How to apply for Senior Manager, People Operations

About GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly is a nonprofit that delivers unconditional cash transfers directly to people living in extreme poverty, pioneering a model that respects recipient choice and has been validated by rigorous evidence. Working here means joining a global team that is data-driven, radically transparent, and committed to operational excellence in some of the most challenging contexts. The organization's remote-first, distributed structure offers flexibility and the chance to collaborate with colleagues across 20+ countries.

About the role

As Senior Manager, People Operations, you will lead global payroll, people data, and employee lifecycle operations for a distributed workforce spanning over 20 countries. You'll manage a team of three, ensuring end-to-end payroll delivery, HRIS data integrity, and seamless onboarding/offboarding across multiple entities and employer of record arrangements. This role is critical to GiveDirectly's ability to scale its mission by providing reliable, compliant, and equitable people operations infrastructure.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing payroll reports from multiple countries, troubleshooting issues with the HRIS system, and meeting with your team to prioritize onboarding tasks. You could also collaborate with country HR teams to resolve escalated employee lifecycle matters, analyze compensation data for an upcoming cycle, and refine service standards to improve efficiency across global operations.

Who GiveDirectly is looking for

• 6+ years in people operations or global payroll, with at least 2 years managing a team, including direct multi-country payroll experience—preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Deep knowledge of multi-jurisdiction employment law, employer of record models, and HRIS systems, with a proven track record of improving data quality and operational efficiency.
• Strong analytical skills to execute compensation cycles, benefits administration, and mobility transactions, and to produce benchmarking and equity analyses.
• A systems mindset and exceptional stakeholder management abilities, able to define service standards and escalation paths while aligning with GiveDirectly's values of transparency and respect.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific multi-country payroll experience, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, by quantifying the number of countries and employees you've supported.
• Showcase your experience managing a team of three or similar size, emphasizing how you've developed team members and improved processes.
• Demonstrate familiarity with employer of record (EOR) arrangements and HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, BambooHR) by mentioning concrete examples of system implementations or optimizations.
• Align your cover letter with GiveDirectly's values by referencing their commitment to unconditional cash transfers and how your work in people operations supports mission-driven organizations.
• Use metrics to illustrate success in payroll accuracy, data quality improvements, or compensation cycle efficiency, as GiveDirectly values evidence-based results.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, emphasize: (1) your hands-on experience running multi-country payroll, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how you ensured compliance and accuracy; (2) your approach to leading a small team and fostering a systems mindset to scale operations; (3) your ability to manage stakeholder relationships across diverse countries and entities; and (4) your alignment with GiveDirectly's mission and values, showing how robust people operations enable impactful cash transfer programs.

Research before applying

• Research GiveDirectly's cash transfer programs and their impact evaluations to understand the organization's mission and how people operations supports it.
• Learn about GiveDirectly's operating countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the employment regulations and payroll complexities in those regions.
• Investigate GiveDirectly's values and culture, including their commitment to transparency and evidence-based practices, to ensure alignment in your application.
• Explore recent news or reports about GiveDirectly's growth and expansion to understand the scale and challenges of their people operations.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you design and implement a global payroll strategy for a distributed workforce across 20+ countries, ensuring compliance and efficiency?
• Describe your experience with employer of record (EOR) models and how you've managed relationships with EOR providers to ensure seamless employee lifecycle operations.
• Give an example of a time you improved HRIS data quality or implemented a ticketing system to enhance employee support. What was the impact?
• How do you approach annual compensation cycles and equity audits in a multi-country context, and what tools or methodologies do you use for benchmarking?
• Tell us about a time you had to manage a complex employee mobility or benefits issue across jurisdictions. How did you handle it and what did you learn?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on domestic payroll experience without demonstrating global or multi-country expertise, as the role requires managing payroll across 20+ countries.
• Neglecting to mention team management experience, since the role explicitly requires managing a team of three and developing their capabilities.
• Using generic language about 'HR best practices' without tailoring to GiveDirectly's unique context of a remote, mission-driven nonprofit with complex multi-entity structures.