If you’ve thought about pivoting your way out of this tough development job market, or within it to a more promising space, you’re not alone. It can be helpful to view your abilities from different angles, which, if effectively conveyed in your application materials, can open up a range of new opportunities.
“I would just encourage you to think about yourselves more creatively as not just problem solvers, but bridge builders and capacity builders,” development writing expert Kathryn Harper said during our most recent career event.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing CV tips from Harper for job seekers looking to pivot with confidence. Plus, the best new job opportunities from Devex’s board, from leading organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, Gates Foundation, and many others.
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1. Chief of Staff - SEforALL
UNOPS
Nigeria
2. Head, Total Rewards
OPEC Fund
Austria
3. Senior Office Administration & HR Officer
International Planned Parenthood Federation
Mexico
4. Senior Program Officer, Nutrition Research and Development
Gates Foundation
United States
5. Management and Coordination Specialist
UNOPS
Jordan
6. Digital Content Coordinator
CARE
United States
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is assisting the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in its search for an HR associate, employee relations, to join its office in Beijing, China. This opportunity is open until Nov. 25.
+ See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
“The past got you here today, but it need not define you moving forward.”
— Kathryn Harper, development writing expertDuring a recent digital event, Harper shared practical tips for job seekers looking to pivot with confidence, including the importance of reframing skills as adaptable and quantifying achievements.
Focus on adaptable skills. When it comes to describing skills, Harper encouraged professionals to rethink the common phrase “transferable skills.” By framing skills as adaptable, job seekers show resilience and creativity, which employers increasingly value.
Reframe transitions with confidence. Career pivots often involve explaining gaps, short-term roles, or shifts within a sector. Harper urged job seekers not to shy away from these transitions, but to clearly and concisely contextualize them.
Quantify your previous impact. A CV that only lists responsibilities risks blending into the crowd. Harper recommends focusing on outcomes — and quantifying them whenever possible. “Numbers are one of the only things that provide unquestionable context and clarity,” she explained.
Watch: Considering a career pivot? 3 CV tips for boosting your application (Career)
Download: A development pro’s guide to career pivots and transitions (Career)
1. Results-Oriented Monitoring Senior Expert – MENA
Socha LLC
Belgium
2. Coordination Officer (Fixed-term)
Central European Free Trade Agreement Secretariat
Belgium
3. Senior Subnational Budget Economist
DT Global
Indonesia
4. Longer Term Expert Consultant – GIZ PEACECORP II
Corus International
Nigeria
5. Individual Consultant: Inclusive Markets, Trade and Finance Technical Expert
AGRA
Mali
6. Individual Consultant: Consultant for Gender and Social Inclusion for MMRDA and MMMOCL
Asian Development Bank
India
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The program officer role continues to be one of the most popular on the Devex job board — and we recently took a closer look at how salaries and demand have shifted in 2025.
After reviewing nearly 300 postings from more than 90 organizations advertised on Devex over the first nine months of this year, we found that there were 30.5% fewer program officer jobs posted compared to last year. But there’s good news too: The average annual salary climbed nearly 4%, jumping from about $85,000 to just over $120,000.
Another bright spot came in program officer roles in the global health space. These produced the highest average salaries — between $144,000 and $222,000 — representing a 25.3% increase over last year’s pay ranges.
Read: What you can expect to earn as a program officer (Career)
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• Trump’s scrutiny of nonprofits escalates. A new U.S. federal strategy to target political violence, paired with Justice Department discussions of racketeering charges, is raising fears across the nonprofit sector.
• Inside one INGO’s pivot plan. CARE has been badly hit by U.S. funding cuts. It’s had to respond financially and operationally, CARE USA CEO said. But it’s also looked at changing how it communicates about aid.
• How IFAD issued $1 billion in sustainable bonds. For the last three years, this U.N. agency has been tapping private markets to reach millions of rural people.
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