Program Officer

About GiveWell

GiveWell's mission is to help people in need by researching the most cost-effective ways to save and improve lives, sharing work openly, and directing donations to programs with the greatest impact. Focused on global health and well-being, GiveWell has grown from directing $1.5 million in 2010 to over $400 million in 2025, with projections to exceed $500 million in 2026.

Role Summary

We seek exceptional Program Officers to help direct hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the most cost-effective global health and poverty alleviation programs. You will have outsized influence on funding decisions and help save and improve lives globally as part of our lean research team.

You'll own grant investigations and manage a portfolio of grants, evaluating funding opportunities and helping shape new ones. Your decisions will directly inform the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars to dozens of grantees.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate and recommend grants: Receive and solicit funding requests, conduct rigorous due diligence, and make evidence-based funding recommendations
• Evidence review and modeling: Conduct empirical evidence review, develop cost-effectiveness models, and synthesize complex data to support funding decisions
• Grantee engagement: Build relationships with grantees, assess organizational capacity, and verify reported outputs reflect real coverage and quality on the ground
• Portfolio management: Monitor grant progress, identify risks, recommend course corrections, and assess whether interventions remain aligned with evidence-based practices
• Strategic analysis: Help identify funding gaps where promising interventions lack clear implementers and support the development of new programs
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work with subject matter experts, engage in thoughtful judgment synthesis, and contribute to organizational learning

What We're Looking For

You combine rigorous analytical thinking with sound judgment. You excel at evidence review, cost-effectiveness modeling, and stakeholder engagement. You're comfortable with uncertainty, ask hard questions, weigh empirical evidence against qualitative factors, and help shape funding decisions that direct substantial capital toward maximum impact. Experience in global health, development economics, program evaluation, or related fields is valuable.

Work Environment

This is a remote, full-time role open to candidates in the United States and internationally. You'll join a small, high-impact grantmaking team where your work directly shapes organizational priorities and global resource allocation.