Work with us

International Service Ireland works hand-in-hand with International Service in the UK. We advertise up to 40 Development Worker vacancies each year.

These are opportunities for qualified, experienced, and motivated professionals from around the world to work with local organisations in Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Mali and Palestine.
Placements usually focus on:
  • Disability
  • Human rights
  • Reproductive & sexual health
  • Sustainable livelihoods
  • Children and young people
  • Gender
Roles are based in a wide range of sectors, from grassroots NGOs to international networks, in both urban and rural locations. The majority of our placements are long-term (two to three years), but short-term consultancies, internships and other placements are available from time to time.

Being a Development Worker

Unless we specify otherwise, Development Worker posts are offered under the following conditions of service:
  • minimum two-year contract
  • 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 Palestine and its daily complexities - 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. 

They need individuals who are strongly committed to improving the situation of the marginalised groups that they work with; people who understand that helping a local organisation become more effective isn’t just about a transfer of skills, but rather a process of mutual sharing and learning.

Selection and preparation

We interview candidates throughout the year at residential selection meetings at our offices in York (UK), and also at our field offices. Candidates are generally invited to attend in small groups. Activities include a combination of interviews and exercises focusing on different aspects of working in development. 

If selected, you will attend pre-departure preparation in York and/or in-country. This incorporates: essential briefings on the country in which you will be placed; briefings on International Service’s approach to development and partnership (as well as our policies and procedures); related training; and, if applicable, language training.

If you are invited to attend our selection and preparation sessions, travel, accommodation and any visa costs will be provided by International Service.

How to apply

International Service advertises 40 to 50 Development Worker vacancies each year. These are opportunities for qualified, experienced, and motivated professionals from around the world to work with local organisations in Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Mali and Palestine, focusing on:
  • disability
  • human rights
  • reproductive & sexual health
  • sustainable livelihoods
  • children and young people
  • gender
Development Worker roles are based in a wide range of sectors, working with local partner organisations including everything from grassroots NGOs to international networks, in both urban and rural locations. The majority of placements are long-term (two to three years), but short-term consultancies, internships and other placements are available from time to time.

Unless otherwise specified, development worker posts are offered under the following conditions of service:
  • minimum two-year contract
  • 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

Being a development worker

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 Palestine and its daily complexities - 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. 

They need individuals who are strongly committed to improving the situation of the marginalised groups that they work with; people who understand that helping a local organisation become more effective isn’t just about a transfer of skills, but rather a process of mutual sharing and learning.

Selection and preparation

We interview candidates throughout the year at residential selection meetings at our offices in York (UK), and also at our field offices. Candidates are generally invited to attend in small groups. Activities include a combination of interviews and exercises focusing on different aspects of working in development. 

If selected, you will attend pre-departure preparation in York and/or in-country. This incorporates: essential briefings on the country in which you will be placed; briefings on International Service’s approach to development and partnership (as well as our policies and procedures); related training; and, if applicable, language training.

If you are invited to attend our selection and preparation sessions, travel, accommodation and any visa costs will be provided by International Service.

International Service Ireland Development Worker Gill Waites in action in Bolivia

© International Service