Associate Field Manager – External Relations job at GiveDirectly

Location

Uganda

Reports to

Senior Manager External Relations

Contract

Fixed contract (possibility of extension subject to funding and performance)

Overview

The Associate Field Manager – External Relations will own and execute GiveDirectly’s routine external relations at the district and community level across assigned areas of operation. The role will build trusted working relationships with district political and technical-administrative leaders; relevant security and NGO coordination structures; subcounty and parish officials; community leaders and recipients. Working closely with Field Management and the Senior Manager External Relations, the role will communicate program information, coordinate local engagement and reporting, track commitments and acceptance, identify and address relationship, compliance, safeguarding and operational risks. The role will support barazas and will promptly escalate sensitive, high-risk or national-level issues through the appropriate channels.

Responsibilities

District and community engagement

• Own day-to-day engagement with district stakeholders in assigned areas, building constructive relationships with district political leaders, technical-administrative offices, subcounty and parish officials, community leaders and relevant coordination structures.
• Explain GiveDirectly’s program objectives, eligibility and targeting approach, activities, timelines and feedback channels accurately; support Field teams to plan and deliver inclusive community barazas.
• Maintain a current district stakeholder register and practical engagement plans; track relationship health, agreed actions and follow-up with relevant Field Manager(s) and the Senior Manager External Relations.
• Represent GiveDirectly at routine district and community meetings. Coordinate preparation with Field Management and refer senior, sensitive or high-risk engagements to the Senior Manager External Relations.
• Coordinate with Field Managers on agreed local actions and maintain consistent engagement across field teams.
• Flag gaps in local engagement or compliance and agree corrective follow-up with the responsible team.

Local coordination, information and risk

• Share timely, consistent program updates with district and community stakeholders, and relay relevant questions, concerns and recommendations to GiveDirectly teams.
• Help Field teams understand and follow applicable government guidance, local approvals, reporting requirements and agreed protocols; coordinate with relevant district offices and NGO monitoring structures as appropriate.
• Monitor community acceptance, emerging tensions and external relations risks with Field Management and the Senior Manager External Relations; recommend practical mitigations and promptly escalate security, legal, safeguarding or reputational concerns.
• Oversee the engagements and relationships between the field teams and district focal point persons.

Reporting and records

• Provide the Senior Manager External Relations with at least monthly updates on engagement, community acceptance, commitments, risks and recommended follow-up.
• Track district reporting and commitments, coordinate timely submissions with the responsible program teams, and maintain clear records of meetings, correspondence and agreed actions.
• Share material district and community feedback, issues and recommendations with the relevant GiveDirectly teams, and communicate approved responses back to local stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate, accessible district external relations records and stakeholder information, following GiveDirectly’s data protection and information-handling requirements.
• Support district-level compliance with applicable NGO Bureau and Government of Uganda requirements, escalating questions that need senior or legal guidance.
• Where assigned, coordinate the collection of accurate recipient stories with Field teams, ensuring informed consent, privacy and safeguarding requirements are followed.

Qualities we’re hiring for

An individual with:

• A commitment to advancing GiveDirectly’s impact through respectful, accountable relationships with government, community stakeholders and recipients.
• A strong drive to take ownership of district and community engagements and reliably follow through on agreed actions.
• A desire to work in a fast-paced team and adapt to changing field priorities.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field.
• Experience implementing engagement plans and coordinating work across teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with government, community or civil-society stakeholders; experience in the development or NGO sector is an advantage.
• Experience working with public-sector or community stakeholders in a field setting is an advantage.
• Clear, respectful oral communication and strong written English for concise updates, meeting records and correspondence;
• Strong organisation and follow-through, including the ability to maintain accurate records and manage competing field priorities.
• Sound judgment, discretion and initiative; able to work constructively in changing field conditions and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Ability to assess local information, identify emerging issues and contribute practical recommendations.
• Resourceful and self-directed, while working collaboratively with Field Management and the External Relations team.
• Fluency in English, spoken and written, is essential; ability to speak local Ugandan languages is an advantage.
• Alignment with GiveDirectly’s values and commitment to safeguarding recipients.

• Own day-to-day engagement with district stakeholders in assigned areas, building constructive relationships with district political leaders, technical-administrative offices, subcounty and parish officials, community leaders and relevant coordination structures.
• Explain GiveDirectly’s program objectives, eligibility and targeting approach, activities, timelines and feedback channels accurately; support Field teams to plan and deliver inclusive community barazas.
• Maintain a current district stakeholder register and practical engagement plans; track relationship health, agreed actions and follow-up with relevant Field Manager(s) and the Senior Manager External Relations.
• Represent GiveDirectly at routine district and community meetings. Coordinate preparation with Field Management and refer senior, sensitive or high-risk engagements to the Senior Manager External Relations.
• Coordinate with Field Managers on agreed local actions and maintain consistent engagement across field teams.
• Flag gaps in local engagement or compliance and agree corrective follow-up with the responsible team.
• Share timely, consistent program updates with district and community stakeholders, and relay relevant questions, concerns and recommendations to GiveDirectly teams.
• Help Field teams understand and follow applicable government guidance, local approvals, reporting requirements and agreed protocols; coordinate with relevant district offices and NGO monitoring structures as appropriate.
• Monitor community acceptance, emerging tensions and external relations risks with Field Management and the Senior Manager External Relations; recommend practical mitigations and promptly escalate security, legal, safeguarding or reputational concerns.
• Oversee the engagements and relationships between the field teams and district focal point persons.
• Provide the Senior Manager External Relations with at least monthly updates on engagement, community acceptance, commitments, risks and recommended follow-up.
• Track district reporting and commitments, coordinate timely submissions with the responsible program teams, and maintain clear records of meetings, correspondence and agreed actions.
• Share material district and community feedback, issues and recommendations with the relevant GiveDirectly teams, and communicate approved responses back to local stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate, accessible district external relations records and stakeholder information, following GiveDirectly’s data protection and information-handling requirements.
• Support district-level compliance with applicable NGO Bureau and Government of Uganda requirements, escalating questions that need senior or legal guidance.
• Where assigned, coordinate the collection of accurate recipient stories with Field teams, ensuring informed consent, privacy and safeguarding requirements are followed.

• Relationship building with government, community and civil-society stakeholders
• Clear, respectful oral communication
• Strong written English for concise updates, meeting records and correspondence
• Organisation, record keeping and follow-through
• Ability to manage competing field priorities
• Sound judgment, discretion and initiative
• Ability to assess local information, identify emerging issues and contribute practical recommendations
• Ability to coordinate work across teams
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Ability to speak local Ugandan languages is an advantage

• University degree in a relevant field.
• Experience implementing engagement plans and coordinating work across teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with government, community or civil-society stakeholders; experience in the development or NGO sector is an advantage.
• Experience working with public-sector or community stakeholders in a field setting is an advantage.
• Alignment with GiveDirectly’s values and commitment to safeguarding recipients.