Country Director, Uganda

GiveDirectly is a leading organization dedicated to poverty alleviation, having disbursed over $1 billion in direct cash transfers to more than 2 million individuals across 15 countries since 2011. We champion cash transfers as a highly effective, scalable, and dignified form of aid, supported by extensive research. Our impact has been recognized by prominent media outlets and we were named one of Time100's Most Influential Companies.

Our organizational culture is characterized by candor, analytical rigor, and a non-hierarchical structure, fostering high levels of ownership and professional development. We encourage candidates who resonate with our values to apply.

The Country Director for Uganda will oversee all operations of the Uganda country office. This pivotal role involves developing, securing funding for, and executing the Uganda Country Strategy. The Director will lead program teams, fundraising efforts, and external relations to achieve both immediate objectives, such as funding targets and annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and to drive sustained long-term growth. Ultimately, this position is accountable for delivering a high-quality program to recipients and donors.

Level: Director

Location: This position requires the individual to be based in Kampala, Uganda.

Travel Requirement: Occasional travel within Uganda (approximately once a month) and international travel (1-2 times per year) is expected.

• Ensure GiveDirectly Uganda programs are executed on schedule, within budget, and meet organizational quality standards.
• Provide guidance and support to the programs team, assisting them in overcoming challenges and achieving quality outcomes.
• Achieve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to recipient satisfaction and operational efficiency.
• Manage the program budget effectively to ensure optimal allocation and use of donor funds and resources.
• Liaise with national and local government officials to obtain necessary approvals for program expansion and maintenance.
• Foster a strong culture of safeguarding and anti-fraud across the country office and all program activities, collaborating with global safeguarding, internal audit, finance, and compliance teams to integrate best practices into operations and program design.
• Lead in-country coordination meetings for Internal Audit, Safeguarding, and Programs to ensure cohesive operations.
• Proactively identify and mitigate fraud and operational risks by working closely with the Internal Audit team to implement preventive controls and response mechanisms.

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with a diverse range of donors, including private foundations, government bodies, and individual philanthropists, to secure funding for GiveDirectly's initiatives.
• Develop innovative cash transfer program designs and associated budgets.
• Act as the primary representative of GiveDirectly in Uganda, engaging with the public, media, government, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the global fundraising team to create compelling materials that effectively communicate GiveDirectly's mission and impact to potential donors in Uganda.
• Spearhead fundraising initiatives within the country team, such as events and campaigns, to enhance awareness and support for the organization's work.
• Communicate GiveDirectly's activities and impact to donors, media, and partners.
• Organize and host visits for high-net-worth individuals, funders, and other key partners.

• Direct the strategic planning and prioritization efforts for GiveDirectly's operations in Uganda.
• Ensure cross-departmental collaboration and strategic alignment in work planning.
• Maintain overall accountability for GiveDirectly's presence and activities in Uganda.
• Formulate a country strategy for Uganda that aligns with and advances GiveDirectly's broader organizational objectives.
• Establish and monitor country-level goals to guide the organization's success in Uganda.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the Uganda office, meeting revenue targets, identifying new opportunities, and maintaining a strong pipeline for sustained growth.
• Contribute to organizational-wide planning, cross-country coordination, and provide input on policies and practices based on the Ugandan context and experience.
• Lead national-level government relations or collaborate with the SM-ER team to manage these relationships effectively.
• Oversee SM-ER functions to ensure the Uganda Country Office adheres to all standards and agreements, including the primary MOU.

• Inspire, mentor, and hold accountable a substantial team, including direct supervision of the country management team.
• Enhance the capabilities of managers at all levels by setting clear expectations, providing regular performance feedback, and identifying growth opportunities aligned with organizational needs.
• Promote organizational values and norms in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Lead workforce planning, including strategic hiring and succession planning, while maintaining an efficient team structure.
• Implement measures to ensure the safety and security of the GiveDirectly team.

• Coordinate effectively between the country office and GiveDirectly's global risk management functions (internal audit, compliance, external relations, safeguarding) to ensure business continuity.
• Supervise overall country operations, balancing the responsibilities of the country management team, including direct management of the HR Manager and Office/Procurement Manager, and dotted-line management of the Finance, IA, and Safeguarding Managers.
• Collaborate with country office management to ensure adherence to global standards and develop country-specific protocols for implementing global policies effectively within the Ugandan context.
• Provide leadership and oversight for investigations into alleged misconduct, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for fraud and upholding safeguarding standards, including managing disciplinary actions.

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in fields such as non-profit country management, organizational leadership, partnership development, program management, social entrepreneurship, or consulting, with a proven record of achievement.
• Demonstrated experience in managing government and external stakeholder partnerships.
• A strong history of successfully securing substantial funding from major institutional donors like the US Government, FCDO, World Bank, or EU.
• The capacity to lead and establish a national-level strategic vision.
• Adaptability and enthusiasm for working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that may lack established procedures.
• Proven experience in team leadership, including recruitment and team development.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to represent GiveDirectly at the highest levels.
• Superior written and verbal communication abilities, capable of engaging diverse audiences from senior officials to funders and field staff.
• Robust organizational and project management capabilities.
• A high degree of self-direction and resilience.
• A problem-solving aptitude, employing an analytical and iterative approach with strong prioritization skills. Ability to conduct thorough analyses to inform management and programmatic decisions.
• Alignment with GiveDirectly's core values, including a drive for significant industry impact. Demonstrated proficiency in core competencies: emotional intelligence, problem-solving, project management, follow-through, and fostering inclusivity.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in other Ugandan languages is advantageous.
• Willingness to reside in Uganda.

Desired Skills and Experiences

• Prior experience working in Uganda and a deep understanding of the local context are highly desirable.
• We encourage applications from candidates with personal or professional experience in low-income or historically marginalized communities, as well as those from underrepresented genders, ethnicities, and other groups.

Compensation

GiveDirectly is committed to offering generous and equitable compensation. We utilize an accredited third-party salary data provider to ensure that total compensation packages (base salary plus bonus) are positioned at the 75th percentile for comparable roles in similar organizations. Our commitment to equitable pay is reflected in our no-negotiation policy.

Why Work at GiveDirectly?

We are dedicated to providing our employees with the resources and support needed to excel:

• A supportive team environment with opportunities for career advancement.
• A strong commitment to staff development and growth.
• Competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health benefits package (specifics may vary by country).
• Generous paid time off.
• Stipends for home office setup and professional development.

Working at GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

US Applicant Information: Applicants are invited to review their rights.

Commitment to Safeguarding

As an organization working globally to end extreme poverty, GiveDirectly places paramount importance on the safeguarding of recipients, staff, and partners. We are a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and conduct systematic checks with previous employers regarding any abuse or misconduct allegations. Additional pre-hire screenings may include in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screening. These measures are crucial for maintaining trust with the communities we serve and preventing harm.

GiveDirectly is committed to upholding all applicable laws protecting individuals and basic human rights. We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse or exploitation and expect all employees to prioritize the protection and safeguarding of our recipients.

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the role, please contact [email protected] with the subject line “Accommodation Needed”. We will work with you to provide necessary support.

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