Amid funding cuts, program terminations, and layoffs across the sector, many international NGOs paused recruitment in early 2025. Hiring has since resumed, albeit cautiously and with a focus on specific teams and functions.
In this edition of Career Hub, we learn what profiles INGOs are recruiting for this year and the skills that can help candidates stand out.
Who are INGOs recruiting for this year
“Many candidates underestimate how fundamentally the model has changed. What got us here won’t get us there.” — Stacy Aldinger, chief strategy and transformation officer, CARE
Navigating tighter budgets and broader restructuring efforts, many INGOs are reassessing which roles are essential for long-term sustainability. For most, it’s about revenue-generating roles that can support new partnerships and diversified income streams.
CARE expects to recruit in fundraising, private sector engagement, and new funding mechanisms. Aldinger says her team sees many candidates with experience in U.S. government grants, which, while still valuable, doesn’t always align with the current focus on diversifying funding models or private sector partnerships.
Growing competition for funding is also reshaping recruitment, says Nancy Ntinu, regional head of human resources for eastern and southern Africa at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as organizations must demonstrate clear value in an increasingly crowded field.
Employers are also looking for cross-functional profiles. Technical skills alone are not enough, and candidates must demonstrate collaboration, strategic thinking, and engagement skills.
At World Resources Institute, roles that were once primarily technical are now more likely to include additional responsibilities around project management or fundraising, explained Andreea Balan, the organization’s global director of talent acquisition.
Similarly at IUCN, scientific or technical expertise is not sufficient; candidates must reflect how their technical knowledge will translate to impactful outcomes.
Top full-time staff jobs this week
- Finance and Grants Manager – CARE (Myanmar, remote)
- Senior Director, Business Development and Investor Relations – Corus International (United States, remote)
- Grants Officer – Plan International (Liberia)
- Capacity Development Officer – Pact (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Country Program Director – World Vision (Dominican Republic)
- Head of Finance – BRAC (Rwanda)
Top consulting and short-term jobs
- Chief of Party - Congo Cash Consortium – Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
- Head of Inter-Agency Working Group East and Central Africa – Norwegian Refugee Council (Kenya)
- Consultancy for AIM Research & Learning Partner – BRAC (Liberia)
- Investor Relations Graduate Trainee – One Acre Fund (Kenya)
Who are the top globaldev orgs hiring in the US?
Drawing from 12 months of job board activity, Devex has identified the most active U.S. recruiters since April 2025. Among multilateral employers, UNICEF topped the list, having advertised 280 roles. The World Bank Group ranked second with 222 roles. Among nonmultilateral employers, ICF led with 1,002 jobs, followed by Samaritan’s Purse with 469 jobs.
Around the watercooler
- The German government agreed to general preliminary cuts to the country’s 2027 federal budget.
- RĂ©my Rioux steps down after a decade leading the French development agency.
- ActionAid and other aid organizations are moving away from child sponsorship, citing it as restrictive and outdated.
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