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Humanitarian Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Director of Operations

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$100K - $140K/yr

About Airlink Airlink is a Washington, DC-based global humanitarian organization that connects vetted nonprofits with aviation and logistics resources to deliver critical aid and emergency responders ...

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How much do humanitarian jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for humanitarian in Reston, VA is $20.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $21.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are humanitarians?

Humanitarians are individuals who dedicate their time, skills, or resources to improving the well-being of others, especially people affected by crises such as natural disasters, conflicts, or poverty. They work to provide relief and support to vulnerable communities through organizations, non-profits, or volunteer efforts. Humanitarians can serve in a variety of roles, including delivering aid, advocating for human rights, or coordinating emergency response. Their main goal is to alleviate suffering and promote human dignity without discrimination.

What is a humanitarian career?

A humanitarian career involves working to improve the well-being of vulnerable populations affected by crises such as conflicts, natural disasters, or poverty. These roles often require skills in emergency response, project management, and cross-cultural communication, and may involve working in challenging environments for organizations like NGOs, UN agencies, or aid groups.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Humanitarian, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Humanitarian, you need a strong background in international relations, project management, and cultural competency, often supported by a relevant degree or field experience. Familiarity with data collection tools, humanitarian standards (such as Sphere), and languages commonly spoken in crisis regions is highly valuable. Outstanding soft skills include adaptability, resilience, and effective cross-cultural communication. These skills and qualities are essential for delivering aid, building trust with communities, and navigating the challenges of crisis settings.

What are some common challenges Humanitarians face when working in the field, and how can these be addressed?

Humanitarians often encounter challenges such as working in unstable or resource-constrained environments, managing cross-cultural communication, and responding quickly to evolving crises. These challenges require adaptability, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to work effectively under pressure. Building resilience, participating in ongoing training, and fostering strong teamwork are essential strategies for overcoming these obstacles and delivering effective aid.

How to get into humanitarian work?

To pursue a career as a humanitarian, gaining relevant education such as degrees in international relations, social work, or development studies is helpful. Volunteering or working with NGOs, developing language skills, and obtaining certifications like first aid or project management can improve employability. Experience in crisis zones or underserved communities is often valued by employers in this field.

Do humanitarians get paid?

Humanitarians can be paid or volunteer, depending on the organization and role. Paid positions often include salaries and benefits, especially in international agencies or NGOs, while many humanitarian volunteers work without pay. Compensation varies based on experience, location, and the specific organization.

What Do Humanitarians Do?

Humanitarians devote their time and energy to promoting human welfare and assisting other people in need. You do not necessarily need a job to be a humanitarian. For example, volunteering at a homeless shelter or donating time and money to end hunger or to support refugees or human rights agencies are also humanitarian acts. However, there are also many jobs that can be classified as “humanitarian” jobs. These range from being a volunteer coordinator for a local charity to working as a physician for an international aid organization such as Doctors Without Borders. The responsibilities of a humanitarian range greatly depending on the position and work requirements.

What are examples of humanitarian jobs?

Humanitarian jobs include roles such as aid workers, relief coordinators, emergency response specialists, and development officers. These positions often require skills in project management, cross-cultural communication, and knowledge of international aid protocols, and may involve working in challenging environments to support vulnerable populations.

What is the difference between Humanitarian vs Social Worker?

AspectHumanitarianSocial Worker
Required CredentialsRelevant degrees (e.g., International Development, Humanitarian Studies), certifications in emergency responseSocial work degree (BSW, MSW), licensure
Work EnvironmentFieldwork in disaster zones, refugee camps, developing countriesCommunity settings, hospitals, schools, government agencies
Employer & IndustryNGOs, international agencies, relief organizationsGovernment agencies, healthcare facilities, non-profits
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in emergency and international aidSupporting individuals and communities in social services

While both Humanitarians and Social Workers aim to improve lives, Humanitarians focus on emergency relief and international aid in crisis zones, often working abroad. Social Workers typically serve local communities, providing ongoing support in social services. Their credentials, work environments, and employer types differ, reflecting their distinct roles within the broader field of helping professions.

