As Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine drags on, the global development community continues its tireless efforts to provide aid in and around the country.
Since the invasion began on Feb. 24, we’ve been monitoring our job board to see how organizations have responded. Eight weeks into the conflict, we now have enough data to provide an early snapshot of the hiring landscape for development professionals looking to make a direct impact for Ukrainians in need.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing the who, what, and where of globaldev hiring in response to the Ukraine crisis. I also have key insights from a top recruiter who is overseeing her organization’s staffing efforts in the country. Plus, you can explore new job opportunities at Human Rights Watch, Tetra Tech, and other leading development organizations.
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UN Geneva Director
Human Rights Watch
Switzerland
Project Process and Systems Coordinator
Tetra Tech
United States
Lead Safety and Environmental Compliance Specialist
Trigon Associates LLC
Vietnam
Business Development Manager
One Acre Fund
United States
By analyzing nearly 200 opportunities related to the Ukraine conflict that have been posted on our job board since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, we now have helpful insights for development professionals looking to make an impact in the region.
• Who’s hiring: The organizations most actively adding to their staffs include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Medical Corps, and HelpAge International, an international NGO promoting the rights of older people that has operated in Ukraine since 2014.
• What experience is in demand: Nearly a quarter of the jobs dealt with humanitarian aid, with human rights and global health among the other specialty areas being targeted. More than half of the positions were offered as short-term contracts, and 44% called for midlevel experience.
• Where the jobs are: Outside of Ukraine — where 38% of the opportunities were at least partially based — many of the roles were in neighboring countries that have seen an influx of refugees, led by Poland and Moldova.
Read more: Hiring trends for development roles in the Ukraine response
+ Explore current job openings related to Ukraine
“There is a lot of hiring going on, and more candidates are getting multiple offers.”
— Dorsey Davidge, director of talent acquisition, International Medical CorpsInternational Medical Corps, a global health NGO currently working in over two dozen countries, has been providing supplies and training for health care facilities and first responders in Ukraine, with teams working in Poland and Moldova as well.
To find out more about IMC’s staffing needs and what it's planning next, I spoke with Dorsey Davidge, who serves as the group’s talent acquisition director and is currently based in Ukraine. Here are a few key takeaways from our conversation:
• Relevant experience matters. IMC’s staffing needs extend to both international candidates and Ukrainian nationals. For those applying from outside Ukraine, previous experience in conflict zones is vital. “Typically for the international positions, we are hiring people who have experience working in dangerous situations,” Davidge says.
• It’s a long-term mission. IMC has secured funding that will likely allow it to add additional staffers soon and expand its presence to more Ukrainian cities. “Because of the scale and duration that's expected from the work that we're going to be doing here, it's different than when we've worked in other emergency situations,” Davidge says.
• Interest is high. Partly due to the extended commitments that many organizations are making in the region, there has been no shortage of interest in these roles from job seekers. “There's a lot of competition in-country between NGOs,” Davidge says, adding that IMC is continuing to assess “what kind of allowances we need to be providing to be competitive and attract top talent.”
ICYMI: The globaldev organizations hiring in response to Ukraine crisis
+ Explore current job openings at International Medical Corps
Environment Officer
Government agency
United States
Institutional Funding Manager
Humanitarian aid NGO
France
Coordination Officer
International financial institution
Pakistan
Senior Operations Analyst
Sustainability research company
Remote
Whether you’re graduating soon or looking to transition away from the private sector, breaking into global development can be a challenge, especially in a post-COVID-19 world that continues to evolve.
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