External Relations Manager

GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving -  and millions of lives - by allowing donors to provide capital 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 which is allocated to evidence-free interventions. GiveDirectly wants to change that, establishing a benchmark, and in the process accelerate the end of extreme poverty. GiveDirectly has raised over $700M in revenue (>$300M in 2020 alone), while being recognized as one of the most innovative non-profit companies by Fast Company. GiveDirectly’s role in the growing movement toward cash transfers has been featured in This American Life, Foreign Affairs, The Economist, and Business Insider.

Cash transfers are at an important inflection point: COVID-19 has amplified the challenges of bulkier in-kind aid models, and governments are deploying cash as their most common tool of assistance to vulnerable populations. GiveDirectly has an opportunity to leverage its strong track record (which includes operations across 9 countries, >$400M transferred to over 1M individuals, and 15 randomized control trials completed or ongoing), to both deliver immense impact and position itself as the premiere cash implementation vehicle in the world. 

We’re looking for exceptional talent to grow our collaborative, global team. Joining GiveDirectly means the opportunity to work alongside individuals from 21 countries who speak 69 different languages. Across our global offices, our culture is candid, analytical, non-hierarchical, and fast-paced. We value ability, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. We’re actively working towards an equitable and inclusive environment for all team members, and seek candidates who will bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our organization. We recruit from organizations across all industries: our team has backgrounds in start-ups, government, consultancies, investment banks, nonprofits, and more.

Role Overview

In collaboration with the Country Director, the External Relations Manager (ERM) will provide strategic support on fundraising for the GD Rwanda office. The ERM will handle all contact with donors, partners, the media and the general public. This role will serve as the interface for information exchanges, reporting and related follow-up. In the area of communications, the ERM  will provide information when necessary in the form of general publications and reports. 

Responsibilities

Resource Mobilization

• Work with the Country Director to develop a donor strategy designed to increase funding opportunities. 
• Develop comprehensive donor proposals.     
• Carry out prospect research to develop a comprehensive fundraising database that captures all relevant information, as well as handling all administrative aspects of fundraising.
• Build out, manage, and execute GD’s CRM (Salesforce) to maximize effective engagement with existing supporters and make new contacts (initial engagement to repeat giving).
• Monitor agreements and renewals with donors. 
• Organize high level meetings for the Country Director with donor counterparts.

Communication

• Support the Country Director in the writing and execution of all GD Rwanda fundraising campaigns. 
• Prepare presentations and concept notes for donors as needed.
• Draft correspondence as necessary to various partners and donors.
• Draft briefing notes and talking points as the Country Director participates in forums requiring such preparation.

Reporting

• Provide senior management with regular (once per month minimum) updates on local engagement, including assessment of acceptance levels, identified risks or potential conflict points and provide recommendations on how to engage with relevant individuals or institutions 
• Prepare regular progress reports to donors on the implementation of donor support, in coordination with the Country Director.

Government engagement

• Initiate and nurture relationships with Senior Government stakeholders with the help of the Government relationship manager
• Ensure compliance to Government directives and guidelines
• Maintain country office alignment to national poverty alleviation programs
• Coordinate with the Government relationship manager to engage relevant Government agencies on GiveDirectly’s projects and net impact. 

Competencies

What we're looking for: 

An individual with:

(i) a strong drive to take ownership who enjoys writing and project management

(ii) a desire to work in a fast-paced team

(iii) an interest in maximizing GiveDirectly’s impact by building, managing, and scaling relationships and projects with GiveDirectly’s partners. 

Qualifications:

• University Degree or experience in relevant field
• Experience in leading formulation of strategies and their implementation
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in external relations/communication in international organizations
• Ability to interact with donors, to identify and analyse trends, opportunities and threats to fund-raising
• Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as presentation skills
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Ability to build strong relationships with partners and external actors
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Resourcefulness, initiative, and maturity of judgment
• Fluency in English, both verbally and in writing, is essential
• Alignment with GD values (listed below)

GD Values:

• Recipients first - We prioritize recipient preferences over those of donors or ourselves.

• Team next - We do what’s best for organizational - not individual - success.

• Be proactively candid - We say what we believe, and are honest in sharing information.

• Create positive energy - We strive to be a source - not drain - of energy for our colleagues.

• Think rigorously; act quickly - We are intellectually rigorous with a drive towards action - not debate.

• Accept reality. Propose solutions - We do not dwell on problems. We work actively to create solutions.

• Be productively ambitious - We take the risks to pursue industry-changing success, not incremental progress.

• Know yourself and grow - We recognize and accept our imperfections with a focus on growth.

**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.**