GD Rwanda AFM

Location:Currently Working from Home due to COVID-19 restrictions. But in normal times field with occasional visits to head office.

Background: GiveDirectly is driving a re-evaluation of the assumptions underlying international philanthropy with a provocative model: we deliver donations directly to the extremely poor and let them decide what to do with them. This approach builds on two converging trends: the rapid spread of electronic last-mile payments solutions in the emerging markets, and the large body of experimental evidence showing that direct transfers are as or more cost-effective at reducing poverty than more traditional, top-down approaches. GiveDirectly’s field operations utilize state-of-the-art technology and business processes to deliver transfers securely, efficiently, and transparently. Our unorthodox approach – allowing the poor, and not the donor, to choose where they invest – has prompted debate in the popular press and among policy makers. GiveDirectly has been featured on NPR’s This American Life, and in Foreign Affairs, The Economist, and The New York Times. It was named one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Finance by FastCompany, one of the 25 Most Audacious Companies by Inc., and one of GiveWell’s top-rated charities for 7 years running.

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 AFM will provide support to manage the Field Officers (FOs) and will own day-to-day management of the teams, including: daily work planning and team management, tracking team and individual performance; achieving targets; coaching Field Officers; and identifying opportunities for risk mitigation and process improvement. The AFM will serve as the key “eyes and ears” resource on the ground for the Field Director (FD) and will be responsible for regularly synthesizing updates on team performance as well as field successes and challenges. The AFM will support the FD and Country Director (CD) in compiling analytical reports as requested. From time to time, the AFM will stand in for other AFMs when needed. The role will reward exceptional personnel management, organizational and analytical skills, excellent written skills, high-quality judgment on operational challenges, and a strong commitment towards driving both team and individual productivity and quality.                                            

Responsibilities:

Field management and Quality control

• Coordinate team approach for village surveys to maximize efficiency and productivity. 
• Track FO productivity & quality of service, including reviewing operational reports; discussing team and individual performance on a regular basis with other AFMs and FD; owning course correction if metrics are slipping.
• Keep senior management informed of key risks to work plan (e.g. village-specific challenges, political instability, rumors about GiveDirectly, recipient refusals, terrain challenges during rainy seasons, etc.)
• Meet with FD at least once per month to discuss any adjustments to work plans
• Over time, reduce dependence on senior management and create more leverage for the Field Director through capacity-building and delegation.

Vision and Critical Thinking

• Anticipate areas of risk and create mitigation plans (e.g. coordination on complex research partnership, slow-downs from pilots, etc.).
• Raise ideas for continuous improvement of the enrollment process/recipient experience; execute process improvements and ideas raised by the Field Director/Country Director

Field Officer management and development 

• 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 Director.
• 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

• Ensure all allowance requests and spent allowance requests are submitted correctly and promptly
• Ensure timesheets 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

Data and Analysis: 

The AFM will be expected to be comfortable using data to track performance, and inform decision-making, and to quickly build expertise within GD’s standard beneficiary data management and survey tools.

• Support survey creation and updates for new and existing projects
• Guide and support reports on data inquiries, skill development, and data analysis
• Work effectively with GD’s global data team (framing needs and expectations, and holding self and others accountable to agreed timelines)

Support to FD and CD 

• Assist FD and CD with hosting journalists, donors, and other external parties.
• Assist FD 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

Communication: 

•  Meet the GD “bar” for online communication responsiveness (slack, email, phone)
•  Present effectively to the management team (focusing on key insights, etc.)
• Communicate concisely and clearly as needed across a variety of forms (written, presenting, verbal)

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field
• Exceptional leadership ability with demonstrated success in motivating and developing subordinates
• Exceptional ability to problem-solve complex operational challenges in the field
• Excitement about owning challenging management tasks, including mentoring and motivating direct reports and the broader field team
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly independent and self-directed manner, while effectively communicating upwardly about gaps and risks
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) 
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to represent the organization effectively to external parties
• Strong analytical and technical skills, including a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel
• Demonstrated success in a high-performance work environment
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and team-player mentality
• Strong interest in being the engine of the day-to-day field work
• At least 2-3 years of experience in managing field teams
• Proficiency in English and Kinyarwanda
• Alignment with GiveDirectly core values and commitment to advancing GD’s mission

**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.**