Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Recruiter
at GiveDirectly
🏢 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 rigorously studied. It operates at scale across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, blending philanthropy with tech-forward operations. Working here means directly contributing to one of the most evidence-backed anti-poverty interventions in the world.
About This Role
As a Senior Recruiter, you will own end-to-end senior searches (6–8 weeks) across programs, tech, and other functions, proactively sourcing talent across sub-Saharan Africa. You'll partner with hiring managers up to the C-suite, drive process and timelines, and use Greenhouse data to diagnose and unblock searches. This role is pivotal in building the team that delivers cash transfers to millions.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve sourcing candidates for a senior programs role in Kenya, meeting with a hiring manager to recalibrate a search timeline, reviewing funnel metrics in Greenhouse to identify bottlenecks, and coaching a junior recruiter on outreach techniques. You'll balance proactive sourcing, stakeholder management, and process improvement to ensure GiveDirectly attracts top talent for its mission.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who GiveDirectly Is Looking For
- 5+ years of recruiting senior roles in tech-forward INGOs or mission-driven startups, with recent sub-Saharan Africa market experience.
- Proven ability to map markets and build pipelines from scratch through outbound sourcing, not just inbound.
- Strong strategic partnership skills, comfortable challenging assumptions and holding hiring managers to timelines.
- Experience coaching junior recruiters and building consistent, scalable recruitment processes.
- Data-driven mindset, with experience using Greenhouse or similar ATS to track conversion metrics and diagnose funnel issues.
📝 Tips for Applying to GiveDirectly
Highlight specific examples of senior searches you've led in sub-Saharan Africa, including timelines and outcomes.
Emphasize your experience with outbound sourcing and market mapping—GiveDirectly values proactive pipeline building.
Show familiarity with GiveDirectly's cash transfer model and the unique challenges of recruiting in the regions they serve.
Demonstrate your ability to partner with C-suite stakeholders by sharing a story where you challenged assumptions and unblocked a search.
Mention your proficiency with Greenhouse and how you've used data to improve recruitment processes.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
In your cover letter, focus on: (1) your direct experience recruiting senior roles in sub-Saharan Africa, (2) a specific example of building a pipeline from scratch through outbound sourcing, (3) your approach to partnering with hiring managers to drive process and timelines, and (4) your motivation to apply your skills to GiveDirectly's mission of ending extreme poverty.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read GiveDirectly's latest research and impact reports to understand their cash transfer model and evidence base.
- → Research the specific countries in sub-Saharan Africa where GiveDirectly operates and the talent landscape there.
- → Look into GiveDirectly's org structure and recent senior hires to understand the functions you'd recruit for.
- → Familiarize yourself with Greenhouse's features and how they can be leveraged for pipeline management.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on inbound recruiting experience without demonstrating outbound sourcing and market mapping skills.
- Neglecting to mention sub-Saharan Africa experience or treating it as a minor detail.
- Using generic examples that don't show strategic partnership with senior stakeholders or data-driven decision-making.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!