For a sector known for its dedicated and selfless workforce, pivoting to roles outside the traditional development sector or that differ significantly from one's previous experience can be a daunting and undesirable option. Some professionals may end up accepting roles that don’t check every box at first, but hindsight often tells a different story.
“Some pivots might not make sense right now, but in [a few] years, you're going to be like, ‘This was exactly where I needed to be, and that was a change [I] needed,’” social impact career coach Stephanie Mansueto said during a recent digital event on how to break through a challenging development job market.
As Devex’s Career Week comes to an end, we’re focusing this edition of Career Hub on the realities facing the sector’s job seekers — and what it takes to break through today’s challenging recruitment landscape. Plus, the best new job opportunities from Devex’s board, from leading organizations such as UNICEF Canada, CARE, and many others.
+ Join us on Nov. 13: Devex is hosting a digital event to help aspiring consultants find the confidence and clarity to take their next steps. To gain access to this and all digital events, advice guides, and job board, sign up for a Career Account with a free 15-day trial.
Top full-time staff jobs this week
1. Program Innovation Associate
Notify Health
Nigeria | Worldwide (remote)
2. Junior Procurement Officer
CARE
United States
3. Senior Officer, Development
UNICEF Canada
Canada
4. Assistant Director for Institutional Advancement
Center for Global Development Europe
United Kingdom
5. Senior Malaria Advisor, DOS LEAP Global
ZemiTek
Cambodia
6. Client Enablement Manager
Global Impact Investing Network
United States (remote)
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is assisting CARE in their 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.
Moving forward — but not overseas
The job market for development professionals in the U.S., particularly in the Washington metropolitan area, remains extremely challenging. But those hoping for better prospects abroad may not fare much better.
The foreign aid cuts that have fueled the current hiring climate have also meant fewer roles for international staff in Africa and other regions outside the U.S., according to several experts who spoke with Devex contributor Emma Smith.
With many development organizations seeking to cut costs by relying more on local talent, U.S.-based professionals are now more likely to find openings at home than overseas — even with roughly 27% fewer domestic job postings appearing on Devex over the last nine months compared with 2024.
“There’s a much bigger pool of jobs if you’re a United States citizen in the United States,” said Daniel Head, founder and CEO of Head Global. Head added that U.S. professionals may no longer be viewed as the asset they once were, given that USAID is no longer the largest global funder of aid.
While options for U.S. professionals may seem limited, some are securing new positions by branching beyond the traditional development sector. “A pivot seems essential, at least in the short term,” said Regina Rabenhorst, a D.C.-based organizational development consultant and leadership coach.
Other experts I spoke with have found new purpose in the private sector, or are “trying to do the entrepreneurial thing,” including Laura Wigglesworth, who after 25 years in the development field recently joined an HR technology startup that helps job seekers optimize their search.
“The undercurrent of all of this is once you grieve, once you move through your emotions, you might actually find something really incredible on the other side, whether that's of your own making or with an organization that you align with,” said Radhika Bhatt, a climate and social impact career coach who has worked with several professionals affected by the aid cuts.
Read: Is it growing harder to find a development role overseas? (Career)
Plus: Is this the end for Washington as a jobs hub? (Career)
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Top consulting and short-term jobs
1. Capacity Development and Training Specialist
DT Global
Indonesia
2. Senior Program Coordinator
CDC Foundation
Nigeria
3. Consultancy for Writing of Commonwealth Gender Flagship Report
Commonwealth Secretariat
Worldwide (remote)
4. Individual Consultant
AGRA
Kenya
5. Implementation Mapping Consultant
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
Worldwide (remote)
6. Head of Resilient Infrastructure and Territorial Planning
World Bank Group
Madagascar
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn and Devex’s Job board.
Turning action into options
“For every well-known organization, there’s going to be nine to 10 organizations that [job seekers] don’t know about.”
— Dan Perez, director of North America, SRI ExecutiveIt may require self-reflection and a shift in mindset, but social impact professionals are far from helpless in the current U.S. job market, as a panel of sector and career experts made clear during a recent Devex digital event. Here are some practical ways to take action.
Beyond the big names. There are job opportunities that often fall under the radar because they come from lesser-known organizations, both within and outside the traditional development sector. The key is to find out which organizations some of your target employers work with, which comes through targeted research and networking.
Money talks. With funding roles growing in demand, think of how your experience can connect to business development, and “play that up in your applications,” Bhatt said. Even if your background isn’t directly tied to fundraising, you can still highlight your strengths from a funding perspective in your application materials.
Networking isn’t transactional. “You never have to go into networking to ask for a job. If you’re talking with folks about career options, they will let you know if they have jobs available,” Perez said, adding that the main thing you are trying to gain from a networking conversation is information.
Watch: 3 tips for breaking through a challenging US development jobs market (Career)
Download: How aid cuts hit development jobs in 2025 (Career)
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• The job market in Africa. While there were significant development job cuts in Africa this year, professionals in the region could see opportunities in emerging hubs across the continent, particularly in artificial intelligence and digital skills.
• It’s moving season at the UN. Agencies have been looking to save money by accelerating the transfer of staff to more affordable cities in the global south, especially in Africa. Some staffers are happy with their new surroundings, but the project hasn’t been without its challenges.
• Climate fund is booming. Despite tighter budgets and a withdrawn U.S. pledge, the Green Climate Fund posted a record-high level of financing and is planning its next phase of reform.
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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.
