Malawi Director of Operations

Location: This role is based in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Priority application deadline: May 20, 2026 or until we've reached critical mass of applications

About this role

GiveDirectly Malawi is growing rapidly - delivering large lump sum transfers at district scale, developing tech-enabled delivery models, and building the operational infrastructure needed to support a significantly larger programme. We need a Director of Operations to take full ownership of our back-office functions and build the systems, team and processes required to operate with excellence at scale.

This role is a new senior leadership position created to address a critical gap: our procurement, logistics, HR, and administrative functions need dedicated expert leadership as we scale from one to multiple operational locations. The Director of Operations will own these functions end-to-end, freeing the Country Director and programmes team to focus on programme quality, research, and strategic growth.

The ideal candidate combines deep operational expertise - particularly in procurement, supply chain, and compliance - with the leadership skills to build and mentor a growing team. You thrive in a fast-paced, non-hierarchical environment, are comfortable making decisions without a predefined playbook, and bring a bias toward action and practical problem-solving.

Reports to: Country Director

Level: Director

Travel Requirement: Regular travel within Malawi to field offices and programme sites. Must be able to travel 1-2 times per year internationally for team retreats.

What you’ll do:

Build and Lead the Malawi Operations Team

• Build, mentor and manage a high-performing operations team including procurement, field office management, and stores/logistics functions.
•  Recruit, onboard and develop team members across multiple locations, ensuring the team has the skills and capacity to manage increasingly complex operations
• Create clear roles, responsibilities, and standard operating procedures that enable the team to operate independently and at a high standard.

Design Cost-Effective Systems for Scale

• Build systems and processes capable of supporting a significantly larger programme footprint, anticipating future needs (e.g. direct procurement, warehousing, in-country tech capacity).
• Drive measurable improvements in back-office processes - in terms of speed, cost, and oversight.

Lead Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Function

• Own end-to-end procurement, vendor management, and payments processes, ensuring full compliance with GiveDirectly policies and Malawi regulatory requirements.
• Design and implement new/improved strategies for Malawi supply chain management, secure storage, and transport across multiple operational locations – working closely with Global Supply Chain leadership
• Chair the Malawi Procurement Committee and exercise delegated authority to approve procurement and purchase orders.
•  Eliminate operational blockers to ensure programmes teams have what they need to deliver at scale. 

Oversee HR, Administration and Office Management

• Own day-to-day HR operations, office management, asset management, and security across all Malawi locations.
• Ensure administrative systems are robust, efficient, and future-proofed to support significant scale.
• Manage detailed operational budgeting and planning, working closely with  Finance staff

Drive Compliance and Risk Management

• Oversee internal audit and safeguarding functions via existing dotted-line arrangements; serve as the responsible owner for case resolution and interaction with programmes.
• Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks, maintaining a risk register and escalating appropriately.
• Ensure all operations meet GiveDirectly’s global standards and local regulatory requirements, adapting global policies for the Malawi context.
• Lead collaboration with the Finance function to manage external audits, ensure regulatory and financial compliance, and maintain timely payment processes. 

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 marginalised communities that we serve.
• Significant experience (8+ years) in operations management, with deep expertise in procurement, supply chain, logistics, and compliance. 
• Proven track record of building or maturing operational functions - taking systems from ad hoc to structured, compliant, and scalable.
• Strong financial and budget management skills, with experience managing operational budgets and driving cost-effectiveness.
• Experience managing and developing teams, including recruiting and mentoring staff in resource-constrained environments.
• Comfort in a fast-paced and changing environment that lacks predefined playbooks and requires figuring things out independently.
• Highly analytical with a strong attention to detail and a bias toward data-driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with INGO standards, donor compliance frameworks, internal controls, and audit processes.
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and experience working effectively in matrixed organisations.
• Experience and aptitude leveraging new technologies and AI to advance operational effectiveness. Comfort with an agile and iterative approach.
• Knowledge of Malawi’s regulatory environment for NGO operations, procurement, and employment law is a strong advantage.
• Language Requirement: English. Language Preferences: Chichewa.

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: $94,576
• Bonus at Target Performance: 15% (~$14,186, with potential for upside. For reference, with the organization's current performance multiplier, this amount would be $16,598 in 2025)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target: $108,762+
• Annual Benefits Stipend: $8,453

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