Advisor, AI Global Policy & Advocacy

ImpactAlpha Inc.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical + dental + vision coverage

Paid time off

Paid family leave

Retirement contribution

Regional holidays

Employee communities

Competitive salary

Job summary

Gates Foundation in Seattle, WA invites an Advisor, AI Global Policy & Advocacy to lead GPA’s cross-cutting AI public goods portfolio. You will coordinate with internal teams, steer policy and funding strategies, and shape the AI agenda across global partners and funders.

You will translate technical AI insights into strategic policy actions, engage senior stakeholders, and drive high-impact outputs in a fast-moving philanthropic setting.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to translate AI expertise into strategy and policy decisions.
• Experience coordinating across teams in large, matrixed organizations.
• Strong judgment across funding and policy domains with credibility to convene stakeholders.
• Experience in global health, development, or related policy/philanthropy.
• Advanced degree or equivalent in international development, law, public policy, or related field.
• Unrestricted work authorization in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the connective point across GPA’s AI efforts, identifying synergies and ensuring a coherent, consistent approach across the division.
• Establish operating rhythm and decision-making for GPA’s AI public goods, coordinating with the AISC and program/region teams.
• Take end-to-end accountability for AI public goods deliverables from concept to completion.
• Structure work across GPA parts and stitch into a cohesive approach.
• Be the primary contact on the foundation’s AI positions, coordinating with Global Communications and GPA.
• Refactor AI-related content and proof points for priority influence channels.
• Maintain a dynamic view of AI funding, tracking philanthropies, multilaterals, and funders.
• Prioritize fundables lists and match with partners capable of delivering.
• Run two-sided matchmaking between funders and uses of capital.

Skills

AI policy

Strategy development

Stakeholder engagement

Policy advocacy

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Global health policy

Education

Advanced degree or equivalent

Job description

About Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the world, dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. The foundation was established by Bill Gates and Melinda Gates with the core belief that every life has equal value, and that all people, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to lead healthy, productive lives. The foundation works in over 100 countries across multiple continents, addressing critical global challenges through strategic grantmaking and partnerships. The foundation’s work spans two primary geographic focuses: in developing countries, it works with partners to create impactful solutions that enable people to take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, the foundation aims to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. The organization is committed to identifying innovative solutions and supporting effective implementation of programs that address root causes of poverty and inequality. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman under the direction of Bill Gates and the governing board. The organization employs thousands of professionals across its offices globally and is known for its competitive compensation packages and commitment to employee well‑being. The foundation provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation‑paid retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in multiple employee communities. The organization is dedicated to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that reflects the rich diversity of the global populations it serves.

About this Role

The Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) Division serves as the external affairs division of the Gates Foundation, with a mission to understand and shape the public policy debates affecting the foundation’s work. GPA builds support for the foundation’s major program and policy objectives and develops partnerships and alliances that advance the foundation’s objectives nationally and globally. The division spans North America; Europe, Middle East & East Asia; the China Country Office; Development Policy & Finance; Philanthropic Partnerships; and Program Advocacy, with oversight for government relations globally. As the Advisor, AI Global Policy & Advocacy, you will lead GPA’s portfolio of cross‑cutting “AI for good” public goods, including field‑shaping work that benefits both the foundation and the wider ecosystem. You will bring coherence to GPA’s engagement on AI by coordinating efforts across teams within GPA and across the foundation, serving as a clear point of accountability and decision‑making for the AI public‑goods agenda. Working in close partnership across the GPA division, the foundation’s AI Steering Committee (AISC), program strategy teams, regional and country offices, and Global Communications, you will ensure GPA engages strategically with the surge of new AI funding, coordinates external engagement, and mobilizes quickly to deliver high‑priority outputs. Over time, you will connect this public goods work to GPA’s broader AI strategy as it evolves. You will bring sound judgment across funding and policy with the ability to convene senior internal and external stakeholders, set priorities, and move complex, cross‑cutting work forward in a fast‑moving space. This role reports to the Chief of Staff, GPA, and is a limited‑term position for 36 months. The foundation’s preference is for this role to be based in Seattle, WA or Washington, DC, though in some instances the foundation is open to hiring a US‑domestic remote‑based employee. International remote positions outside the United States are not possible. Applications are accepted until Noon Pacific Time on Friday, September 4, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the connective point across GPA’s AI efforts, identifying synergies and ensuring a coherent, consistent approach across the division
• Establish a clear operating rhythm and decision‑making approach for GPA’s AI public goods, coordinating with cross‑cutting bodies such as the AISC and relevant program and regional teams
• Take end‑to‑end accountability for the public goods deliverables in GPA’s remit, driving them from concept to completion
• Structure work that can be accomplished by different parts of GPA and stitch it back together into a cohesive approach
• Serve as the primary point of contact on the foundation’s position on AI topics that surface publicly, coordinating across teams as needed including Global Communications, program teams, and GPA
• Refactor and connect existing AI‑related content, examples, and proof points from across the foundation so they can be used effectively with priority influence channels and decision‑makers
• Maintain a dynamic view of the AI funding landscape, tracking philanthropies, multilaterals and DFIs, corporate funders, domestic sources, and high‑net‑worth and new AI money
• Hold and prioritize “fundables” lists matching foundation priorities and ecosystem bottlenecks to partners and vehicles capable of delivering against them
• Run two‑sided matchmaking that triages, routes, and actively shapes opportunities between sources and uses of capital
• Develop prospective fundraising goals tied to tent‑pole moments and help the foundation engage major funders and gifts proactively rather than reactively
• Build a structured taxonomy of the AI policy space by issue area, by geography, and by sector and its intersection with AI to help drive prioritization and decision‑making for GPA engagement
• Work closely with teams to translate policy priorities into concrete policy goals
• Coordinate the foundation’s representation at key AI summits and convenings, setting clear objectives for each tied to prospective policy and funding goals
• Facilitate, accelerate, and provide surge capacity for the creation of high‑priority “announceables” in partnership with the Foundation Strategy Office and carry them through to a deliverable with a clear owner

Requirements

• Deep substantive expertise in artificial intelligence, including a strong understanding of foundation models, AI policy and advocacy, model development and deployment, open‑source ecosystems, safety and governance, and the implications of these technologies for public policy and global development
• Demonstrated experience translating AI expertise into strategy, policy, investment, or implementation decisions, with the ability to assess geopolitical dynamics, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and engage credibly with leading researchers, technology companies, policymakers, and practitioners
• Demonstrated ability to bring structure, clarity, and momentum to complex, fast‑evolving areas of work, including coordinating across teams and functions
• Strong judgment across both funding/philanthropic and policy domains, with the credibility to convene and align senior internal and external stakeholders
• Experience in global health, development, or related policy, financing, or philanthropy, with exposure to donor funding, multilateral institutions, or grantmaking
• Deep knowledge of the AI landscape and its relevance to global development, with sufficient expertise to engage funders, policymakers, and technical partners credibly
• A track record of operating effectively in large, matrixed organizations, building trusted relationships and coalitions across diverse institutional contexts
• Exceptional communication and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complexity into clear positions, priorities, and action
• An advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in international development, law, public policy, or a related field
• Unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located (the foundation does not provide immigration‑related sponsorship for this role)

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums
• Generous paid time off
• Paid family leave
• Foundation‑paid retirement contribution
• Regional holidays
• Opportunities to engage in several employee communities
• Competitive salary with placement typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint based on job‑related skills, experience, and expertise
• Inclusive and accessible hiring experience with accommodations available for candidates with disabilities or medical conditions