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Between knowing what to include in a CV, how much to charge a client, and how to find the best job opportunities, global development consultants have a lot to figure out to be successful. That’s why I’ve compiled all of our best advice for consultants into one handy guide that we published yesterday: Your development consulting toolkit.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing some key tips on contract and rate negotiation from our consulting guide. I also have an update on the organizations actively hiring in response to the global food crisis, new job opportunities at Chemonics, DAI, and much more.
Top jobs this week
1. Water and Conflict Resilience Director
Chemonics International Inc.
Senior-level, full-time staff position
United States
2. Chief of Party - Partners for Transparency Activity
DAI
Senior-level, long-term consulting assignment
Colombia
3. In Country Logistics (ICL) Manager
Crown Agents
Worldwide
4. Associate, Development and Outreach
Human Rights Watch
Entry level
Sweden
Tipsheet: Consulting contracts
“The best thing to do is to make sure you have a good sense of the workload, administration, reporting expected by the client and ‘on-demand’ requests that are anticipated.”
— Giles Dickenson-Jones, independent consultant for public policy and data analyticsKnowing what rate to charge can be one of the biggest challenges for independent consultants, but it’s just one of many things to think about when negotiating contracts. So, we spoke to several consulting experts to find out what needs to be considered.
✅ The workload. Deliverables can be totally unrealistic, says development pro Craig Zelizer. “I’ve learned to better scope out the time I think it’ll take me and not just agree to something,” he advises.
✅ Travel and expenses. Some gigs require travel to projects in the field, with additional costs to be covered. “I’d say it’s important to make an up-front estimate of your ‘all-inclusive’ consultancy rate and start any negotiation from there,” says consultant Giles Dickenson-Jones.
✅ Setting your rate. When thinking about your daily rate, consider the market and who your client is. If the work is for a local NGO, price yourself accordingly. But if you are going to be working on a U. S. Agency for International Development grant or contract, you won’t have this flexibility.
Explore more: Your development consulting toolkit
Find your next gig: See current postings on Devex’s jobs board.
+ The full articles linked in Your development consulting guide are available exclusively to Devex Career Account members. If you aren’t one yet, start a 15-day free trial now to read all the articles.
Update: Responding to the food crisis
I’m continuing to track the organizations on Devex’s jobs board that are actively hiring in response to the global food crisis and the available roles for those seeking positions related to food security and food systems.
Current opportunities:
Food and Agriculture Organization: Mogadishu, Somalia — Food security analyst.
Social Impact: Haiti; remote — Nutrition and food fortification specialist.
International Executive Service Corps: Washington, D.C., U.S. — Agricultural trade evaluation advisor.
More available roles: The globaldev organizations hiring in response to the food crisis
Members-only jobs this week
1. Resource Mobilization Country Manager
International humanitarian institution
Switzerland
2. Malaria Initiative Resident Advisor
International development agency
Uganda
3. Extended Term Consultant: Global Benefits
International financial institution
United States
4. Head of Business Development, Humanitarian
International charity
United Kingdom
First-hand knowledge: Working in family planning
As a vocal abortion and reproductive rights debate takes place globally, it’s being felt in tangible ways by those working on the issues. Here’s what those on the front lines are saying.
“With the recent changes in the U.S. context, people feel it's more okay now to level attacks against people who are working on abortion and contraception.” — Dr. Angela Akol, director, Ipas Africa Alliance
“For a lot of us, there’s always this constant struggle working on an issue which, in many contexts, is so contentious. The victories are extreme highs but the losses are extreme lows.” — Katherine Mayall, director of strategic rights, Center for Reproductive Rights
“This community is strong. … Together we know what works, we know who's against this, we know how to fight that, and ultimately we will prevail.” — Beth Schlachter, interim director of global advocacy, International Planned Parenthood Federation
Read: What it’s like to work in family planning and SRHR right now
Explore opportunities: Search SRHR openings on Devex’s jobs board
What we’re reading
Can indecision make you smarter? Indecision can seem like a wholly undesirable trait, but research shows it might actually lead to smarter judgments. [BBC Worklife]
Rethinking M&E roles. Some elements of NGO management view monitoring and evaluation as a donor requirement, rather than vital to project implementation, meaning there’s been little desire to invest in M&E skills development for staff. [Devex Pro]
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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.
