Associate Field Manager (Remote) at GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving - and millions of lives - by allowing donors to provide capital grants directly to the world’s poorest. The Brookings Institution estimates that $70B of cash transfers would be required to eliminate the poverty gap; the aid sector currently spends $135B each year, much of which is allocated to evidence-free interventions.

We want to change that, establishing a benchmark, and in the process accelerate the end of extreme poverty. GiveDirectly has raised over $400M in revenue (>$150M in 2020 alone), while being recognized as one of the most innovative non-profit companies by Fast Company. The growing movement toward cash transfers and GD’s role in that movement have also been featured in This American Life, Foreign Affairs, The Economist, and Business Insider.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Associate Field Manager

Location: Lokoja, Kogi (Remote)
Reports to: Program Manager
Level: Associate Manager

About this Role

• The Associate Field Manager (AFM) will play a central role in ensuring that GiveDirectly delivers a gold-standard product to donors and recipients.
• The AFM will manage the Field Officers (FOs) for the flood-driven humanitarian Pilot Project in Kogi State.
• The AFM will own day-to-day management of their team, including: daily work planning and team management; tracking team and individual performance; achieving targets; coaching field officers; and identifying opportunities for risk mitigation and process improvement.
• The AFM will be responsible for regularly synthesizing updates on team performance as well as field successes and challenges.
• The role will be rewarded for exceptional personnel management, organizational skills, high-quality judgment on operational challenges, and a strong commitment towards driving both team and individual productivity and quality.

Responsibilities
What you’ll do:

Field management:

• Coordinate intermittently with field officers to align plans for the week and solve identified field challenges.
• Coordinate team approach for village surveys to maximize efficiency and productivity.
• Track FO productivity and quality of service, including reviewing operational reports each week; discussing team and individual performance with FOs weekly; being responsible for course correction if metrics are slipping
• Keep senior management informed of key risks to work around (e.g. village-specific challenges, political instability, rumors about GiveDirectly, recipient refusals, terrain challenges during rainy seasons, etc.)
• Meet with Program Manager at least once per week to discuss any adjustments to work plans / other subsequent sprints for the week

Data collection and process improvement:

• Collect surveys 1-2 days a week in order to help teams achieve targets and to help identify areas for improvement
• Vet new versions of surveys, including impact on field-staff productivity, and recommend survey improvements as necessary (e.g., potential process gaps)
• Raise ideas for continuous improvement of the enrollment process/recipient experience; execute process improvements and ideas raised by the Program Manager/Humanitarian Managers

Quality control:

• Monitor and ensure quality control when the field staff conduct surveys
• Periodically check and review FO data collection in the field and coach staff to correct any issues observed
• Spend 1-2 days resolving difficult cases in the field that require special attention (hard-to-find recipients, cases of potential fraud)

Field Officer management and development:

• Coach FOs on challenges that come up in the field. Provide additional case-specific input as requested by FOs (e.g., ambiguity around potential impostor)
• Exercise judgment and escalate recurring issues or questions to the Program Manager
• Coach FOs who are underperforming and provide disciplinary measures when necessary
• Encourage teamwork and improve morale through mentorship, affirmations, and various management initiatives
• Spend 1-2 days per week shadowing staff in order to identify areas for improvement and professional development, particularly during staff training
• Conduct monthly performance check-ins with direct reports and annual performance reviews.

Administration:

• Ensure all allowance requests and spent allowance requests are submitted correctly and promptly
• Ensure timecards are accurately and timely submitted
• Process leave requests so as not to conflict with work planning and operations
• Resolve miscellaneous equipment requests
• Participate in a weekly field management forum to solve problems and collaborate on work planning.

Other:

• Conduct interviews for new FOs (after initial screen from Manager). Recommend potential hires to Program Manager for final approval
• Provide initial training to newly hired FOs and ongoing professional development to staff
• Participate in meetings with district, sector and cell officials as necessary. Represent GiveDirectly in the field and manage daily communication with local leaders
• Assist Program Manager with communicating and executing new projects / pilots / technologies (e.g., software changes and upgrades, recipient targeting projects, content collection for website and mobile app, etc.)
• Assist with response to “crisis” events (e.g., refusal spikes, government shut-down, coordinated fraud, etc.)
• Promote effective team culture by encouraging recognition of positive achievements, planning team events and other team-building initiatives.

Requirements
What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant professional field
• Must be fluent in at least 1 of the local languages spoken in Kogi State (Igbira, Bassa, Igala)
• At least 2 years of Previous experience in a management position desirable (NGOs, banking, ICT, government). Previous working experience in humanitarian response or poverty reduction is a plus.
• Working proficiency in English with excellent communication skills
• Exceptional leadership ability with demonstrated success in motivating and developing junior staff
• Exceptional ability to solve complex operational challenges in the field
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and team-player mentality
• Strong interest in being the engine of the day-to-day field work
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly independent and self-directed manner, while effectively communicating about gaps and risks
• Strong relationship building skills and the ability to represent the organization effectively to external parties
• Analytical and technical skills, including intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel
• Alignment with GiveDirectly Values and active demonstration of our core competencies: emotional intelligence, problem solving, project management, follow-through, and fostering inclusivity.
• We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates who have personal or professional experience in the low-income and/or historically marginalized communities that we serve.

Why work at GiveDirectly?
At GiveDirectly, we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team, including:

• A positive and supportive team with opportunities for advancement 
• A demonstrated commitment to helping all staff develop and grow
• A competitive salary.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

About the Hiring Process

• 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! 

Note

• We’re committed to running an inclusive and accessible application process for all of our open roles. If there are questions or concerns you have about the accessibility of our hiring process, we warmly invite you to reach out to [email protected]
• 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.