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

 #LI-REMOTE

About Imagine Worldwide

All children have immense potential, but hundreds of millions don’t have access to the learning they need. Imagine Worldwide believes that every child should be empowered with the basic right to literacy and numeracy. We provide an innovative education technology solution and implementation model to the global literacy/numeracy learning crisis using the onebillion application and various toolkits and systems to support implementation. Our model is massively scalable, evidence-based, and can deliver foundational learning to millions of the most marginalized children.

Imagine Worldwide partners with governments, organizations, and communities to provide child-directed, tablet-based learning that is accessible, effective, and affordable. We are incorporated in California (United States) as a nonprofit organization, but operate in Sub-Saharan Africa through locally-registered entities in Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. Learn more on our website.

About the Role

The Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring the smooth, efficient, and compliant functioning of Imagine Worldwide’s Malawi office. The primary purpose of this role is to provide strong operational leadership and oversight that enables program delivery at scale. Working closely with Finance, Programs, and Technical Services, the role ensures that systems, processes, and support services are well-coordinated, responsive, and aligned with organizational standards. The role will report to the Director of Finance and Administration and will oversee other Administration and Operations Officers 

This position is accountable for delivering high-quality administrative and operational services that support staff, management, and partners. Key outcomes include effective office and facilities management, streamlined operational processes, strong vendor and asset management, and full compliance with organizational policies and procedures. 

By strengthening the operational backbone of the Malawi office, this role directly contributes to Imagine Worldwide’s strategy of testing and scaling tablet-based learning solutions. Efficient and reliable operations enable program teams to focus on delivering impact—helping children become literate and numerate—while ensuring the organization can expand sustainably and responsibly.

Key Responsibilities

Cross-Team Coordination & Operational Support

• Provide day-to-day operational support to program, finance, and technical teams to enable timely and effective delivery of activities. 

• Coordinate logistics for internal events, donor engagements, stakeholder visits, and special projects, while ensuring international staff administrative needs (e.g., visas, work and residence permits) are efficiently managed.

Office, Facilities & Administrative Management

• Oversee the smooth running of office and warehouse facilities, ensuring they are safe, functional, and compliant with workplace standards. 

• Manage leases, utilities, and service contracts (including internet, security, and cleaning), ensuring high-quality vendor performance. 

• Deliver responsive administrative services that support staff productivity and maintain a professional working environment.

Procurement, Vendor, Asset & Fleet Management

• Lead and manage procurement processes in line with organizational policies, ensuring transparency, value for money, and timely delivery. 

• Oversee vendor selection, contracting, and performance management. 

• Maintain accurate asset registers and ensure proper safeguarding of organizational resources.

• Manage fleet operations, including vehicle registration, licensing, insurance, maintenance, and supervision of drivers.

Compliance, Governance & Systems Management

• Maintain all corporate records, licenses, and statutory filings, ensuring timely renewals and full compliance with local regulations and organizational standards. 

• Work closely with the Director of Finance & Administration and global teams to uphold governance requirements and strengthen internal systems.

Risk Management & Security Oversight

• Support the identification, assessment, and monitoring of operational risks, maintaining the risk register and tracking mitigation actions across teams. 

• Facilitate regular risk reviews in alignment with Imagine’s global risk framework. 

• Serve as the country office focal point for security, ensuring staff and visitors receive appropriate briefings and that relevant information is shared with leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years’ experience managing office, compliance, or operations functions — ideally with an NGO or international organization.
• Proven experience dealing with government agencies, corporate registration, and statutory compliance in Malawi (or similar contexts).
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with experience in vendor and contract management.
• Strong problem-solving ability and high attention to detail.
• Proficiency with MS Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); familiarity with cloud-based document systems is a plus.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong ability to plan, coordinate, and oversee day-to-day operations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and coordinate complex logistics in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively engage with internal teams, global colleagues, partners, vendors, and government stakeholders.
• Sound knowledge of procurement processes, contract management, and supplier performance monitoring, with a focus on transparency and value for money.
• Basic financial management skills, including budgeting support, cost tracking, and understanding of administrative systems and controls.
• Familiarity with HR processes such as recruitment coordination, onboarding, staff welfare, and maintaining a positive workplace environment.
• Ability to identify operational challenges, assess risks, and implement practical, timely solutions with sound judgment.

Qualities

•  Passion for Imagine’s mission and vision 
•  Demonstrated commitment to equity in educational access and outcomes
• Passion for project management
• Demonstrated ability to think independently and solve problems
• Collaborative team player; clear and proactive communicator
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to work in a fast-paced, changing environment

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Location

The Operations Manager must be based in Lilongwe, Malawi.

* * *

Imagine Worldwide is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions.

To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

About the Young Professionals Program

One Acre Fund’s Young Professionals Program offers high-performing African graduates meaningful internships and training opportunities at a high-performing, mission-driven organization. Our internships are paid and all interns can expect to receive substantive work assignments working on high-impact projects that support One Acre Fund's operations.

When joining, interns will participate in an onboarding program and receive training on how to design and execute projects. Over the period of your internship, you will get the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals and receive learning opportunities to build strong foundations for your future career. 

About the Role

The Procurement Intern will play a crucial role in supporting the Malawi procurement team in executing various sourcing and procurement activities. The Procurement Intern will ensure procurement excellence, cost reduction, and timely payments. You will provide customer service, maintain quality control, and handle documentation for deliveries.

Responsibilities

Procurement Excellence:

• Deliver with +90% On Time in Full (OTIF), at market competitive COGS, 5% cost savings, while ensuring quality assurance and +80% on-time payment for Malawi purchases.
• Ensure quality control standards are maintained throughout the procurement process to ensure we are sourcing quality products for our farmers and internal stakeholders
• Coordinate order deliveries to OAF warehouses/ procurement stores.
• Support in identifying and building new supplier relationships for new and existing products

Customer Service

• Deliver world-class customer service to stakeholders by proactively and professionally communicating the status of their orders and payments at all times
• Address inquiries and resolve issues related to procurement orders and payments.

Timely and Compliant Deliveries

• Ensure timely and compliant deliveries by ensuring correct and compliant documentation is in place to process orders and payments
• Generate and execute RFQs for open-sourced products
• Process purchase orders and contracts for assigned products and services
• Support SAP data entry and payments for assigned orders

Support administrative tasks:  

• A procurement intern will organize records and digitize paperwork. Will assist the procurement team in operating more efficiently, focusing on strategic tasks, and ensuring easy access to up-to-date information.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we deeply invest in our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training, and regular feedback on your performance. We’ll hold career reviews every one-three months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and gain rewarding technical experience.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Diploma/Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement, Business Administration, Management, or a related field
• Minimum of 1+ year of experience in Procurement (Non-negotiable). 
• Problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, ownership of work, and the ability to learn. (Non-negotiable)
• Data analysis skill.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Stakeholder management and collaboration skills.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Zomba, Malawi

Benefits

Interns will be provided with a reasonable stipend for the duration of their contract. Rural area-based fellows will be provided assistance in locating suitable housing.

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Malawi.

Application Deadline

06 May 2026. We hire on a rolling basis, which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made. 

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.