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!

Senior Manager - Field Operations and Programs

Reports to: Program Director
Level: Senior Manager
Manages: Program Managers

Role Purpose

The Senior Manager (SM) provides senior leadership for field operations and program implementation, ensuring high-quality delivery, scalable systems, and strong people management across programs. The role owns field execution standards, operational systems, and talent development, while Program Managers retain accountability for day-to-day delivery and the Program Director retains accountability for country-level execution and strategy.

The Senior Manager acts as the bridge between strategy and execution, translating Program Director priorities into strong operational practice across teams.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Field Operations Leadership (Standards & Performance)

• Provide senior oversight of field operations across programs, ensuring consistent implementation quality, data integrity, and adherence to operational standards.
• Hold Program Managers and Field Managers accountable for meeting delivery targets (e.g., households enrolled, efficiency benchmarks, recipient experience).
• Conduct periodic field visits to assess system effectiveness, implementation quality, and staff performance.
• Identify cross-program delivery challenges and escalate systemic issues to the Program Director with proposed solutions.
• Review and endorse operational pilots and targeting approaches before scale, assessing feasibility, efficiency, and risk.
• Serve as the escalation point for cross-program operational risks prior to Program Director involvement.

2. Systems Building & Operational Model Improvement

• Own continuous improvement of the field delivery model, with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and reliability.
• Lead initiatives to:
• Strengthen data quality assurance systems
• Improve backend checks and automation
• Integrate technology into enrollment, monitoring, and follow-up protocols
• Oversee risk mitigation plans proposed by Program, Product, and Field Managers, particularly for:
• Complex pilots or research partnerships
• Operational slowdowns or delivery risks
• Ensure operational systems remain aligned with Program Director priorities and organizational strategy.

3. Senior People Management & Talent Development

• Foster a high-performance culture across field teams, emphasizing accountability, feedback, and professional growth.
• Directly manage senior field staff (e.g., Program Managers, Field Managers), setting expectations for strong people management at all levels.
• Oversee hiring plans for field teams, supporting managers in recruitment, onboarding, and training where needed.
• Lead performance reviews for direct reports and build their capacity to conduct effective reviews for their teams.
• Identify high-potential staff and, in partnership with managers, support accelerated development and promotion pathways.
• Identify structural gaps or inefficiencies in field team org charts and propose resourcing or design adjustments to the Program Director.

4. Data, Performance Monitoring & Decision Support

• Use data to monitor field and program performance, identify trends, and inform operational improvements.
• Oversee survey design and updates for new and existing programs, ensuring alignment with program objectives and data quality standards.
• Coach teams on effective use of data for problem-solving and performance management.
  • Act as the primary interface with GiveDirectly’s global data teams for field-related needs, ensuring clarity of requirements and adherence to timelines.
  • Synthesize data into clear insights and recommendations for the Program Director and management team.

5. Cross-Functional Coordination & Internal Communication

• Partner with Product, Data, Finance, and Operations teams to ensure field execution supports program objectives and product priorities.
• Communicate clearly and concisely across written, verbal, and presentation formats.
• Present regularly to internal leadership on field performance, risks, and improvement initiatives.

6. External Support 

• Support the Program Director and Country Director in donor visits and external engagements by providing operational and field context.
• Assist in internal rollout of new programs, pilots, or technologies by ensuring field teams are prepared, informed, and aligned.

Desired Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of work experience in a problem-solving heavy role (field management, consulting, analytics)
• Exceptional ability to work analytically through complex operational questions & run robust analyses to inform management and programming decisions
• Strong communications skills, including speaking, writing, presenting, and negotiating across diverse audiences
• Strong operational acumen (including ability to rapidly get up-to-speed on GD field model)
• Experience with field work, field data collection
• Ability to approach tasks with resourcefulness and to work in a highly self-directed manner
• Ability to manage day-to-day operations while simultaneously working to build and institutionalize more robust, efficient systems
• Passion for the role cash transfers can play in giving recipients choice & driving impact at scale 
• Strong interest in advancing the values and mission of GiveDirectly

 

**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.**

 

 

Working at GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Flagging for US applicants: We invite you to "Know Your Rights" as an applicant.

Commitment to Safeguarding

As a global organization working with communities to eliminate extreme poverty, GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients, staff, and partners seriously. To that end, GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any abuse or misconduct related matters involving potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.

These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we work with, and prevent abuse to our recipients and staff.

**GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect people and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance when it comes to preventing,  reporting, or responding to any form of abuse or  exploitation.” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the role, please email us at careers@givedirectly.org with the email subject “Accommodation Needed”. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to support your needs.

Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application? Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!