Givedirectly

US Program Coordinator

Michigan, USA Full Time

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. 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, dynamic 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.

Job Type: Full-time, term-limited role that ends on December 31, 2026. There may be an option for extension, dependent on project funding.

Location: For this role, we are looking for 2 candidates who are based in Michigan, with a strong preference for individuals currently based in or near the Detroit, Michigan area

About this role

The Rx Kids Program Coordinator will support implementation for large-scale cash initiatives in the U.S. As a critical member of GiveDirectly’s Rx Kids programs team, you will support the recipient experience. You will perform first round verification of new applications and respond to recipient inquiries as needed. Additionally, you will occasionally travel within state to support in-person events and serve as the primary point person for select sites. You must be excited to work in a fast-paced environment and be comfortable managing multiple workstreams at one time. Through this, you will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills on a fast-growing team. Coordinators should be able to:

  • Independently balance time to achieve results
  • Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and an enthusiasm for best-in-class customer service
  • Support community engagement and coordination, including acting as a liaison for partner organizations and community members as appropriate

Reports to: Program Manager

Level: Coordinator 

Travel Requirement: This role will require commuting within a candidate’s base location 3-4 days per month in order to support in-person activities related to community outreach and program launch. In addition, there will be travel to New York or elsewhere in the US for team events 2-3 times per year. Costs incurred for work-related travel will be reimbursed.

What you’ll do:

This position will primarily support Rx Kids, a universal, unconditional cash allowance program targeted at expectant parents and infants. The program is running in 18 communities in Michigan and is expanding to multiple new locations across the state. This role is expected to work closely with our program partners, including Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and local community partners. Key responsibilities are described below (please note that percentage breakdowns are approximate and may vary):

Application Review & Recipient Experience (60%)

  • Review and verify prenatal and postnatal applications, following guidance in program eligibility and verification protocols
  • Communicate with applicants to assist with application completion and troubleshooting issues
  • Meet periodically with recipients in person to support with payment delivery and story collection
  • Serve as a trusted resource for recipients, responding to their communications in a timely and professional manner
  • Respond to and resolve one-off recipient issues through communication, data entry, and/or escalation of more serious matters to the appropriate individuals
  • Support other field ops processes, including customer service and payments, and execution across various program stages 

Community Engagement (30%)

  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with implementing partners, key community members, and local service organizations
  • Build knowledge of the community we are working in, and support with identifying existing local resources or services relevant for recipients
  • Support the organizing and execution of community-based meetings and events as needed

Other (10%)

  • Coordinating video taking, and editing of recipient stories (directly or via vendors/freelancers)
  • Collaborating with recipients to tell their own stories by connecting them to tech and training

What you’ll bring:

  • Exceptional alignment with GiveDirectly Values and active demonstration of our core competencies: emotional intelligence, problem solving, project management, follow-through, and fostering inclusivity. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates who have personal or professional experience in the low-income and/or historically marginalized communities that we serve.
  • Fluency in English is required. If applying for the Wayne County location, fluency in Arabic is also required. Fluency in Spanish is a plus for all locations, though not required. 
  • 2+ years of work or volunteer experience in a role that required project management and people management/coordination
  • Exceptional communication, organizational, and time-management skills
  • Strong customer service instincts, including skilled problem solving, patience, and high emotional intelligence 
  • Ability to quickly learn and become proficient in new technological platforms
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a highly independent and self-directed manner, while effectively communicating upwardly about gaps and risks
  • Enthusiasm for fast-paced environments, which may lack a pre-defined playbook for success and involve significant “learning by doing”
  • We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates who have personal or professional experience in the low-income and/or historically marginalized communities that we serve.

 

Compensation

At GiveDirectly, we strive to pay our employees generously and equitably. We use an accredited third party salary aggregator to ensure that staff’s total compensation package (base compensation + bonus)  falls within the 75th percentile of similar roles, at similar organizations. We also have a no negotiation policy to ensure we are paying staff equitably across roles.

The base salary for this role is $56,700 USD / annually.

 Why work at GiveDirectly?

At GiveDirectly, we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team, including:

  • A positive and supportive team with opportunities for advancement 
  • A demonstrated commitment to helping all staff develop and grow
  • A competitive salary, including bonus
  • A robust health benefits plan (exact details will vary by country)
  • Unlimited PTO (that we encourage staff to take!)
  • Desk allowance and flexible work location

 

Working at GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Flagging for US applicants: We invite you to "Know Your Rights" as an applicant.

Commitment to Safeguarding

As a global organization working with communities to eliminate extreme poverty, GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients, staff, and partners seriously. To that end, GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any abuse or misconduct related matters involving potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.

These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we work with, and prevent abuse to our recipients and staff.

**GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect people and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance when it comes to preventing,  reporting, or responding to any form of abuse or  exploitation.” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**

 

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the role, please email us at careers@givedirectly.org with the email subject “Accommodation Needed”. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to support your needs.

Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application? Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!