Senior Manager, Operations (DRC)

About GiveDirectly in the DRC 

GiveDirectly DRC was established in 2018 to enable cash transfers to poor and rural populations via mobile phones, thereby promoting food security, poverty reduction, and financial inclusion. We aimed to demonstrate the operational feasibility and cost-effectiveness of transferring large volumes of money digitally in one of the world's least developed countries. Since its inception four years ago, GiveDirectly DRC has used mobile phones to transfer over $14 million to more than 65,000 beneficiaries in four provinces: South Kivu, North Kivu, Ituri, and Kinshasa. 

GiveDirectly's activities in the DRC have expanded to include, among other things: compelling proofs of concept for mobile-based cash transfers; and the implementation of innovative technologies to target disadvantaged urban populations in Kinshasa, in collaboration with the DRC's social protection agency, the DRC Social Fund. The delivery of contactless cash to beneficiaries in Beni and Bunia affected by the economic consequences of COVID-19. You will be joining Give Directly DRC at an exciting time in its history, as we are establishing and hope to launch several new programs and strengthen our partnership with the DRC government. 

About the Role

As Senior Manager, Operations (DRC), you'll build and lead the operational backbone behind GiveDirectly's programs in the country. You'll direct the support services team end-to-end — HR, logistics, procurement, and administration — while managing a team of managers. You'll design a procurement strategy that keeps goods and services flowing efficiently and reliably across provinces, own fleet and logistics management as the program scales, and manage the operational budget with an eye for efficiency. You'll also support the Country Director on HR strategy — recruitment, training, and performance — and design the systems needed for a much larger footprint across provinces, from procurement to digital tools that improve scalability.

This is a role for someone who can build systems as readily as they can lead people, and who's energized by both strategic design and the operational details that make it real on the ground.

What You’ll Do: 

• Lead the DRC support services team end-to-end — HR, logistics, procurement, administration, and office management — including direct oversight of managers
• Develop and drive a procurement strategy ensuring efficient, compliant, and resilient sourcing across provinces, and own fleet and logistics management as the program scales
• Manage the operational budget, forecasting and driving efficiency across procurement, logistics, and administrative spend
• Support the Country Director on HR strategy — recruitment, training, performance management, and talent density — through oversight of the HR function
• Design systems and processes to support a much larger footprint across provinces, anticipating future needs and identifying AI and digital opportunities to improve scalability
• Coach and develop support services managers to build operational excellence beyond individual contribution
• Maintain a compliance and operational risk register, and lead internal spot checks, audit preparedness, and action plans in partnership with Finance and Internal Audit
• Own donor reporting, budget tracking, and donor visit coordination, and serve as the primary point of contact between the Country Office and GSS on operational and compliance matters
• Own the Operational Knowledge Base and lead onboarding, training, and localization of materials as the team grows

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (management, administration, finance, or related); a master's degree is an asset
• Minimum 6 years of experience in operations management, with a track record of transforming informal systems into structured, compliant, and scalable ones, including direct oversight of managers
• Strong financial and budget management skills, with experience managing an operational budget
• Proven experience maintaining a risk register and working closely with internal/external audit functions
• Experience developing and coaching managers, with comfort delegating execution while retaining accountability for results
• Strong digital fluency, with experience using and training teams on multiple platforms (Google Suite, Salesforce, Asana, Guru, Slack)
• Familiarity with international NGO standards and donor compliance frameworks
• Experience navigating the DRC's complex legal environment, including labor law and immigration requirements
• Strong alignment with GiveDirectly's values
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to communicate fluently in English and French with high level stakeholders
• Professional proficiency in French and English required; knowledge of Congolese Swahili and/or Lingala is an asset

Compensation

At GiveDirectly, we strive to pay our employees generously and equitably. We use an accredited third party salary aggregator to calculate what we believe to be competitive pay based on role, location, and cost of living. We also have a no negotiation policy to ensure we are paying staff equitably across roles. Read more about our compensation philosophy here.

Unless otherwise noted, the benefits stipend may be used to cover benefits or taken as additional taxable income.

• Base Salary: $94,500
• Bonus at Target Performance: 10% (~$9,450, with potential for upside. For reference, with the organization’s current performance multiplier, this amount would be $11,057 in 2025)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target: $103,950+

This role is onsite in Goma, DRC. We welcome candidates based in the DRC as well as those willing to relocate to be based in the DRC.  

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