Program Manager (2)

GiveDirectly has delivered more than $1B in cash directly to 2+ million people living in poverty across 15 countries since 2011. We believe cash transfers are one of the most scalable, cost-effective, and dignified forms of aid, with the research to back it up. Our work has been covered by The Economist, NPR, TED, and The Washington Post. We are one of Time100’s Most Influential Companies of 2026.Our culture is candid, analytical, and non-hierarchical. We support high ownership and real professional growth. Curious about what it’s really like to work here? Read our values and hear from the people who do. If they resonate, this could be a great fit!About the role The Program Manager (PM) will own the overall process for field operations in GiveDirectly Malawi’s flagship district transformation program. The PM will be driving enrollment and payment targets while tracking team performance. They will be working closely with district partners, mobile money partners, and district government counterparts while also building a culture of mentorship and professional development within their team and identifying opportunities for risk mitigation and process improvement.As the most senior GiveDirectly representative in the district, the PM will serve as the key “eyes and ears” resource in Malawi for GiveDirectly and will be responsible for regularly synthesizing updates on operational health. The role will have significant responsibility and a high degree of autonomy in creating and managing a large team.What you’ll do Project Management:The PM will be responsible for managing all aspects of ground operations, including:Owning end-to-end operations for enrollment, verification, and payment delivery, setting and tracking quantifiable targets. e.g., recipients enrolled and operational efficiencyServing as the organization’s engine for continuous improvement of the enrolment and follow-up processes, and overall recipient experienceCoordinating with mobile money and telecom partners to ensure smooth, secure payment delivery, and lead troubleshooting when payments are delayed.Monitoring security in the areas of operations to ensure the team and recipients can operate safelyMonitor operational and fraud risk in coordination with GiveDirectly’s Internal Audit team; identify and close loopholes.Uphold safeguarding standards across field operations, and design enrollment, payment, and community-engagement processes that prioritize recipients’ safety.Lead survey design and updates, and use data to track performance and inform decisions, working closely with GD’s global Data team.Build and maintain program documentation and knowledge-management materials for internal use and product development.People Management: Assisting the HR Manager in Hiring, training, and managing field staff, building a performance-oriented culture with regular feedback and development.Running performance reviews for direct reports and building their capacity to do the same for their reportsRole-model GiveDirectly’s values, fostering a team culture that’s ambitious, fast-paced, inclusive, and committed to excellenceVision & Critical Thinking:Conceiving, developing and testing new protocols and methods before initiating scale-upAnticipating areas of risk and creating mitigation plansData and Analysis: Leading survey creation and updates for new and existing projectsGuiding and supporting direct reports on data inquiries, skill development, and data analysisWorking effectively with GD’s global tech team (framing needs and expectations, and holding self and others accountable to agreed timelines)Partnerships & Government Relations Establish and maintain strong relationships with government counterparts, donors, telecom/mobile money operators, and community-based partners.Represent GiveDirectly in local coordination forums, and support hosting of donors, journalists, and other visitors.Support partnership and fundraising efforts, tracking opportunities, contributing to proposals, and reporting to funders such as the World Bank.