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Human Development Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Uses a human-centered approach and human development best practices to meet the needs of the community and program participants. Provides overall administration, supervision, and leadership to placed ...

Uses a human-centered approach and human development best practices to meet the needs of the community and program participants. Provides overall administration, supervision, and leadership to placed ...

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Human Development information

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$10

$24

$36

How much do human development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for human development in Washington, DC is $24.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.86 and $27.21 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is human development?

Human development as a profession focuses on understanding and supporting people’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth throughout their lives. Professionals in this field may work in education, counseling, social services, research, or program development, helping individuals and families thrive in various environments. The work often involves applying developmental theory and research to real-world issues such as early childhood education, family dynamics, aging, and mental health. Careers in human development can be found in schools, community organizations, healthcare facilities, and government agencies.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in human development roles, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Human Development often navigate challenges such as balancing the diverse needs of individuals with organizational goals, addressing sensitive personal or cultural issues, and staying updated with evolving best practices in human growth and learning. Effective communication, continuous professional development, and strong collaboration with interdisciplinary teams can help address these challenges. Building trust and maintaining confidentiality are also key to fostering productive relationships and positive outcomes in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a human development role, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Human Development role, you need a solid background in psychology, education, or social sciences, often with at least a bachelor's degree in a related field. Familiarity with data analysis tools, program evaluation software, and assessment systems is commonly required. Strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication are crucial for building relationships and supporting diverse populations. These skills ensure impactful program delivery, accurate assessment, and positive developmental outcomes for individuals and communities.

What is the difference between Human Development vs Human Resources?

AspectHuman DevelopmentHuman Resources
Primary FocusEmployee growth, training, and organizational developmentRecruitment, employee relations, and administrative HR functions
Required CredentialsDegrees in education, psychology, or social sciences often preferredDegrees in business, management, or related fields; HR certifications common
Work EnvironmentEducational institutions, nonprofits, government agenciesCorporate offices, HR departments, consulting firms
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in education, government, nonprofitsUsed across all industries with HR departments

While both roles focus on people and organizational well-being, Human Development emphasizes employee training and personal growth, often in educational or nonprofit settings. Human Resources centers on managing employee relations, recruitment, and administrative functions within organizations. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and employer expectations in each field.

What can you do with a human development degree?

A human development degree prepares individuals for careers in social services, counseling, education, community outreach, and nonprofit organizations. Graduates often work as social workers, case managers, youth counselors, or program coordinators, utilizing skills in communication, assessment, and program planning.

What do you do in human development?

In human development, professionals focus on improving individuals' well-being, skills, and potential through programs related to education, health, and social services. They may conduct assessments, develop training plans, and collaborate with communities or organizations to support growth and development. Skills in communication, counseling, and program management are often essential in this field.

What types of jobs would someone in human development have?

Individuals in human development can work in roles such as human development specialists, program coordinators, or community outreach workers, focusing on improving individual and community well-being. These jobs often require skills in counseling, program management, and understanding developmental theories, and may be found in educational, healthcare, or nonprofit settings.

What are popular job titles related to Human Development jobs in Washington, DC?

For Human Development jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Human Development job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% In-person, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,420 per year, or $24.7 per hour.

Human Development Specialist III

Fairfax, VA • On-site


Fairfax County
Public Administration • 10K+ employees

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 68 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

344th of 849 rated public administrative organizations

Great coworkers

People enjoy working here

Good employer


$60K - $106K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

Job Announcement This announcement will be used to fill a position located within Region 4 area of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) at the following location: Oak View Elementary School BTB (5004 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22032) Join our team at the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and help support our mission to partner with communities, families, and individuals to provide opportunities to access a continuum of resources that promote equity and create positive outcomes for people of all ages and abilities. Our vision is to see connected communities where all individuals and families are supported and empowered to thrive. This position works as part of the Culture, Recreation, and Community Connections (CRCC) Division to provide leadership and support for the overall functions of school-based sites that serve school-age youth, and of center-based sites that serve Youth, Teen, Adult, Senior, and Family programs as the need arises.

