The global development workforce isn’t immune to the pandemic-driven mindset shifts that have led millions of people to leave their jobs. But are development organizations seeing the same kind of resignation rates as other sectors?
In this edition of Career Hub, find out what sector and labor experts are saying about the employment landscape in the wake of COVID-19. Plus, see what positions are in demand among our network of recruiters, and explore exciting new job opportunities at UNESCO, Human Rights Watch, and many more top development organizations.
+ A Devex Career Account gives you access to global development’s top jobs and expert career advice. Sign up and start your 15-day free trial now.
Top jobs this week
Chief Technology Officer
GiveDirectly
Remote
Chief Medical Officer
UNESCO
France
Researcher, Southern Africa
Human Rights Watch
South Africa
Communications Advisor
Canadian Red Cross Society
Canada
Update: The ‘Great Resignation’ and development
When my colleague David Ainsworth reported on the future of development work earlier this year, the sector appeared relatively unaffected by a trend most commonly referred to as the “Great Resignation.” To dig a bit deeper, I worked with journalist Abby Young-Powell to see if this was truly the case.
Her reporting concurred that globaldev organizations — at least the bigger ones — are generally not seeing the large waves of resignations that have taken place elsewhere in the workforce. Here are a few possible reasons for the stronger retention rates, as told to us by leading HR professionals in the sector:
• Purpose-driven work. Many in the development sector are driven by cause rather than pay. “If you work on the really courageous issues — like environment, children, labor rights, migration, refugees, food security — these do have a strong value proposition,” says Michael Emery, the HR director at the International Organization for Migration.
• Identification with certain roles. For some development workers, identifying with their roles may be another factor. “Once you’re a humanitarian, it’s a harder transition to not be a humanitarian any longer,” says Catty Bennet Sattler, HR director at the UN Refugee Agency.
• Ability to change roles internally. There may be less temptation to leave among those working at larger organizations, which offer a variety of positions and opportunities. “If you’re a curious job hopper, we allow you to do that within the organization and we give quite a lot of space to that,” Bennet Sattler says.
Read: Why development organizations have yet to see a 'Great Resignation'
ICYMI: What does the future of work look like for development organizations? (Pro)
+ As we continue reporting on global development’s employment landscape in the wake of COVID-19, we'd like to know what you’re seeing. Tell us in this LinkedIn poll, or email me your story directly at justin.sablich@devex.com.
In demand: Information managers and grant writers
Our in-house recruitment specialists are currently compiling talent pools based on specific global development skill sets. These lists are exclusive to our top recruiting organizations. We’re currently looking for these midlevel to senior-level candidates:
• Information and knowledge managers. Responsibilities include supporting programs and clients in sharing strategic information with various audiences to ensure maximum utilization and impact, and strengthening organizational practices and business processes.
• Grant and proposal writers. Responsibilities include developing, writing, and coordinating donor proposals and technical reports.
We prioritize the most up-to-date profiles and CVs on Devex when considering candidates for inclusion. Get recruiters’ attention by updating your profile now. If you have yet to create a Devex profile, here’s how.
Explore more: Your guide to a standout online profile
Members-only jobs this week
Data Coordinator
Sustainability consultancy
United States
Senior Program Officer
Global health organization
Switzerland
Senior Information Management Assistant
United Nations agency
Brazil
U.S. Personal Service Contractor
Government agency
Nigeria
Update: Who’s hiring to help Ukraine
We’re continuing to track the groups that are actively hiring in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and some of the roles that need to be filled.
New opportunities:
• UNICEF: Social and behavior change specialist in Bucharest, Romania.
• World Health Organization: Staff counsellor in Kyiv, Ukraine.
• International Medical Corps: Consultant, logistic officer in Poland.
More new roles: The globaldev organizations hiring in response to Ukraine crisis
You said it
We wanted to hear from our community about some common pet peeves with job ads, so we asked:
+ Speaking of salaries and job postings, we will soon release a new article for Career Account members that analyzes salary data from our job board. We’ll tell you all about what we learned in the next edition of Career Hub. Stay tuned!
What we’re reading
Taking back control when you have too much work. All it takes is a little mindset change and time management to feel like you have agency over your workday again. [Hive]
How to make sure you won’t regret switching jobs. Here are steps you can take to avoid a painful career mistake. [Harvard Business Review]
The link between “impostor syndrome” and burnout. Understanding how the two conditions feed into each other is critical for employee well-being and retention. [BBC Worklife]
To keep up to date with all the must-read global development coverage, be sure to sign up to the daily Devex Newswire.
Sign up to Devex Career Hub for global development’s top jobs, expert career advice, and practical tips to help you do more good for more people.
About the author
Justin Sablich
Justin is a contributing writer and editor who previously led Devex’s careers content strategy. Before joining Devex, Justin served as the managing editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and climate-tech innovation across all business sectors. He also spent over 13 years as an editor and writer for the New York Times, specializing in digital content production and strategy while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology.
