“In God we trust, all others bring data,” said the famed economist W. Edwards Deming. At Devex, we continue trying to decipher the information available to us through our massive global development job board in order to inform our sector’s job seekers better.
But the best way to apply data-driven insights is to pair it with qualitative context, and that’s the goal of this edition of Career Hub, where I’m not only highlighting where job seekers can find the most opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean and how much they can earn, but also sharing advice from top recruiters on how to strengthen your applications. Plus, featured job postings from the likes of UNICEF, USAID, and more.
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Top jobs this week
1. Humanitarian Policy and External Engagement Adviser
World Vision
Italy (Remote)
2. Monitoring and Evaluation Director
World Initiative for Soy in Human Health
United States
3. Communications Adviser
USAID
Kenya
4. WASH Specialist Cluster Coordinator
UNICEF
Mozambique
Featured opportunity: Devex Talent Solutions, our very own boutique recruitment agency, is assisting Value for Good in its search for a global health and life sciences officer, preferably based in Brussels, Belgium. Those interested should apply by Sept. 27th.
+ DTS is also seeking candidates for a division manager, resource mobilization with the Islamic Development Bank, and a U.S.-based senior monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialist with Solidarity Center, among many others. See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
LAC’s top development hub countries
We've analyzed over 9,000 job postings to determine the top development hubs in Latin America and the Caribbean, with additional insights into hiring and salary trends. Here are the top three.
1. Colombia
Colombia tops the development hubs in the region with 1,546 job postings over the past 12 months. Potential job salaries in the country annually average from $51,796 to $107,572. Unsurprisingly, the capital, Bogotá, is the country's leading city for development job seekers, boasting the most jobs.
Current job opportunities in Colombia include a remote senior adviser, security training with World Vision, and a country protection manager with the Danish Refugee Council.
2. Mexico
Mexico has 880 job postings over the past 12 months, and Mexico City has the most city-based job listings on the board. Development job opportunities in the country have an annual average salary ranging from $51,510 to $109,139. Top non-U.N. employers hiring in the country are FCDO, The Nature Conservancy, and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
The International Finance Corporation seeks Mexico-based consultants for its 30 by 30 Zero Program.
3. Brazil
There have been 867 job postings in Brazil, with Brasília and São Paulo as the top cities where most opportunities are located. Jobs in Brazil have an annual salary average from $52,336 to $107,105. Top hiring organizations include the U.K.’s ministerial Department for Business and Trade, Environmental Resources Management, and Conservation International.
Present openings in Brazil include an associate in economics and a project assistant with UNDP.
Read: Who is hiring in Latin America and what they are paying (Career)
Explore more regions: United Kingdom | Bogotá | Bangkok.
+ Sign up for the Devex Jobs Alert on LinkedIn: For many more of the top job opportunities in the social impact space from global development's largest job board, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn.
Members-only jobs this week
1. Individual Consultant: Research and Gender Statistics Expert
United Nations agency
Mozambique
2. Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst
United Nations agency
Sri Lanka
3. National Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Officer
Human resource consulting agency
Somalia
4. Human Resources Associate
Environmental intergovernmental organization
United Arab Emirates | Jordan | Qatar
Application tips from leading LAC recruiters
“Make sure that your application fits to the position and not the other way around.”
— Lykke Andersen, head of talent acquisition and people programs, UNDPOur LAC analysis also found that local and regional offices of several United Nations agencies, including the U.N. Development Programme and the UN Refugee Agency, were the top employers in the region. The Danish Refugee Council is another organization with a strong footprint, particularly in Colombia.
Here are some tips from recruiters at these three organizations for prospective job applicants.
Assess your fit. “One of the biggest tips I can share for a candidate is to look closely at the job description and then identify and separate between required and desirable qualifications to assess their fit for the role. This way, the applicant can also identify skills that they are missing and can work on,” says Iosif Sofios, recruitment specialist at DRC.
Keep evolving. “When it comes to the desirable requirements, the more you can ‘tick off,’ the better. This is why it is important that you scan the job opportunities on a regular basis to see the requirement trends and make sure to evolve your profile to fill the ones you are missing,” says Lykke Andersen, head of talent acquisition and people programs at UNDP.
Don’t give up. “We need people who are passionate. Don't give up, and keep applying. A lot of us who are in the organization have applied several times and gained experience elsewhere and [then] come back. So keep going,” says Stephan Grieb, deputy director of human resources at UNHCR.
Read more recruiter insights from: DRC | UNDP | UNHCR.
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• UK INGO growth? There are currently 27 international NGOs in the United Kingdom with a turnover of more than £50 million. Yet, organizations such as Save the Children have hundreds of jobs at risk and staff in a rebellious mood.
• Digitally denied. Conferences held in the global north meant to address problems in the global south suffer from a fundamental problem themselves: They’re often missing the very people at the heart of the discussions.
• ChatGPT fail. Asking ChatGPT to “roast” your social media profile has become a popular trend. But when the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Kamel Alsaadi tried it out on LinkedIn, it picked up on the short-term nature of his humanitarian work. [Devex Pro]
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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.
