Officers of non-governmental organisation - overview

What does an officer of non-governmental organisations do?

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) is a not-for-profit group independent of the government, usually with a social or political goal. They can work on a local, national or international level and can be aid organisations, foundations or associations. Examples include trade associations like the Royal Institute of British Architects and charities like Greenpeace.

As an officer for an NGO, you could work in roles such as administration, project development, marketing, public relations, fundraising or volunteer management. It’s different to aid work, which provides emergency response in specific geographical locations.

It can be an interesting role as you could work on various projects within teams that hold a shared passion for doing good. Of course, jobs are competitive and you probably won’t get the same salary that you’d get in a similar role in the private sector. But work for an NGO, and you’ll hopefully feel like you’re making a real impact in the world.

What will your days involve?

Your day could involve supporting the work of the wider NGO team by:

• Maintaining records of things like memberships, mailing lists and subscription fees
• Reporting and circulating relevant information to members and interested groups
• Arranging conferences, meetings and other events and distributing accompanying material
• Receiving and responding to correspondence from members and other people
• Assisting with fundraising activities
• Managing social media accounts
• Creating campaign materials

FAQs

How much can you earn as an officer of a non-governmental organisation?

The average salary for an officer of non-governmental organisations in the UK is £29,120.

Does an officer of non-governmental organisations role involve travel in the UK or overseas?

You may have to travel overseas in a role at an NGO, especially if the NGO is located abroad. It’s also possible that your NGO will have more than one site location that you’ll have to travel between. You may move from NGO to NGO, meaning you travel around the globe. Alternatively, you could work for a UK-based NGO, meaning travel is limited.

Can you work from home as an officer of non-governmental organisations?

Some elements of the job are usually possible to do from home but you will probably spend most of your time at the NGO’s main location.