8 development jobs you may be overlooking

There’s more to international development than managing aid projects. In fact, there are plenty of opportunities for job seekers with all kinds of backgrounds, whether you’re a communications guru, an international trade expert or a technology maven. Here are eight emerging areas of work you might not have thought of: 1. Social and digital media Jobs in social media are growing in a variety of industries, including international development. For example, Chemonics International is currently hiring for media specialists and RTI International is looking for a communication/social media/social marketing specialist. Individuals in roles such as these might develop digital marketing strategies for Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, work on email newsletters and write blog posts for organizations. These jobs typically require knowledge of HTML as well as social media tools. Applicants also need to have strong communication and organizational skills. 2. Feedback, evaluation and monitoring Another important area in international development involves program evaluation and monitoring. An individual working in this area might help to set up monitoring and evaluation systems for HIV prevention programs in a developing country. Job titles might include “monitoring and evaluation advisor” or “monitoring and evaluation officer.” For example, Mission Essential is currently seeking a monitoring and evaluation specialist in Afghanistan. And One Acre Fund is looking for a monitoring and evaluation director in Rwanda. An emerging role will be for people to solicit feedback from local populations and analyze it. 3. Innovation An increasing number of public, private and nonprofit institutions have started hiring innovation specialists. Positions run the gamut from an entry-level employee sought to work in the field on an innovative project (in which case, “innovation” may not be in their job title) to a chief innovation officer working mostly out of an organization’s headquarters. Management Sciences for Health, for instance, is currently seeking a senior technical advisor on knowledge exchange and innovation. Another subset of innovation jobs is in what is often called “ICT4D” and refers to the use of information and communications technologies for development. 4. Mobile technology Speaking of ICT4D: Mobile technology is a particularly hot area in international development. Global health workers, for example, might use text messages or calls to remind patients of upcoming check-ups, and staff is needed to test and improve these systems. The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, for example, is currently seeking a mobile technology program director. “There’s also a lot happening with mobile money,” said Mark McEuen, vice president and deputy division manager for international health at Abt Associates. This might involve vouchers or conditional transfers as incentives for health care. For instance, after giving birth, a woman might receive a small mobile payment for completing four antenatal visits. 5. Chronic disease specialist Preventable deaths in developing countries from diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions are greater than the number of deaths from infectious diseases like malaria and HIV. So, one emerging area in global health is dealing with chronic diseases. “There’s not a lot of money there yet, but there’s a whole lot of need,” said Jonathan Quick, president and CEO of Management Sciences for Health. The World Health Organization and other groups are currently working to prevent and control chronic diseases, especially among poor and disadvantaged populations. 6. Corporate social responsibility Although many jobs in international development are with government agencies or the nonprofit groups and consulting firms tasked with implementing their projects, there’s an emerging area of work that holds much promise to job seekers: manage corporate social responsibility initiatives and help companies fold them into their overall business plan. There are many ways corporations approach social responsibility. Many larger companies have set up CSR departments or created nonprofit foundations to carry out development work. The MasterCard Foundation, for instance, is currently hiring program managers to work on its “Economic Opportunities for Youth” strategy and its Scholars Program. Typically, positions fall into three categories: CSR specialist, foundation officer or consultant. Read Devex’s article on corporate social responsibility jobs for more information about CSR jobs. 7. Partnerships If you have experience working with clients or managing accounts, a position in partnerships might be a good one for you. Individuals in these jobs typically build and manage relationships between organizations, including corporate and foundation partners, institutions of higher learning, government agencies and other players. These positions usually have titles such as “partnerships manager” and “partnerships associate.” Opportunities listed on Devex include deputy director of multilateral partnerships for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and manager of corporate and foundation partnerships for Women’s World Banking. 8. Trade promotion specialist Individuals in these roles focus on the development of investment and trade as well as linkages with international markets. Many of these jobs are located in the developing world. For example, Carana Corp. is currently hiring for a trade barrier alleviation specialist and the Optimal Solutions Group is hiring an international trade and evaluation consultant. Such positions typically require an advanced degree in a field such as international trade, economics or public policy, as well as extensive experience working in the developing world or on trade issues. Read more: Job seekers must be more well-rounded (and more likeable?) than ever Doing and becoming: Focus on long-term benefits when evaluating job offers Check out more career advice stories online, and subscribe to Doing Good to receive top international development career and recruitment news.