Senior Global Director of Country Operations

About GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving – and millions of lives – by providing cash 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 it on evidence-free interventions. GiveDirectly wants to change that, establishing cash transfers as a benchmark for foreign aid – as the index fund is a benchmark for the financial industry – and in the process accelerating the end of extreme poverty.

GD has raised over $1B since launching in 2011, delivered cash to more than 1.5 million people in 15 different countries. We’ve also supported large-scale, experimental research that indicates strong recipient impact of our programs. 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) have been featured in the New York Times Magazine, This American Life, Foreign Affairs, and The Economist.

Our culture is candid, analytical, agile, and non-hierarchical. Our global team of ~150, and country operations teams of ~650, together come from 21 different countries speaking 69 different languages. From software engineers to seasoned humanitarian workers, former management consultants to public servants, researchers to field operations -- it’s an incredible group of people.

Our values are central and deliberately opinionated. We genuinely center the people we serve in our decision making, and strive to build an ambitious, dynamic and high performing environment. We strongly encourage you to read through our values carefully, if they reflect how you like to work and energize you, this could be a great fit.

We work hard to create an environment in which all our team members can thrive, succeed and grow.  We support flexibility, take care of each other, have fun, and create professional growth opportunities.

Location: This role is remote. Regular working hours must be in Africa time zones (EAT, CAT, WAT). Preference to be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, ideally in Nairobi, Lilongwe, Maputo, Kigali, Kampala, or Goma.

Priority application deadline: Oct 5, 2025

Level: Senior Director (We may reconsider the leveling for a senior enough candidate.)

About this role:

The Global Director of Country Operations (GDCO) oversees and strengthens  the infrastructure and effectiveness of GiveDirectly’s country offices. They serve as the primary point of contact for Global Shared Services (GSS) functions across countries and backstop Country Directors (CDs) to ensure high-quality implementation of global standards. This leader will ensure country back office operations—including finance, compliance, HR, procurement, IT, and risk management—are aligned, efficient, and adaptable to local contexts, ultimately enabling the organization to scale impact and operate with excellence. The ideal candidate should be able to identify and advance macro level improvements in country office management across the org while also being able to roll up their sleeves and work with country offices to implement changes directly. They should be able to work with Country Directors on the journey of maturing GiveDirectly country offices to be effective, well functioning, and excellent in a way that respects, empowers, and holds accountable Country Director leadership while maintaining org wide norms and cross country standards that are simple, streamlined, and effective. 

What you’ll do:

Strengthen Country Operations

• Oversee financial management across country offices, both directly and via setting up the right mechanisms for CDs to better manage their country operating budgets ($150M+ per year across all country offices). 
• Ensure country offices are well-structured, compliant and able to deliver impact at scale, in partnership with CDs
• Provide operational support to CDs across financial management, people/HR, compliance, procurement, administration, IT, security.
• Lead new country and project office setups, and re