Program Director, Uganda

• PositionProgram Director, Uganda
• CompanyGiveDirectly
• LocationKampala, Uganda (must be based in Kampala)
• Job TypeFull-Time
• CategoryNGO Jobs in Uganda
• IndustryNon-profit / Cash Transfers
• DepartmentUganda Programs (reports to the Country Director)
• DeadlineNo closing date specified
• SalaryBase salary $99,100 + ~15% target bonus + $8,453 benefits stipend

GiveDirectly is a non-profit that lets governments, foundations and individual donors send cash directly to people living in extreme poverty. Using technology at every step, it finds recipients, connects them to electronic payment networks such as mobile money, and monitors every transfer from start to finish.

Founded in 2008, GiveDirectly has delivered more than $1 billion in cash to over 2 million people across 15 countries since 2011, and was named one of Time100’s Most Influential Companies of 2026. Its work has been covered by The Economist, NPR, TED and The Washington Post.

The organisation describes its culture as candid, analytical and non-hierarchical, with high ownership and real room to grow. Uganda is one of its larger country programmes, run from a country office in Kampala with field teams across the country.

The Program Director runs GiveDirectly’s biggest and fastest-growing function in Uganda. You will make sure every programme runs on time and on budget and meets the efficiency, quality and impact benchmarks set by the Country Director, while building the systems that let a growing portfolio scale without breaking. You will own field expansion strategy, clear bottlenecks across teams, and turn new funding and partnership opportunities into realistic plans with timelines, resources and risk assessments.

You will also be deputy to the Country Director and step in as Acting CD when needed. Day to day, you will manage Senior Managers, own programme-level budget vs. actuals tracking, keep programme risk trackers with Internal Audit, Safeguarding and Compliance, oversee procurement and operations, and bring product, evidence and research work into programmes in a coherent way. GiveDirectly is looking for a strong operator with sound financial and risk judgement, not a grant intermediary.

Program Delivery & Operational Leadership

• Lead day-to-day delivery of all Uganda programmes so they run on time, on budget and meet efficiency, quality and impact benchmarks.
• Build and maintain robust operational systems and standards for a diverse, growing portfolio.
• Serve as the main internal owner of programme execution, identifying bottlenecks and resolving cross-functional dependencies.
• Act as a thought partner to Senior Managers, providing analysis and removing obstacles.
• Own programme scale and expansion strategy for field operations.

Pipeline Enablement & Program Readiness

• Make sure active programmes are positioned to support funding and partnership opportunities.
• Turn funding and partnership opportunities into viable delivery plans with timelines, resourcing and risk assessments.
• Provide programme data, evidence and delivery input for donor and government engagements led by the Country Director.

Product, Evidence & Research Integration

• Lead the integration of product, evidence and research initiatives into Uganda programmes.
• Balance short-term delivery with longer-term product and innovation goals.
• Coordinate across programmes to avoid fragmented project-by-project execution.

Risk & Compliance (Program-Level)

• Support the Country Director as second line of defence on operational and programme risk.
• Maintain programme-level risk trackers with timely escalation, working with Internal Audit, Safeguarding and Compliance.
• Make sure programme teams follow safeguarding and compliance protocols.

Budgeting & Planning Support

• Partner with the Country Director, Senior Managers and Finance on operational budgets and work plans.
• Own programme-level Budget vs. Actuals tracking and help Senior Managers manage variances.
• Flag budget and resourcing risks to the Country Director.

Team Leadership & Internal Coordination

• Directly manage Senior Managers and lead the programmes team day to day.
• Help reinforce a values-driven culture.
• Identify talent, support development and strengthen succession across teams.
• Partner with the Country Director on organogram planning and resourcing.

Procurement & Operations Oversight

• Oversee procurement and operations so programmes run smoothly with minimal downtime.
• Make sure operational systems scale with programme growth.

Deputy to the Country Director

• Act as deputy to the Country Director and step in as Acting CD when required.
• Support senior decision-making so internal execution matches external commitments.

Required Education

• Not stated in the advert. Check the GiveDirectly careers page.

Work Experience

• 10+ years of relevant experience, for example in non-profit country management, organisational leadership, partnership development, programme management, social entrepreneurship or consulting, with increasing responsibility.
• A track record of direct-delivery programme leadership at scale (not grant intermediation).
• Team management experience, including hiring and building teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and set strategic vision at national level.

Additional Requirements

• Advanced partnership skills, including new business, negotiation and consortium management.
• Strong understanding of cash transfers, social safety nets and poverty reduction programmes and policy.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, including with senior audiences.
• Must be based in Kampala and able to travel 1 to 2 times a year to another country of operation.
• English required.

Technical Skills

• Programme delivery: Running multi-million-dollar programmes at scale.
• Financial management: Budgets, variances and Budget vs. Actuals.
• Risk management: Programme risk trackers and escalation.
• Partnerships: New business, negotiation and consortia.
• Analysis: Robust analyses to guide management decisions.

Soft Skills

• Stakeholder management: Managing up, across and down with ease.
• Leadership: Building durable, accountable teams.
• Autonomy: High resilience and independence.
• Problem solving: Analytical, iterative and well-prioritised.
• Representation: Speaking for GiveDirectly at the highest levels.

Base salary of $99,100, a bonus of about 15% at target performance and an annual benefits stipend of $8,453, as published in the advert. GiveDirectly has a no-negotiation pay policy to keep salaries fair across roles.

• A published, competitive salary: $99,100 base plus bonus.
• Deputy to the Country Director, with Acting CD responsibility.
• Lead GiveDirectly’s largest department in Uganda.
• Shape how cash transfers scale in Uganda.
• Work with research and product teams on what actually works.
• A no-negotiation pay policy means fair, transparent pay.

Apply online through GiveDirectly’s official careers page for the Program Director, Uganda. No closing date has been published, so apply as soon as possible. GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and runs reference, background and sanctions checks on new hires. See more NGO jobs in Uganda and management jobs in Uganda.

• Show programmes you delivered directly at scale, with budgets and reach.
• Explain how you handled a budget variance and what you changed.
• Highlight cash transfer, social protection or safety net experience.
• Give examples of Senior Managers you built and developed.
• Show times you deputised for a Country Director or equivalent.
• Read GiveDirectly’s Candidate Application Prep Guide first.