Plans, coordinates, and evaluates outcome-based inclusive programs for diverse populations, including recreational, educational, health and wellness, social, civic, and cultural programs. Uses a human-centered approach and human development best practices to meet the needs of the community and program participants. Provides overall administration, supervision, and leadership to placed-based efforts for the population served and comply with all training and licensure requirements established by state and local guidelines.

Conducts targeted community outreach efforts to increase participation and offer programs and services based on community needs and gaps. Provides support to all children in the program, including children with special needs. Works actively and be engaged with staff and children daily.

This position is scheduled to work 52 weeks per year, 40 hours per week between the hours of 6:45 am - 6:15 pm. This position requires a split shift during the school year, and full day during the winter, spring, and summer programs. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity

Learn more about the work we do in NCS here. Illustrative Duties (The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.) Supervises a team of fulltime, temporary, part-time, seasonal staff and volunteers; Plans, coordinates, and evaluates programs, activities, and events with the end result of Inclusive Prosperity using a Human-centered approach to ensure equitable outcomes for all, in a co-located or stand-alone site that address identified gaps; Identifies practices or policies that create unintended consequences for marginalized or non/under-represented communities using a Trauma Informed Lens; Ensures that programming is inclusive of the county's goals and initiatives; Manages the daily overall facility operation; Participates in the hiring, training, and scheduling of staff; Completes and submit required financial, data and statistical and other reports as requested; Adheres to revenue and expense limits; Inspects facilities and grounds for safety hazards and operational deficiencies and initiate corrective actions; Responds to public inquiries and concerns as appropriate; Participates in the development and implementation of school-based, community center-based, and community outreach plans that targets all communities with targeted strategies for marginalized communities; Facilitates, distributes, or participates in evaluation processes such as surveys, focus groups, program and activity benchmarking

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities (The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list). Knowledge of Human-centered and human development practices; Knowledge of basic fiscal management, record keeping, and inventory processes; Knowledge of culture, community strengths and assets, and relationship building strategies; Ability to use a personal computer, applicable software, and peripheral equipment; Ability to direct and coordinate the work of subordinate staff and volunteers; Ability to plan, develop, and administer programs, activities, and events in collocated or stand-alone facilities and the community; Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; Ability to establish and maintain a warm and supportive relationship with participants, parents, staff, school officials, and citizen groups, in a group or individual setting; Ability to provide a wide variety of experiences to meet a participant's individual intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs. Employment Standards MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in human development, social work, early childhood education, recreation, or a human services *related field; plus, one year of supervisory experience in program development, community engagement, child-related programmatic experience or human services *related experience.

*A related field/experience is based solely on the position description. CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.

First Aid/CPR certification (within 90 days of appointment) Food Handler's certification (within 90 days of appointment) NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and a Child Protective Services Registry check to the satisfaction of the employer. A Tuberculosis (TB) screening upon hire. Additional work schedule requirements: scheduled to work a split shift Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6:45 am- 6:15 pm.

Also requires a full day work (6.5 or more consecutive hours) when FCPS is out of school (teacher workdays, winter break, spring break, summer). PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree or higher in a child-related field such as elementary education, nursing, or recreation Two years of child-related programmatic experience Child-related programmatic experience with children with special needs Experience working in a setting that provided services to children and youth with special needs in the past two years Certification of qualification from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization; or Child Development Credential; or One-year early childhood certificate from a college or university; or Other childcare related Virginia State license Demonstrated experience and proficiency in planning appropriate experiences for school-age children. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Position is active in nature

Must be able to monitor and observe the activities of program participants. Regularly moves about or positions self to supervise and interact with participants at their level. Occasionally lifts, transports, positions, push/pulls or moves up to 50 pounds.

Must be sufficiently mobile and possess a range of motion to perform repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting. Ability to react quickly to the physical actions of program participants. Requires the ability to apply CPR and First Aid skills as needed and respond to emergency situations.

Administrative and supervisory activities will require the ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community.

All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview and may include exercise. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY

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