GiveDirectly has delivered more than $1B in cash directly to 2+ million people living in poverty across 15 countries since 2011. We believe cash transfers are one of the most scalable, cost-effective, and dignified forms of aid, with the research to back it up. Our work has been covered by The Economist, NPR, TED, and The Washington Post. We are one of Time100’s Most Influential Companies of 2026.
Our culture is candid, analytical, and non-hierarchical. We support high ownership and real professional growth. Curious about what it's really like to work here? Read our values and hear from the people who do. If they resonate, this could be a great fit!
Location: This is a remote role, but candidates must be based in the United States. You must be able to create overlap in your day with an East Africa timezone for at least 3 hours. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visas in the U.S. at this time.
Job Type: This is a 6 month contract for maternity leave coverage
About this role
The Safeguarding Associate ensures that GiveDirectly’s activities are planned and delivered in ways that prevent abuse and support appropriate and timely responses to safeguarding concerns. The role works closely with staff and communities to identify and reduce safeguarding risks, promote safe behaviours, and strengthen confidence in our reporting pathways. It contributes specialist safeguarding input to operational decision making, guides effective case handling and escalation, and monitors and supports teams to apply best safeguarding practice consistently. This position upholds high safeguarding standards, reinforces trust, and ensures that all aspects of work protect the dignity and rights of recipients.
Reports to: Safeguarding Program Manager
Level: Associate
What you’ll do:
- Conduct safeguarding risk assessments and review operational tools to identify safeguarding risks, informed by direct engagement with communities, recipients, and staff, in order to take early action to prevent abuse.
- Receive, document, and support responses to safeguarding concerns in line with our case management protocol by using survivor centred practice and established escalation pathways.
- Establish, develop, and maintain a network of safeguarding focal points across the country to strengthen localised and collaborative risk identification and promote safeguarding best practice.
- Maintain and strengthen signposting and referral pathways by mapping and engaging trusted local service providers.
- Contribute safeguarding expertise to planning, design, and delivery to ensure that GiveDirectly’s activities remain safe, inclusive, and respectful.
- Deliver ongoing safeguarding training, onboarding, and sensitisation sessions for staff and partners, and support teams to apply best safeguarding practice consistently and promote safe behaviours.
- Represent safeguarding needs in field operations and maintain trusted relationships with local leaders, partners, and community actors.
- Monitor safeguarding trends and incidents, prepare self assessments and routine reports, and escalate and address gaps in safeguarding practices appropriately.
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 marginalized communities that we serve.
- Language Requirement: Fluency in English. Spanish or Arabic are desirable.
- Minimum of 3 years experience in safeguarding, protection, social work, or related operational roles, particularly within the United States.
- Strong judgement and the ability to take timely and appropriate action in sensitive or complex safeguarding situations.
- Experience and comfort talking to individuals in sensitive situations.
- Confidence in identifying safeguarding risks across activities and supporting staff to apply safe planning and safeguarding best practice consistently.
- Understanding of and commitment to survivor centred practice, confidentiality, and ethical decision making.
- Strong communication, facilitation, and documentation skills, including the ability to explain safeguarding obligations clearly and engage staff and community members respectfully.
- High levels of organisation, reliability, and attention to detail when maintaining safeguarding records, logs, and reports.
- Ability to work independently in field settings and remotely, manage competing priorities, and uphold safeguarding standards with professionalism and integrity.
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.
- The base salary for this role is $6,241.67/monthly ($74,900/annually)
Why work at GiveDirectly?
At GiveDirectly, we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team, including:`
- A supportive team that works hard and cares hard
- Flexible paid time off that staff is encouraged to take
- Allowances for desk set-up and learning and development
#LI-REMOTE
Working at GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Flagging for US applicants: We invite you to "Know Your Rights" as an applicant.
Commitment to Safeguarding
As a global organization working with communities to eliminate extreme poverty, GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients, staff, and partners seriously. To that end, GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any abuse or misconduct related matters involving potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.
These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we work with, and prevent abuse to our recipients and staff.
**GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect people and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance when it comes to preventing, reporting, or responding to any form of abuse or exploitation.” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**
Reasonable Accommodations
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the role, please email us at [email protected] with the email subject “Accommodation Needed”. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to support your needs.
Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application? Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!
Skills Required
- Minimum of 3 years experience in safeguarding, protection, social work, or related operational roles
- Fluency in English; Spanish or Arabic desirable
- Strong judgment in sensitive safeguarding situations
- Experience in conducting safeguarding risk assessments
- Ability to work independently in field settings and remotely
What We Do
GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving – and millions of lives – by allowing donors to provide cash grants directly to the world’s poorest. We believe in elevating recipient choice and committing to transparency around metrics and evidence, taking rigorous, impact-driven approach to accelerating the end of extreme poverty.
Why Work With Us
We are a values-driven, multinational team committed to empowering those living in poverty. $70B in cash transfers would be required to eliminate the poverty gap; the aid sector currently spends $135B each year, much of which is allocated to evidence-free interventions. GiveDirectly wants to change that and accelerate the end of extreme poverty.
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