Chief of Staff

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. Team members bring experiences from the private sector, NGOs and government. 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, fast moving 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.

Priority application deadline: applications close on February 23, but early applications are encouraged and will be processed as they are received.

Location: preference for co-location with the CEO in NYC, though we will consider strong candidates that can work anywhere between ET and GMT timezones.

 

Role Overview  

GiveDirectly is seeking a strategic and results-driven Chief of Staff to enable the CEO and senior leadership to work efficiently, effectively, and on the highest priorities. This role will oversee key decision-making processes, drive internal communications, and lead special projects that accelerate organizational goals.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a highly strategic leader with strong analytical, operational, and communication skills. At a time when GiveDirectly is scaling rapidly, this role will play a pivotal function in optimizing leadership effectiveness and ensuring alignment across teams.

The Chief of Staff role at GiveDirectly is a unique opportunity for individuals looking to grow into senior leadership positions. This role provides exposure to executive decision-making, cross-functional strategy execution, and high-level problem-solving. As a key advisor to the CEO, you will gain firsthand experience in scaling a high-growth organization, leading critical initiatives, and developing the leadership acumen required for future C-suite or organizational leadership roles.

Level: Senior Manager or Director level

 

What we’re looking for:  

• Operational & Execution Excellence: You combine meticulous attention to detail with the ability to see the big picture. You ensure follow through on the things that matter, and have a proven ability to own complex multi-stakeholder processes and drive execution; creating and maintaining structures to ensure critical priorities are well-tracked, meetings translate into action, and execution is seamless.
• High-Tolerance for Ambiguity & Problem-Solving: You can navigate uncertainty while staying highly attuned to stakehold