entire workforce pipeline, the quality of education received by cybersecurity specialists, and industry training programs to rapidly upskill Ukraine’s workforce to respond to immediate cybersecurity vulnerabilities. 

Component 3: Build a resilient cybersecurity industry 

A growing cybersecurity industry in Ukraine will contribute directly to national security and prosperity. This component will seek to build trust and collaboration between the public and private sector to develop innovative solutions for future cybersecurity challenges; spur investment and growth in the broader cybersecurity market in Ukraine through greater access to financing; support smaller cybersecurity companies to rapidly increase the number of local cybersecurity service providers; and offer mechanisms for Ukrainian firms to connect with industry partners to enable better access to innovations and business opportunities.  

Under Component 2, the Activity addresses workforce gaps by expanding local capacity to provide quality cybersecurity education and training programs that rapidly upskill the workforce to build resilience and address both short and long-term needs for cybersecurity professionals.  Considering the scale of damage from the Russian invasion, the Activity plans to provide support to HEIs suffering kinetic damage and other physical loss from Russian attacks.  

ROLE’S PURPOSE:  

The Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) support Coordinator in close collaboration with Workforce development team will develop and implement the programs to provide post-invasion support to HEIs impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, establish Cyber Training Facility, and develop students pipeline on Cybersecurity specialty at HEIs.   

HEIs support Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and leading engagement with Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) and HEIs in regards to specific technical assistance provided by the Activity.  

In close coordination with MoES, HEIs support Coordinator will conduct an assessment of current needs among HEIs affected by the Russian invasion that teach the Cybersecurity specialty (125 – Cybersecurity). The collected data will be used to build a comprehensive HEIs support program following the assessment. 

HEIs support Coordinator is tasked to launch a Cyber Training Facility, a workforce development asset suitable for theoretical and applied cybersecurity skills training with access for students and practitioners.  Cyber Training Facility is expected to provision cybersecurity faculties with educational equipment, subscriptions, training materials, and cybersecurity laboratory equipment, to include an Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Lab.  The HEI Cyber Training Facility will serve as physical and virtual node to extend classroom learning for students, engage and shsowcase private sector solutions and train on available market solutions.  

HEIs support Coordinator will develop a broad online catalogue to systemize data on students enrolled under the Cybersecurity specialty at HEIs in Ukraine, to analyze and plan the student flow and professionals pool in the cybersecurity sphere.  

TASKS / RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Conduct the post- invasion HEIs needs assessment in close coordination with MoES 
• Produce the complex analytical report on HEIs identified needs  
• Develop a HEIs support program that may include provision of various types of assistance, including hardware, software and educational syllabi   
• Develop holistic plans for each HEI, tailored to each HEI’s specific needs 
• Build the Cyber Training Facility project charter, implementation plan based on the program concept 
• Develop the content and operations model for Cyber Training Facility 
• Develop the SOW and organize the tender to select the subcontractors for Cyber Training Facility implementation  
• Lead the implementation of Cyber Training Facility setting up and launch, including personnel hiring, equipment procurement, etc  
• Creating high-level design on Cyber Talent Pipeline broad online catalogue to systemize data on students enrolled under the Cybersecurity specialty at HEIs 
• Developing methodology on Cyber Talent Pipeline catalogue creation  
• Develop the data collection mechanism and facilitate the data collection in close coordination with MoES  
• Develop the SOW and organize the tender to select the subcontractor for catalogue development  
• Develop, maintain, and update implementation plan for carrying out activities and initiatives. 
• Assess/determine resources required for implementing activities and initiatives.  
• Work with the selected subcontractors to ensure successful delivery of specific activities.  
• Prepare and/or review monthly progress reports and presentations for key stakeholders including recipients/beneficiaries. 

Qualifications and Experiences 

• Master’s degree in computer sciences, education, cybersecurity, public policy or another relevant field. 
• Strong proven Project management experience in the educational sphere.  
• Work experience with different stakeholders, technical assistance projects is preferred.  
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to details.  
• Strong analytical and writing skills.  
• Proven soft skills to build effective collaborative relations with stakeholders 
• Advanced level of command of English required. 

Qualified candidates should send their CV and cover letter to [email protected] by 30 December 2022 6:00pm Kyiv time. Only short-listed candidates will receive notice requesting additional information.