Careers
Work in humanitarian response
1,200+ field staff in 27 countries plus 180-person NYC HQ. Operations, programs, finance, communications, technology. International + national + local roles. Mission-driven work that matters.
1,400+
Total team across organization
27
Countries with staff
85%
Local hires (national + local staff)
18 yr
Average employee tenure (HQ)
Why work at Lifeline Aid
What's distinctive
Mission-driven work that matters
Direct humanitarian impact. 1.2 million people reached annually through our programs. Specific lives changed. Specific communities supported. Mission visibility + meaning are real here.
Industry-leading retention
HQ retention 18-year average. Field retention 7-year average. Both well above industry standards. People stay because work matters + we treat employees well + we invest in growth.
Competitive compensation
HQ compensation 60th-70th percentile of comparable humanitarian organizations. Field compensation reflects local + international standards. Full benefits at all levels.
Diverse + inclusive workplace
85% local hires (national + local staff). 56% women in leadership. 42% people of color in HQ leadership. Bilingual + multilingual culture. Diversity reflects communities we serve.
Professional development
Annual professional development budget per employee. Conference + training attendance encouraged. Internal training programs. International mobility opportunities. Career growth paths defined.
Sense of community
Mission-aligned colleagues. Frequent collaboration across teams. Annual all-staff retreat (rotating geographic locations). Strong cultural bonds. People who stay long-term often refer to colleagues as ‘family.’
Open positions — NYC HQ
Headquarters roles
VP of Programs (open)
Senior leadership role. Oversee humanitarian programs across 27 countries. 15+ years humanitarian sector experience. NYC-based with regional travel. Salary $185-$220k.
Director of Communications (open)
Lead communications + donor engagement. 8+ years senior communications experience. Mission-alignment + writing skills critical. NYC-based. Salary $145-$180k.
Senior Major Gift Officer (open)
Major donor relationship management. 5+ years major gift experience. Significant donor portfolio ownership. NYC-based with major US city travel. Salary $125-$160k + bonus.
Senior Software Engineer — Donor Platform (open)
Build donor management platform. 5+ years senior engineering experience. React + TypeScript + cloud infrastructure. Remote-flexible. Salary $145-$180k.
Compliance Officer (open)
Federal + state regulatory compliance. 4+ years humanitarian sector compliance. Audit relationship management. NYC-based. Salary $115-$140k.
Communications + Content Specialist (open)
Field updates, social media, donor communication. 3+ years communications experience. Strong writing + visual communication. Mission-alignment essential. Hybrid NYC-based. Salary $75-$95k.
Open positions — international field
Country office roles
Country Director — Pakistan (open)
Lead Pakistan country operations during active flooding response. 10+ years senior field experience. Karachi or Islamabad-based. Salary $145-$185k + housing + benefits.
WASH Programs Manager — Pakistan (open)
Manage water + sanitation programs in flood response. 5+ years WASH expertise. Engineering or public health background. Pakistan field-based. Salary $85-$110k + housing.
Operations Manager — Yemen (open)
Yemen field operations. 5+ years humanitarian field experience. Logistics + security awareness. Sana’a or Aden-based. Difficult operating environment. Salary $95-$125k + housing + hardship allowance.
Healthcare Coordinator — DRC (open)
Healthcare programs in eastern DRC. Medical degree + humanitarian experience. Goma or Bukavu-based. Salary $85-$115k + housing + hardship allowance.
Finance Manager — Nairobi Regional Office (open)
Regional finance for Africa programs. CPA + 5+ years humanitarian finance. Nairobi-based. Salary $95-$120k + housing.
Country Coordinator — Türkiye/Syria (open)
Coordinate cross-border response for Türkiye + Syria. 5+ years humanitarian field experience. Arabic-speaking preferred. Gaziantep or Istanbul-based. Salary $95-$130k + housing.
What we offer
Compensation + benefits
Competitive base salary
60th-70th percentile of comparable humanitarian organizations. Annual review + adjustment. Performance-based bonus structure for many roles. Salary transparency in job postings.
Comprehensive health benefits
Medical + dental + vision for all full-time + spouse/family. Mental health support + EAP. International + domestic healthcare coverage. Generous benefits structure.
Retirement (403(b))
403(b) retirement plan with 5% match. Vesting after 1 year. Retirement counseling available. Standard for nonprofit sector.
Generous time off
4 weeks PTO (HQ). 6+ weeks for international field roles + R&R schedule. 12 paid holidays. Sabbatical eligibility after 7 years (typically 4-12 weeks). Family leave (parental + medical).
Professional development budget
$3,000-$5,000/year per employee. Conference + training + certification. International mobility opportunities. Career path planning support.
Mission visibility + meaning
Direct connection to humanitarian impact. Field visit opportunities. Donor + beneficiary connections. Annual impact reports. Tangible meaning of your work.
Volunteer + pro bono
Beyond paid roles
Limited volunteer travel to disasters
We don’t welcome volunteer travel to active disasters. Reasons: requires specialized training, creates burden on field operations, security risks, doesn’t add capacity. Difficult to say no, but it’s the right policy.
Pro bono professional services
Pro bono offerings welcome from professionals: lawyers, accountants, technologists, designers, communications specialists. Coordinated through pro-bono@lifelineaid.org. Match against organizational need.
NYC HQ event volunteering
Annual NYC HQ events (donor receptions, board meetings, public events). Volunteers help with setup + reception + breakdown. Most events 4-6 hours volunteer time. Email volunteer@lifelineaid.org.
Peer-to-peer fundraising
Run a 5K, host a dinner, organize a campaign in your community. We provide fundraising tools + custom donation page + impact data. Common for milestone events (birthdays, anniversaries, memorials).
Advocacy + awareness
Educate your community about humanitarian crises. Share our content with networks. Advocate for humanitarian aid funding (federal + foundation). Particularly important for younger generation engagement.
Major donor advisory board
Major donors ($25k+/year) eligible for advisory board roles. Strategic input + program review + advocacy. Quarterly advisory board calls + annual in-person meeting. Limited slots; selective.
Apply or inquire
We respond within 5 business days
Apply to a specific role or submit general interest. International + senior roles require detailed application materials. NYC HQ + entry-level: streamlined application.
Career questions
What candidates ask
- For senior + field roles: yes (typically 5-10+ years). For mid-level roles: humanitarian experience preferred but not required. For entry-level + technology + finance roles: relevant skills more important than humanitarian sector experience. We hire for fit + train for sector knowledge.