Field Manager Full-Time

About GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly (GD) provides cash grants directly to people living in extreme poverty. Since launching in 2011, GD has raised over $1B, delivered cash to more than 1.5 million recipients, launched operations in 15 countries, and continues to expand its reach across the Global South. GD has also grown the research base supporting unconditional cash with 20 randomized control trials from its programs, generating rigorous evidence across countries and contexts. As a result, GD has been celebrated as one of the most innovative non-profit companies by Fast Company, while the growing cash transfer movement (and GD’s leading role within it) has been featured in the New York Times Magazine, This American Life, Foreign Affairs, and The Economist.

Across our global offices, our culture is candid, analytical, non-hierarchical, and agile. We work alongside 750+ individuals who come from 21 different countries and speak 69 different languages. Team members at GiveDirectly attest that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but a fundamental part of our culture and values. We actively seek to recruit individuals from the communities we serve, and use DEI as a lens in our hiring practices, programs, and initiatives. Our goal is to maintain a workplace where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work, and feel valued and respected for who they are. We strive to be inclusive of all cultures and experiences while upholding our values globally. In the spirit of our “Know Yourself and Grow” value, we recognize there is always room to improve our team’s working experience. But day to day, we aim to “Create Positive Energy” – we take care of one another, have fun, aim to maximize flexibility and accessibility in roles, and pursue professional development opportunities to stay challenged & engaged in our work.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Background

GiveDirectly is driving a re-evaluation of the assumptions underlying international philanthropy with a provocative model: we deliver donations directly to the extreme poor and let them decide what to do with them. This approach builds on two converging trends: the rapid spread of electronic last-mile payments solutions in the emerging markets, and the large body of experimental evidence showing that direct transfers are as or more cost-effective at reducing poverty than more traditional, top-down approaches. GiveDirectly’s field operations utilize state-of-the-art technology and business processes to deliver transfers securely, efficiently, and transparently. Our unorthodox approach – allowing the poor, and not the donor, to choose where they invest – has prompted debate in the popular press and among policy makers. GiveDirectly has been featured on NPR’s This American Life, and in Foreign Affairs, The Economist, and The New York Times. It was named one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Finance by FastCompany, one of the 25 Most Audacious Companies by Inc., and one of GiveWell’s top-rated charities for 4 years running.

Position Overview

The Field Manager (“FM”) will be expected to lead the field based aspects of GD´s projects in Nampula, Mugovolas District. The Field Manager will own the overall enrollment process and follow up activities, including tracking performance of field teams; achieving targets; building a culture of mentorship and professional development; and identifying opportunities for risk mitigation and process improvement. The Field Manager will serve as the key “eyes and ears” resource on the ground for the program manager and will be responsible for regularly synthesizing updates on operational health. The role will reward exceptional personnel management, organizational skills, high-quality judgment on operational challenges, and a strong commitment towards building a scalable and better-leveraged field org. This role will require a physical presence in Mugovolas District.                                            

Responsibilities

Campaign Management (20%)

The FM will be responsible for managing all aspects of ground operations:

• Set and own quantifiable targets like households enrolled and operational efficiency.
• Serve as the organization’s engine for continuous improvement of the enrolment process and recipient experience.
• Over time, reduce dependence on senior management and create more leverage for the Program Manager through capacity-building and delegation.

Vision & Critical Thinking (20%)

• The FM will be expected to be a strong contributor to the overall vision of the country office, engaging with the Program Manager in country problem-solving.
• Conceive, develop and test new protocols and methods prior to overseeing scale up.
• Anticipate areas of risk and create mitigation plans (e.g. coordination on complex research partnership, slow-downs from pilots, etc.).

People Management (20%)

• The FM will be expected to oversee a performance-oriented culture within your team (your reports and their reports), with all staff receiving feedback and development opportunities to achieve their potential.
•  Hire, train and manage field staff.
•  Run performance reviews for direct reports and build their capacity to do the same.
•  Identify and coach high-potential field staff to grow on a quick promotion trajectory.
•  Identify gaps in the org chart and propose solutions to the Program Manager.

Data and Analysis (20%)

• The FM will be expected to be comfortable using data to track performance, and inform decision-making, and to quickly build expertise within GD’s standard beneficiary data management and survey tools.
• Support survey creation and updates for new and existing projects.
• Guide and support reports on data inquiries, skill development, and data analysis.
• Work effectively with GD’s global data team (framing needs and expectations, and holding self
• and others accountable to agreed timelines).

Communication (10%)

• Meet the GD “bar” for online communication responsiveness (slack, email, phone).
•  Present effectively to the management team (focusing on key insights, etc.).
•  Communicate concisely and clearly across a variety of forms (written, presenting, verbal).

Support for auxiliary projects (5%)

• Assist Program Manager with hosting journalists, donors, and other external parties.
• Assist Program Manager with communicating and executing new projects/ pilots/ technologies (e.g. messaging Salesforce to field team, brainstorming options for community-based targeting, rolling out mobile app questions, etc.).

Support for auxiliary projects (5%)

• Monitor team dynamics and own follow-up on barometer activities.
• Identify opportunities for morale-building (e.g. retreats, team events, incentive schemes, etc.).

Desired abilities/experience

• Degree in a relevant field.
• Exceptional leadership ability with demonstrated success in motivating and developing subordinates.
• Exceptional ability to problem-solve complex operational challenges in the field.
• Excitement about owning challenging management tasks, including mentoring and motivating direct reports and the broader field team.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly independent and self-directed manner, while effectively. communicating upwardly about gaps and risks.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills and the ability to represent the organization effectively to external parties.
• Strong analytical and technical skills, including a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Demonstrated success in a high-performance work environment.
• At least 3-5 years of management experience, preferably managing managers.
• Ability to manage day-to-day operations while simultaneously building more robust, efficient systems.
• Experience working in urban informal settlements in Mozambique is highly desirable.
• Candidate should be willing to work and live in Nampula, Mugovolas District.

GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect children, vulnerable adults, and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH)” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.

Read more about our ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts here and about our decision to move our central support teams to remote first here.

About the hiring process

Format: The hiring process follows the same general outline for all open roles:

• First interview (30 mins)
• Take home skills assignment (~2 hours)
• Second interview (1 hour)*
• Third interview (1 hour)*
• Final interview (1 hour)
• Reference checks (30 mins each)

*For some roles, second & third interviews are combined into a panel interview. If there are adjustments or variations on this process, those changes will be communicated during the first interview.

Venue: We conduct interviews over Google Meet with camera on (unless communicated otherwise).

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available during all Google Meet interviews, and interviewers will also post interview questions in the chat box throughout the call. If you need assistance accessing either of these features, please let your interviewer know at the start of your interview!

Reports to: Program Manager

Location:  Nampula, M0govolas

Supervises: Associate Field Managers