An especially crowded job market aside, global development hiring cycles are notoriously long, making the search feel endless. The way to counter this is not “more hours” but “a better system,” as social impact career coach Kelsi Kriitmaa explained during our most recent digital career event.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing some of her practical tips on how to maintain focus, avoid burnout, and make the most of your hours on the job search. Plus, the best new job opportunities from Devex’s board, from leading organizations such as the Gates Foundation, the Danish Refugee Council, and many others.
+ Join us on Nov. 5: Devex is hosting a digital event featuring a panel of sector professionals and career experts who will offer their insights and perspectives on how to turn the aid crisis into career opportunities. To gain access to this and all digital events, career advice and guides, and the job board, sign up for a Career Account with a free 15-day trial.
Top full-time staff jobs this week
1. Senior Technical Advisor – MNCH (ACHIEVE)
Pact
United States
2. Project Leader – PADCA-6P Project
International Fertilizer Development Center
Democratic Republic of Congo
3. Head, Investments
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Switzerland
4. Senior Executive for the Sectoral Analysis
Corporación Andina de Fomento
Chile
5. Business Development Manager (Hybrid)
UK Research and Innovation
United Kingdom (remote)
6. Associate Director, Strategy and Learning
ClimateWorks Foundation
United States (Remote)
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is assisting CARE in its search for a country director to be based in Rwanda. This opportunity is open until Nov. 20.
+ See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
Getting your time back
“Sometimes we think being busy is being productive. But what we actually want is quality over quantity.”
— Kelsi Kriitmaa, social impact career coachJob hunting can feel like a full-time job — but managing your energy matters more than managing your hours. In our recent event, Kriitmaa shared practical, science-backed strategies to help development professionals stay focused, prioritize what really matters, and sustain motivation throughout the search.
Prioritize with intention. Define daily “nonnegotiables” — small, consistent actions that move your search forward. “Your nonnegotiables might be something like, ‘I want to apply for two jobs and send five connection requests on LinkedIn,’” Kriitmaa said.
Work with your energy, not against it. Use your peak focus hours for high-impact tasks, and start each day with a short “morning reset” to set priorities. “Science tells us that a morning routine boosts clarity, motivation, and decision-making,” she said.
Rest strategically. Regular check-ins and intentional downtime prevent burnout and keep you energized for the long haul. “The more we review our goals, the more likely we are to attain them,” she said.
Read more: How development job seekers can make the most of their time (Career)
Off-the-radar opportunities
Devex recently compiled a list of 10 development organizations that may not always make headlines, but are doing significant work and merit close attention from aspiring professionals. Here are a few to know, along with some positions they’re currently looking to fill.
Cowater International — headquartered in Canada, the development consulting firm aims for transformative change by combining evidence-based innovation with local partnerships. The organization is seeking to hire a monitoring, evaluation, and learning, or MEL, and capacity-building specialist based in Indonesia, among other roles.
AGRA — formerly known as the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, AGRA works to reshape farming into a resilient and profitable enterprise for smallholders by driving innovation and strengthening food systems. It is currently looking to hire a consultant to design and roll out innovative business models for the scaling up of rural solar-powered irrigation systems in Nigeria.
Heifer International — Based in Arkansas, U.S., the global NGO works to empower farmers and entrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods in 19 countries. It is seeking a senior vice president to lead the strategy of Heifer’s Africa regional program, currently spanning nine countries.
Read more: Other development employers to watch in 2025 (Career)
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Top consulting and short-term jobs
1. Program Manager / SBAE Advisor
AgriCorps
Liberia
2. Senior Research Scientist, Disease Modeling
Gates Foundation
United States
3. Consulting Services for Monitoring Activities for the EU Innovation Window III
KfW
Germany (remote)
4. Energy and Climate Individual Consultant
Global Green Growth Institute
Mexico
5. Data Engineer
World Intellectual Property Organization
Switzerland
6. Protection Specialist (Access to Justice and Community-Based Protection)
Danish Refugee Council
Ethiopia
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn, our next early-week edition of Career Hub, and Devex’s Job board.
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• AI and the development workforce. Entrepreneur and creative technologist Javier Ideami tells Devex that current artificial intelligence systems still struggle with the reasoning needed for complex, real-world development decision-making.
• Trump’s new PEPFAR plan. The global AIDS community has been awaiting a plan from the Trump administration beyond funding cuts. But the America First Global Health Strategy, released last month, is not what many were hoping for.
• Sudan expels top WFP officials. The move jeopardizes humanitarian operations and food assistance to millions of people in Sudan already facing extreme hunger, malnutrition, and starvation, the World Food Programme says.
+ 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.
