Development Worker vacancies

We advertise vacancies for volunteer Development Workers throughout the year.  Details of our vacancies are posted here when they become available.
 
Being a volunteer Development Worker is an opportunity for experienced, motivated professionals from around the world to work with our partner organisations.

Placements usually focus on:

• disabled people's rights
  
• sexual & reproductive health
• sustainable livelihoods
• children and young people's rights
  
• women's rights and gender equality
  

Roles are based in a wide range of sectors, from grassroots NGOs to international networks and government departments. 

Most of our placements are long-term (two to three years), but short-term consultancies, internships and other placements are sometimes available.

What we offer

Unless otherwise specified, our volunteer Development Worker posts are offered under the following conditions of service:

• living allowance in relation to local costs (full details in job description)
• pre-departure grant
• resettlement grant
• provision of accommodation
• medical & personal insurance
• return travel at the end of the contract
• language training (if required)
• 20 days' annual leave

What's involved

Working at a local level and immersing yourself in a local community - whether it’s a small town in the valleys of Bolivia, a hectic West African city, or the daily complexities of Palestine - is inspiring, enriching, and seriously challenging.

Our partner organisations need Development Workers who can combine professional expertise (graduate or post-graduate qualifications, and at least two years’ experience) with essential skills and personal qualities: communication and team-working, cultural sensitivity, maturity, flexibility, and resilience.

Potential Development Workers must be strongly committed to improving the situation of the people they work with; and understand that helping a local organisation become more effective isn’t just about transferring skills, but is a process of mutual sharing and learning.

Selection and preparation

We interview candidates throughout the year either at our head office in York (UK), or at our field offices.  Activities include a combination of interviews and exercises that focus on different aspects of working in development. Candidates often attend in small groups.

If you are selected, we will provide you with pre-placement training and preparation. This incorporates: essential briefings on the country in which you will be working; detailed briefings on the partner organisation whom you'll be working with; getting settled into your new environment; briefings on International Service’s approach to development and partnership (as well as our policies and procedures); and, if applicable, language training.

If you are invited to attend selection and preparation sessions, we will cover your travel, accommodation and any visa costs.