At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and scale of our Cash Delivery Platform to transform international giving.
- Company: Join GiveDirectly, a pioneering organisation reshaping how aid is delivered globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, health benefits, flexible time off, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Fully remote role with a diverse, supportive team and excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving lives through innovative cash transfer solutions.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software product management with a passion for serving low-income communities.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 140000 £ per year.
About GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving by providing cash grants directly to the world’s poorest. The Brookings Institution estimates that $70B of cash transfers would be required to eliminate the poverty gap; the aid sector currently spends $135B each year, much of it on evidence-free interventions. GD has raised over $1B since launching in 2011 and has delivered cash to more than 1.5 million people in 15 countries. GD has supported large-scale, experimental research indicating strong recipient impact. The organization has been featured in Fast Company, The New York Times Magazine, This American Life, Foreign Affairs, and The Economist.
Our culture is candid, analytical, agile, and non-hierarchical. Our global team is diverse in background and language. Our values center the people we serve and aim for an ambitious, dynamic, high-performing environment. We strive to create an environment where all team members can thrive, succeed, and grow.
Location: This role is fully remote but must overlap with an East Africa timezone by at least 3 hours. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas in the U.S. or U.K. at this time.
About this role
GD encodes every aspect of its cash delivery programs in software, from field officer interactions with potential recipients to enrollment data collection and actual cash transfers. This role leads the design and scale of the Cash Delivery Platform, defining systems and roadmaps across survey building, eligibility & verification, fraud detection, payments, and case management. You will work with engineers, field operations, and research teams to deliver faster, more secure, and better recipient experiences.
This is a leadership role focused on defining products from the ground up, with a track record of creating clarity, scale, and reuse from complex beginnings.
Level: Director
Reports To: VP, Technology
Travel: Willing to travel to program sites up to 1x per quarter for 1–2 weeks.
Responsibilities
- Product Vision & Definition: Define the long-term vision for GiveDirectly’s cash delivery platform, balancing simplifying complexity with future flexibility; understand diverse users including field officers, recipients, and program managers to design platform abstractions.
- Strategic Roadmap & Prioritization: Own platform capabilities (survey tooling, eligibility & KYC, fraud detection, payments, case management); make high-leverage prioritization decisions; define and track success metrics.
- Detailed Product Design & Execution: Lead end-to-end development from discovery to launch; partner with engineers to define robust abstractions and scalable product logic.
- Cross-functional Stakeholder Management: Align diverse stakeholders and ensure platform investments serve validated program requirements.
Qualifications
- Strong alignment with GD values and mission; experience with or commitment to serving low-income or historically marginalized communities preferred.
- 8+ years of technical software product management with multiple full-lifecycle builds.
- High technical fluency to engage with engineers on architecture, APIs, and system design.
- Empathy for non-technical users and strong UX sensibility.
- Ability to operate in high ambiguity with a track record of creating clarity.
- Collaborative and able to work with diverse stakeholders across cultures and backgrounds; able to translate technical concepts for varied audiences.
- Analytical problem-solving mindset with a structured prioritization framework.
- Bonus: experience with users experiencing poverty, low digital literacy, or limited connectivity.
Compensation
GD aims to pay generously and equitably. Base compensation and bonuses align with market benchmarks; there is a no-negotiation policy to ensure equity across roles. Salary benchmarks: United States base $154,400; Kenya base $120,000. The role is fully remote; country-specific salary benchmarks may be shared during hiring.
Why work at GiveDirectly?
- Supportive team with opportunities for advancement
- Commitment to staff development
- Competitive salary and bonus
- Health benefits (varies by country)
- Flexible paid time off
- Desk setup and learning & development allowances
Working at GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Voluntary Self-Identification and Disability sections are included for government reporting and compliance purposes.
GD is committed to safeguarding recipients, staff, and partners, with policies including zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) and robust pre-hire screening where appropriate.
Product Lead, Platform (Staff Product Manager) in City of London employer: GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly is an exceptional employer that champions a culture of candour, agility, and inclusivity, making it an ideal place for those passionate about impactful work. With a commitment to staff development, competitive compensation, and flexible working arrangements, employees are empowered to thrive in a dynamic environment while contributing to meaningful change in the lives of the world's poorest communities. The fully remote nature of this role allows for a diverse global team to collaborate effectively, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Lead, Platform (Staff Product Manager) in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those who work at GiveDirectly or similar organisations. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding GiveDirectly's mission and values inside out. Show us how your experience aligns with our goals, especially in serving low-income communities. We love candidates who are passionate about making a difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of your past work, especially around product management and collaboration. We want to hear how you've tackled challenges and driven results in complex environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Lead, Platform (Staff Product Manager) in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Audience:Before you start writing, take a moment to understand GiveDirectly's mission and values. Tailor your application to reflect how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in serving low-income communities.
Be Clear and Concise:When detailing your experience, keep it straightforward. Use bullet points where possible to make your achievements stand out. Remember, clarity is key, especially when discussing complex product management concepts.
Show Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! Share specific examples of how you've contributed to similar projects or initiatives in the past. This will help us see your commitment to making a difference.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at GiveDirectly
✨Understand the Mission
Before your interview, dive deep into GiveDirectly's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their approach to cash transfers and how they aim to reshape international giving. This will not only help you align your answers but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Technical Fluency
As a Product Lead, you'll need to engage with engineers on complex topics. Be prepared to discuss your experience with software product management and how you've tackled technical challenges in the past. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Demonstrate Empathy for Users
Given the focus on low-income and historically marginalised communities, it's crucial to showcase your understanding of their needs. Share experiences where you've designed products or solutions with empathy for users who may have low digital literacy or limited connectivity.
✨Prepare for Ambiguity
This role requires operating in high ambiguity, so be ready to discuss how you've navigated unclear situations in previous roles. Highlight your problem-solving mindset and structured prioritisation framework, providing examples of how you've created clarity from complexity.
