Senior Strategy Officer, Communications (12 month LTE)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 209,000 - 324,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Strategy Officer at Gates Foundation partners with the Deputy Director and Communications Leadership Team to define and execute the division’s strategy across global offices. You lead high-impact projects, translate strategy into actionable plans, and develop materials for leadership review.

In collaboration with Directors and regional teams, you drive portfolio management, ensure accountability, and support annual planning.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in formal strategy development roles.
• Master's degree or equivalent in strategy development or related field.
• Significant experience leading projects at a premier strategy consulting firm is preferred.
• Strong presentation skills for diverse audiences.
• Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the DDSPM and Communications Leadership Team to scope and execute strategy development for discrete projects and broader areas.
• Translate strategy into clear, actionable plans with defined ownership and timelines.
• Lead qualitative and quantitative analyses to inform decision making and drive outcomes.
• Develop compelling materials and frameworks for leadership review and steering.
• Coordinate cross-divisional work and support annual planning and portfolio management.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Tools

PowerPoint

LLMs

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 Team

The Communications Division, led by the Chief Communications Officer (CCO), oversees the foundation’s global communications strategy. The division unites internal and external communications to advance the foundation’s mission and amplify its impact around the world.

Your Role

The Senior Strategy Officer, Strategy, Planning, and Management is a strategic partner to the Deputy Director, Strategy Planning and Management (DDSPM), and the Communications Leadership Team in their collective efforts to build trust in the Gates Foundation and inspire more people to care about our three goals: ending preventable maternal and child death, eradicating infectious diseases, and getting millions of people out of poverty. You lead high-impact projects and initiatives in collaboration with Directors and Deputy Directors to define and execute on our division’s strategy. You are responsible for shaping and executing strategy efforts, providing strategic thought partnership, materials development, project management, and analytical support. You will be a model of collaboration and do what is needed to provide operational support including input into annual planning processes, ongoing pipeline and portfolio management, reporting of progress towards program goals and bodies of work, and the coordination of work across a global division with communications offices in Europe, Africa, India, and China.

What You’ll Do

Strategy Development and Implementation Partner with the DDSPM and Communications Leadership Team to scope, lead, and execute strategy development for both discrete projects and broader strategic areas of work. You will play an end-to end role – as lead strategist but also facilitating any required processes and developing materials. Support execution of strategies by leading a process translate strategy into clear, actionable plans where everyone knows what they accountable for. Lead ongoing iterative improvement of the strategy – refine approach as learning from early execution; and respond to changes in the internal and external environment. Identify, lead, and support qualitative and quantitative analyses, elevate insights, and outline tradeoffs to drive strategic decision making. Serve as strategic advisor to Communications leaders and teams, challenge our thinking to elevate the rigor in decision making. Develop compelling and clear presentation materials, memos, and frameworks Partner with DDSPM and SPM team on operational model execution and process improvements Partner with directors and deputy directors on special projects or initiatives of cross-cutting importance for the Comms teams (e.g., AI) Flex across the division to take on new projects as needs arise Provide ad-hoc slide development support for CCO priorities Program Management and Planning Provide the Comms leadership team and staff with appropriate business and operational support to deliver on divisional and team goals Support leadership and teams in translating strategy into coherent, prioritized portfolios and investment plans. Consult/strategize with program leadership to maximize impact of investment and financial processes and ensure optimal learning, decision making, and collaboration. Promote efficiency and productivity on the team by providing leadership and support in process and systems development. Design and drive adoption of improved tools, new tools, ways of working, and reporting. Develop trusted relationships and become a model of collaboration with teammates, other Comms teams, and with regional office staff in Washington, DC, Europe, China, India, and Africa. Contribute to cross-foundation initiatives and joint work with Global Policy and Advocacy Develop new ways of tackling challenges via use of AI tools Culture and Collaboration Act as a strong ambassador of the Communications Division and SPM team culture - living our values of collaboration, rigor, innovation, optimism, and inclusion in how work gets done. Foster effective collaboration and team health by strengthening ways of working, surfacing challenges constructively, and supporting an environment of trust, accountability, and continuous learning.

Your Experience

• 7+ years of experience in formal strategy development roles
• A Master's degree or equivalent experience, preferably in management consulting, strategy development, or marketing strategy.
• Mastery-level knowledge of strategy development and ability to coalesce groups around common goals and priorities to drive work forward
• Significant experience leading projects at a premier strategy consulting firm is preferred, but not required.
• Significant experience leading marketing campaign strategy development is preferred, but not required.
• Exceptional design and material development skills in power point and other tools (e.g. LLMs).
• Experience leading program design, results frameworks, measurement, learning & evaluation, scorecards and performance managementis a plus, but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support a wide array of projects to successful conclusion while operating in a dynamic and sometimes ambiguous environment
• Strong presentation skills (both oral and written), with proven ability to adapt tone and style for broad and diverse audiences
• Proven track record working with diplomacy, flexibility, efficiency, cultural sensitivity and savvy across multiple global, matrixed contexts
• A record of getting things done, of driving clarity amid ambiguity, and finding a mutually agreeable path forward out of complicated priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Ability to be creative and successful, both collaboratively and as an independent problem solver.
• Ability to identify, assess, and develop creative solutions to complex strategic and operational challenges.
• Knowledge of communications and advocacy in donor and developing countries contexts for global health and development issues preferred
• *Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role, including direct company sponsorship and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).

#LI-SC2

The salary range for this role is $209,100 to $324,100 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 $190,100 to $394,700 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.