Associate Field Manager (Programs)

Role: Associate Field Manager

Reports to: Field Manager

Location:  Memba and Mogovolas districts, with travel in remote field locations

Supervises: Field Officers

Contract duration : 6 months

Background

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.

GiveDirectly has been operating in Mozambique since 2021. To date, over $11M has been committed to 19,000+ recipients in Sofala province.  

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

Position Overview

The Associate Field Manager (AFM) will play a central role in ensuring that GiveDirectly delivers a gold-standard product to donors and recipients. The Associate Field Manager will manage the Field Officers (FOs) on one of GD’s field-based recipient enrollment and follow-up teams in Mozambique. The Associate Field Manager will own day-to-day management of their team, including: daily work planning and team management; tracking team and individual performance to drive achievement of targets; coaching field officers and identifying opportunities for risk mitigation and process improvement. The Associate Field Manager will be responsible for regularly synthesizing updates on team performance as well as field successes and challenges. The role will reward 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

Field management (20%)

• Meet with field teams every morning to align on plans for the day and solve field challenges
• Coordinate team approach for village surveys each day to maximize efficiency and productivity. Ensure teams get to the field on time
• Track FO productivity & quality of service, including reviewing operational reports each week; discuss team and individual performance weekly with FOs and Field Manager / Program Manager; be primarily responsible for course correction if metrics are slipping
• Keep senior management informed of key risks to the work plan (e.g. village-specific challenges, political instability, rumors about GiveDirectly, recipient refusals, terrain challenges during rainy seasons, etc.)
• Meet weekly with other members of field management (Field Manager / Program Manager, other AFMs) in order to discuss challenges in the field and propose solutions
• Meet with Field Manager / Program Manager at least once per month to discuss any adjustments to work plans

Data collection and process improvement (20%)

• Collect surveys on average 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 and follow-up processes/ recipient experience; execute process improvements and ideas raised by management (Field Manager/ Program Manager / Country Director)

Quality control (15%)

• 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 (15%)

• 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 Field Manager / 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 (20%)

• Spend one day a week in the head office in order to complete administrative tasks and attend meetings
• Ensure all allowance requests and spent allowance requests are submitted correctly and promptly
• Ensure timecards are accurately submitted in a timely fashion
• 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 (10%)

• Arrange interview logistics and conduct interviews for new FOs (after initial screen from HR Manager). Recommend potential hires to Field Manager / Program Manager for final approval
• Provide initial training to newly hired FOs and on-going 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 Field Manager / Program Manager with hosting journalists, donors, and other external parties
• Assist Field Manager / 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 periodically, and other team-building initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant professional field
• Must be fluent in Portuguese language
• Working proficiency in English, with excellent communication skills
• Previous experience in a management position desirable
• Exceptional leadership ability with demonstrated success in motivating and developing junior staff
• Exceptional ability to solve complex operational challenges in the field
• Alignment with GiveDirectly core values and commitment to advancing GD’s mission
• 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

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.