DSO is a non-profit international development consultancy.

A list of our Fall 2011 clients can be found here.

DSO gathers the best talent from the most celebrated companies to provide an unmatched depth and diversity of skills to our clients.

For example, an engineering director from LinkedIn works with seven (CS/HCI) students to help Samasource build their state-of-the-art digital delivery platform, Samahub.
Our professionals hail from:

DSO recruits top students by promising hands-on experience and mentorship. These students work under professionals to implement client solutions.

8% acceptance rate.
Previous work experience at:

Most of all, DSO is a community. We are all high achievers and interview stringently. But we are high achievers that care about each other. United by our international development passion and urge to give back, DSO friendships last. Most of our students go on to lead engagements as professionals. Many of us got our current job through DSO. Join us and become part of a lifelong network.

Current Clients

Open Positions (Key Hires)

To apply, click on position title. Please submit a quality cover letter: what do you find appealing about DSO specifically?

All positions are volunteer and unpaid unless otherwise noted. Send us an email if you have questions.

1. Chief Client Officer

   • Responsible for overall success of all our client relationships. Includes selection and screening of clients (most challenging task) to nurturing the relationship to ensuring the final deliverable blows away expectations.
   • Ideal individual has decades of experience at multilateral development institutions such as World Bank, IMF, USAID, etc. Retired okay. Perhaps is an avid conference-goer and potential DSO evangelist.

2. Chief Operating Officer

   • Ensures we hit all deadlines that are important. Understands big picture - exercises discretion in determining what deadlines are important.
   • Builds a culture of reliability and accountability. This is important if our clients - and ourselves, even - are to take us seriously. This person pushes and calls and hounds.
   • In charge of our communication engine: vision and priorities are understood. Everyone is an “owner.” Meetings/emails are effective.
   • This is a thankless task and difficult to fill, especially volunteer basis. The right person here cares deeply about DSO and our success and knows these are crucial items to take care of.

3. Accountant / Accounting Firm

   • Takes care of our 501c3 and taxes. We’ve submitted 501c3 application 9 months ago and haven’t heard anything. Follow-up. Also, we need to file federal/state taxes. File.
   • Takes care of regulatory issues. Less important than first bullet, and applicable only if individual. Ensures we keep the right records and are in compliance with all regulations.
   • We are willing to pay money. Hundreds/thousands of dollars from our own pockets if necessary. Feel free to recommend a paid firm or pro-bono volunteer (only if they’d care about DSO.)

4. Chief Human Resources Officer

   • Creates hiring machine that constantly generates high-quality candidates. Should be considerate of EL time constraints, provide good/speedy candidate experience, and prioritize key hires.
   • Ensure we’re getting the most out of the people we have. Includes morale, mentoring, evaluation, title, organizational structure, lifetime experience, alumni engagement.
   • Ideal candidate has previous experience creating hiring machine at non-profits and getting the most out of volunteers. Intelligent enough to customize to our strengths. Giant plus for international development history (= connections).

Other Positions

5. Miscellaneous Key Hire

   • Sometimes someone will come along who wants to make DSO their personal “cause,” knows exactly how to make it better, and has the skills/credentials to do so. We can always find a place in our organization for such a person.

6. Seattle Engagement Lead

   • Ideally, this person is heavily involved in the international development scene in Seattle and can evangelize other engagement leads to join.
   • Big plus if involved with Change (http://change.washington.edu/).

7. All other Engagement Leads (DC, Pittsburgh, Other)

   • Of course, we are always looking for additional engagement leads, especially in DC/PIT/SEA; but elsewhere is okay.
   • Ideal candidate has an interest/passion in international development, has an impeccable resume, and commits reliably / really sees the value in our model.

8. Student Consultants (Carnegie Mellon University, Other)

   • Normally we recruit during batch kick-off days, but we’re always welcome to exceptional students at other universities.

A couple other stats… (Since Fall 2010)

Incorporated and drafted regulatory/financial controls; 14 board members.
Completed 9 client engagements utilizing 15 professionals, 23 students total.
Attracted 3 corporate partners to provide funding and recruiting channels.