Kenya Associate Field Manager at Give Directly

The Associate Field Manager (AFM) will play a central role in ensuring that GiveDirectly delivers a gold-standard product to donors and recipients. The Associate Field Manager will manage the Field Officers (FOs) on one of GD’s field-based teams. The Associate Field Manager will own day-to-day management of their team, 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 Associate Field Manager will serve as the key “eyes and ears” resource on the ground for the Field Manager (FM)  and will be responsible for regularly synthesizing updates on team performance as well as field successes and challenges. The role will reward exceptional personnel management, organizational skills, high-quality judgment on operational challenges, and a strong commitment towards driving both team and individual productivity and quality.                                            

Responsibilities:

Field management (20%)

• Meet with field teams every morning to align plans for the day and solve field challenges
• Meet with the field teams each evening to debrief on field outcomes
• Review field surveys and provide recommendations to the supervisor
• Coordinate team approach for village surveys each day to maximize efficiency and productivity. Ensure teams get to the field on time
• Track FO productivity & quality of service, including reviewing operational reports each week; discuss team and individual performance weekly with FOs and FM; be primarily responsible for course correction if metrics are slipping
• Develop and submit weekly IA reports to the supervisor on team productivity and lessons learnt from the field
• Keep senior management informed of key risks to work plan (e.g. village-specific challenges, political instability, rumors about GiveDirectly, recipient refusals, fraud, terrain challenges during rainy seasons, etc.)
• Participate in or coordinate periodic check-in sessions with different team members and supervisors
• Meet with Field Manager at least once per month to discuss any adjustments to work plans
• Ensure Field officers remain motivated and inspired to work at Give directly

Data collection and process improvement (30%)

• Collect surveys on average 1-2- days a week in order to help teams achieve targets and to help identify areas for improvement
• Vet new versions of surveys, including impact on field-staff productivity, and recommend survey improvements as necessary (e.g. potential process gaps)
• Raise ideas for continuous improvement of the enrollment process/recipient experience; execute process improvements and ideas raised by the Field Manager/

Quality control (10%)

• Monitor and ensure quality control when the field staff conduct surveys
• Periodically check and review FO data collection in the field and coach staff to correct any issues observed
• Spend 1-2 days resolving difficult cases in the field that require special attention (hard-to-find recipients, cases of potential fraud)

People  management and staff welfare and professional development (10%)

• 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 Manager.
• Coach FOs who are underperforming and provide disciplinary measures when necessary
• Encourage teamwork and improve morale through mentorship, affirmations, and various management initiatives
• Spend 0.5-1- days per week shadowing staff in order to identify areas for improvement and professional development, particularly during staff training
• Conduct monthly performance check-ins, review monthly staff barometer with direct reports and conduct annual performance reviews

Administration (20%)

• Spend some time in the head office in order to complete administrative tasks and attend meetings as directed by your supervisor
• 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 bi- weekly field-management forum to solve problems and collaborate on work planning

Other (10%)

• Arrange interview logistics and conduct interviews for new FOs (after initial screen from HR Manager). Recommend potential hires to Field Manager for final approval
• Provide initial training to newly hired FOs and on-going professional development to staff.
• Participate in meetings with district, sector and cell officials as necessary. Represent GiveDirectly in the field and manage daily communication with local leaders
• Assist Field Manager 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

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant professional field
• Must be fluent in Kalenjin language
• Previous experience in a management position desirable.
• Working proficiency in English, Kiswahili with excellent communication skills
• Exceptional leadership ability with demonstrated success in motivating and developing junior staff
• Exceptional ability to solve complex operational challenges in the field
• Alignment with GiveDirectly core values and commitment to advancing GD’s mission
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and team-player mentality
• Strong interest in being the engine of the day-to-day field work
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly independent and self-directed manner, while effectively communicating about gaps and risks
• Strong relationship building skills and the ability to represent the organization effectively to external parties
• Analytical and technical skills, including intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel