Senior Officer, AI Technology Policy

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 190,100 - 294,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Generous PTO

Paid family leave

Retirement contribution

Regional holidays

Job summary

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington, DC seeks a policy professional to advance the AI policy agenda within the Policy & Advocacy team. You will translate developments in AI technology, governance, and industry practice into insights the team can act on, supporting education policy with rigorous, actionable analysis.

The role requires mastery of the AI governance landscape, experience translating complex topics for diverse audiences, and a track record of building durable relationships

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in technology policy, AI governance, or related field.
• Mastery of the AI governance landscape and regulatory activity.
• Ability to translate complex technical and regulatory developments for diverse audiences.
• Comfort operating across federal/state contexts with durable relationships.
• Strong analytical and research skills for emerging developments.
• Interest in education policy; familiarity with K-12 or postsecondary policy is a plus.
• Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country.

Responsibilities

• Serve as internal resource on AI safety, governance, regulation, and policy; monitor developments across agencies and industry.
• Collaborate with senior program officer to strengthen AI policy perspectives grounded in practice.
• Synthesize evolving technical and regulatory context and identify strategic implications.
• Develop briefs and points of view translating AI governance into actionable policy implications.
• Advise program strategy teams on the technology policy landscape affecting investments in AI-enabled tools.
• Identify AI governance convenings and cultivate relevant contacts.
• Support engagement with technology sector partners and AI governance organizations.
• Cultivate relationships with stakeholders across tech, academia, civil society, government.
• Communicate developments clearly to leadership, partners, and external audiences.
• Support inclusive culture by modeling behaviors and elevating issues promptly.

Skills

AI governance

Policy analysis

Regulatory awareness

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Verbal communication

Policy translation

Relationship building

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

The Foundation We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation‑paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Advocacy & System Improvement team operates as an engine for sustainable impact at scale within U.S. Program. The role of this team is not to develop or deliver solutions, but to enable systems to adopt and sustain effective practices, and to change how systems operate so those practices become standard, scalable, and durable. In this context, the solutions our colleagues develop and deliver are more likely to reach more learners, driving collective progress towards our shared goals. The Policy & Advocacy team sits within Advocacy & System Improvement and is responsible for building and advancing the foundation’s education policy agenda — translating programmatic learning, field evidence, and strategic priorities into rigorous policy perspectives and effective advocacy strategies that shape how federal and state systems support student success. The team works across K‑12, postsecondary, pathways, and data and AI policy domains, and maintains a robust state advocacy function that ensures the foundation’s priorities are reaching the right audiences through the right partners.

This position is located in our Washington DC office and is designated as a limited‑term position for 24 months. Please include a cover letter describing what uniquely qualifies you for this role and what inspired you to apply. We look forward to learning more about your experience and motivation. Thank you!

Your Role

You are responsible for providing the deep technical grounding that supports the development and implementation of the foundation's AI policy by translating developments in AI technology, governance, and industry practice into insights the team can act on. You bring firsthand knowledge of the technology sector, including the stakeholders, dynamics, and realities of how AI systems are built, deployed, and governed in practice, and you bring those perspectives and relationships to the table in service of the team's policy agenda.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the team's internal resource on AI safety, governance, regulation, and technology policy — monitoring and advising on developments across federal agencies, the technology sector, and national and international AI governance bodies; analyzing emerging and nascent governance frameworks, regulatory proposals, and industry practices; and translating their implications for students, educators, institutions, and the foundation's education policy agenda.
• Work closely with the senior program officer for AI and data infrastructure to strengthen the team’s AI policy perspectives, ensuring they are well‑grounded in the realities of AI technology, governance, and industry practice.
• Synthesize evolving technical and regulatory context quickly and accurately — identifying what is known, what is uncertain, and what the strategic implications are for the foundation’s work.
• Develop analytical products, briefings, and points of view for the Policy & Advocacy team and division leadership that translate complex AI governance and technology policy developments into actionable implications for the foundation’s work.
• Advise program strategy teams on the technology policy landscape as it relates to their investments in AI‑enabled tools, helping them understand emerging regulatory developments and governance considerations that may affect their strategies.
• Identify relevant AI governance convenings, multistakeholder forums, and technical/policy contacts worth cultivating, and support colleagues who represent the foundation in these spaces.
• Support the team’s engagement with technology sector partners, AI governance organizations, and relevant federal agencies — bringing tech world relationships and perspectives to the table and providing technical grounding that strengthens the foundation’s credibility in these spaces.
• Help identify and cultivate relationships with new stakeholders across the technology sector, academia, civil society, and government — expanding the breadth of perspectives the team can draw on without diluting the rigor of its policy positions.
• Communicate complex technical and policy developments in a clear, structured, and audience‑appropriate way, tailoring analytical products to the needs of foundation leadership, programmatic partners, and external audiences.
• Support inclusive culture through modeling behaviors and actions; elevate issues in a timely fashion to appropriate stakeholders.

Your Experience

• An advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• Significant experience in technology policy, AI governance, or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in how AI systems are developed, deployed, and governed.
• Mastery level knowledge of the AI governance landscape, including federal and state regulatory activity, industry self‑regulatory frameworks, and emerging international standards and their implications for AI use in the United States.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and regulatory developments into clear, actionable analysis for diverse audiences including foundation leadership and programmatic partners, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort and credibility operating in a policy environment that spans changing federal administrations and varied state political contexts, with a track record of building durable relationships that aren’t tied to a particular party or administration.
• Strong analytical and research skills, including the ability to rapidly assess emerging developments, identify their strategic implications, and develop well‑reasoned points of view under conditions of uncertainty.
• Intellectual curiosity about education and a demonstrated commitment to learning quickly in new domains; familiarity with the K‑12 or postsecondary policy landscape is an asset but not required.
• Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration‑related sponsorship for this role. This includes direct company sponsorship and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company.

The salary range for this role is $190,100 to $294,700 USD. We recognize high‑wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $209,100 to $324,100 USD. As a mission‑driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job‑related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact [e-mail] with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices. All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, we aim to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.