Gates Senior Program Officer—Portable Memory & Context 2024

OpenDoorHub; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

Family leave

Retirement plan contribution

Relocation assistance

Employee communities

Job summary

The Gates Foundation in Seattle is hiring a Senior Program Officer to lead investments in portable memory and context infrastructure for next-generation AI systems in education and workforce pathways. This 24-month limited-term role will drive the development of memory, identity, storage, and governance foundations across learning-to-work transitions.

The ideal candidate has deep AI and data infrastructure expertise and a track record working across education and workforce systems to advance

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Experience across education and workforce systems.
• Strong understanding of data and AI for learner-to-earner outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Translate architecture into investable strategies and funding opportunities.
• Drive standards, ecosystem alignment, and interoperability across partners.
• Broker across technical and institutional layers to enable memory systems.
• Identify priority AI infrastructure layers for education and workforce use cases.

Skills

AI Infrastructure

Memory Systems

Stakeholder Engagement

Policy & Governance

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

Gates Senior Program Officer—Portable Memory & Context 2024

The Gates Foundation is hiring a Senior Program Officer to lead investments in portable memory and context infrastructure for next-generation AI systems. The role is based in Seattle, WA, and is a 24-month limited-term position. The successful candidate will have experience working across education

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer to join their USP Data & AI team, focused on building the emerging portable memory and context infrastructure required for next-generation AI systems in education and workforce pathways. This 24-month limited-term position, based in Seattle, WA, will drive progress on the technical, standards, and governance foundations needed to enable user-controlled, interoperable, and longitudinal memory systems. The Senior Program Officer will lead a portfolio advancing the end-to-end memory stack across education-to-workforce pathways.

Overview

The Senior Program Officer will be responsible for developing and managing a portfolio advancing the end-to-end memory stack across education-to-workforce pathways, enabling persistent, portable learner and worker context through investments in identity, storage, memory management, agent integration, and governance.

• Translate architecture into investable strategies, identifying where technical gaps require targeted funding, standards development, or field-building.
• Drive standards and ecosystem alignment, convening partners across frontier AI labs, EdTech, workforce systems, and standards bodies to advance shared schemas, protocols, and portability frameworks.
• Broker across technical and institutional layers, connecting model developers, infrastructure providers, public sector actors, and product teams to ensure memory systems are usable across real-world education and workforce contexts.
• Identify and advance priority AI infrastructure layers for education and workforce systems, shaping investments across shared components that enable multiple downstream use cases.

The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in a related field, with experience working across education and workforce systems, and a strong understanding of how data and AI can support transitions, mobility, and outcomes across the learner-to-earner lifecycle.

• Deep experience and technical credibility in AI and data infrastructure, with a strong understanding of how systems are designed, integrated, and scaled across components and use cases.
• Experience with portable data and interoperable systems, and how they enable AI systems to leverage persistent, cross-context memory.
• Track record of operating in emerging, ambiguous technical spaces, translating early architectures into concrete investments, partnerships, or products.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.
• Generous paid time off and paid family leave.
• Foundation-paid retirement contribution and regional holidays.
• Opportunities to engage in several employee communities.

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please submit your application through the Gates Foundation's website.

• Resume and cover letter.
• Transcripts or diplomas for advanced degrees.
• References from previous employers or professional contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of the Senior Program Officer role?

The Senior Program Officer role is a 24-month limited-term position.

What is the location of the role?

The role is based in Seattle, WA, and relocation will be provided.

What experience is required for the role?

The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in a related field, with experience working across education and workforce systems.

What is the focus of the USP Data & AI team?

The USP Data & AI team works to unlock the full potential of data and artificial intelligence to improve educational and economic outcomes.

What are the key responsibilities of the Senior Program Officer role?

The Senior Program Officer will lead investments focused on building the emerging portable memory and context infrastructure required for next-generation AI systems in education and workforce pathways.