A communications manager in Guatemala

International development is as much a business as it is a labor of love, and chances are you won’t choose your next assignment based on the money. That said, compensation is an important part of human resources management, and comprehensive data on salaries and benefits is hard to come by. That’s why Devex is shedding light on the salaries and work of those holding jobs that international development organizations commonly hire for. It’s part of our mission to help aid professionals do good and make informed decisions about their careers. Today’s spotlight is on an internationally hired communications manager working for an international nongovernmental organization in Guatemala. ● Position title: communications manager ● Seniority: mid-level ● Position type: full-time ● Year: 2014 ● Salary: approximately $2,500-$4,000 monthly ● Benefits: life and health insurance ● Sample tasks: edit and publish reports and communications material as well as research notes and findings, head up branding and visibility activities, manage social media, multimedia production ● Qualifications: managerial experience, willingness to learn new subjects, excellent English and Spanish skills Guatemala foreign aid job market Guatemala’s development has been so-so — the country ranks at 133 out of 187 countries and territories in the Human Development Index 2013. Poor access to health and educational services, jobs and markets are some of the key effects of social inequality that exist between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in the country. However, between 1980 and 2012, Guatemalans’ life expectancy at birth increased by 14.1 years, mean years of schooling increased by 1.7 years and expected years of schooling increased by 4.7 years. The U.S. and other governments have made substantial investments in plans to transform Guatemala into a more participatory, pluralistic and equitable society. “A More Secure Guatemala that Fosters Greater Socioeconomic Development” is cited as an overall goal in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s 2012-2016 development cooperation strategy for Guatemala. Based on vacancies posted on the Devex jobs board, there is a wide variety of expertise needed for aid projects in the country. Check out the jobs board for more vacancies in Guatemala and for communications positions. Compensation isn’t everything The details provided in this article were derived from a survey of select development workers stationed in various parts of the globe. Due to the sensitivity of the information, we are keeping the respondents’ identities and organizations confidential. Compensation varies greatly from one job, country or organization to another. Even for the same position, differences in remuneration occur based on educational background, experience and an applicant’s most recent salary, an organization’s need and the sector it operates in, as well as whether it is hiring locally or internationally. Also, some organizations offer more generous benefit packages than others, or they offer perks such as regular travel, training or other career development services that should not be discounted. For senior-level international hires, in particular, benefits such as housing and education allowances often amount to tens of thousands of dollars per year. At the end of the day, aid workers tell us that the chance to help alleviate suffering and lift people out of poverty are well worth any pay cut they may have encountered switching from the private sector. Read more Devex Salary Spotlights, check out more career advice stories online, and subscribe to Doing Good to receive top international development career and recruitment news.