What are popular job titles related to Humanitarian jobs in Reston, VA? For Humanitarian jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Humanitarian jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Humanitarian jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Humanitarian jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Humanitarian job openings:
Evaluation Team Leaders/Senior Evaluators (Proposal)

Evaluation Team Leaders/Senior Evaluators (Proposal)

Tetra Tech

Washington, DC • On-site, Remote

Other

Re-posted 17 days ago


Tetra Tech rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 40 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

347th of 367 rated engineering


Job description

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Proposal Summary:  
MSI is pursuing an opportunity with the World Food Programme (WFP) who is commissioning a series of global, strategic, and country-level evaluations to inform future programming and strengthen accountability. These evaluations will be commissioned through a series of long-term agreements (e.g. frameworks) that will be active until at least 2028, with the possibility of extensions through 2030.

WFP's evaluation themes cover 18 areas: (1) Crisis response and humanitarian assistance; (2) Food security and nutrition: (3) School-based programs; (4) Smallholder agricultural market support: (5) Resilience-building and climate adaptation; (6) Social protection; (7) Supply chain logistics; (8) Common services including aviation, shipping, fleet management; (9) Capacity strengthening; (10) Gender equality and empowerment of women; inclusion; (11) Accountability to affected populations (AAP) and protection; (12) Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus; (13) Humanitarian Principles and Conflict Sensitivity: (14) Institutional analysis and workforce management; (15) Risk management and mitigation; (16) Advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy; (17) Emergency needs assessment; and (18) Exiting emergencies.

Position Summary: 
MSI is recruiting for Evaluation Team Leaders and Senior Evaluators to work across all phases of the evaluation cycle-design, implementation, analysis, reporting, and follow-up-ensuring high technical quality, adherence to UN norms, and timely delivery of actionable findings and recommendations. MSI is recruiting for at least 10 roles with relevant experience across at least one of the following regions: Latin America and Caribbean; West Africa; East Africa; Southern Africa; and Europe/Asia (inclusive of MENA).

Responsibilities: 
Under the overall guidance of the WFP Evaluation Manager, the evaluation team leaders and senior evaluators will:
    Lead the development of the inception report, including finalizing evaluation questions, methodology, work plan, and staffing plan.
    Manage day-to-day coordination of the evaluation team, ensuring team members deliver inputs on time and to standard.
    Oversee the design and implementation of data collection (including desk review, key informant interviews, focus groups, surveys, site visits).
    Ensure compliance with WFP's Evaluation Policy, UNEG Ethical Guidelines, and corporate standards for gender, protection, and environment.
    Liaise with WFP HQ, regional bureau, country offices, external stakeholders (e.g., donors, partners, beneficiary representatives), and UN evaluation offices to secure data, convene workshops, and validate preliminary findings.
    Provide high-quality technical guidance on analysis, synthesis, and triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data.
    Draft and finalize the evaluation report, including an executive summary, findings, conclusions, lessons learned, and prioritized, SMART recommendations.
    Support preparation of a management response matrix, a stakeholder presentation, and dissemination materials.
    Facilitate a validation workshop with senior managers and ensure integration of feedback.
 

Qualifications: 
    Minimum of Master's degree.
    Minimum 12 years of professional experience in evaluation, policy analysis, or strategic assessment, including at least 5 years leading complex, country-level, multicountry or global evaluations for the UN system or comparable multilateral organizations. 
    Experience leading WFP evaluation strongly preferred. 
    Working knowledge of at least one additional UN official language: French or Spanish required; knowledge of a third UN language (Arabic, Chinese, or Russian) an asset.
    Demonstrated track record of designing and managing evaluations of policies, strategies, or large programmes at global/regional level.
    Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams, manage remote collaboration, and facilitate multistakeholder processes.
    Strong familiarity with UN evaluation standards (UNEG, OECDDAC) and WFP policies, operational modalities, and corporate KPIs.
    Full professional proficiency in English.
    Advanced skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, SPSS/Stata, R).
    Excellent report-writing, presentation, and facilitation skills.
    Strong ethical conduct, gender-sensitive and culturally aware approach.
    Flexibility to travel and work under tight deadlines.

MSI Tetra Tech is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. Tetra Tech is a VEVRAA federal contractor and we request priority referral of veterans.

Reasonable Accommodations:

If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech's Disability Assistance Page .Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.

Proposal and tender opportunity  
U.S. Teams and Clients
Agriculture and Food Security (International Development)  
Climate Change Services (International Development)  
Economic Growth (International Development)  
Education (International Development)  
Gender Equity, Disability, and Social Inclusion (International Development)  
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (International Development)  
Water Security and Sanitation (International Development)
 

Additional Information
  • Organization: 216 MSI

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