Senior Communications Officer, Champion Engagement and Creative Partnerships
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
Full-time 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, oversees the foundation’s global communications strategy. The division brings together internal and external communications to advance the foundation’s mission to create a more equitable world.Application Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026
Your Role
As a Senior Communications Officer, Champion Engagement and Creative Partnerships, you will lead the strategy for identifying, cultivating, and managing high-impact relationships with Goalkeepers cultural champions, including influential artists, creators, and public figures across key markets such as the U.S., U.K., Germany, India, Nigeria, and South Africa. You will design and execute tailored engagement strategies that ensure each partnership is authentic, strategic, and aligned with both the champion’s voice and the mission and values of the foundation and of the Goalkeepers community. This role also oversees creative and media partnerships with these champions, translating these relationships into compelling storytelling and artistic expression through events, digital campaigns, and media collaborations.
The position demands exceptional relationship-building skills, strong creative judgment, and the ability to operate with discretion and professionalism in highly visible environments. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across Goalkeepers, Regional Offices, our Content and Campaigns team, and Global Policy & Advocacy, as well as external media organizations, producers, publicists, talent agencies, and advocacy partners, to deliver cohesive and impactful engagement strategies that resonate with priority audiences.
What You’ll Do
Champion Engagement Strategy
Lead the development and implementation of a champion engagement strategy in priority markets ( (e.g., U.S., U.K., Germany, India, Nigeria, South Africa, etc.).
Identify, recruit, and manage a diverse portfolio of champions including; celebrities, content creators, and cultural leaders whose influence and values align with the Goalkeepers mission.
Design and maintain detailed engagement plans for each champion, outlining objectives, opportunities, key messages, and activation moments across the year.
Design and deliver learning trips for key champions, ensuring a strong learning agenda, including meetings with local partners and experts.
Provide strategic counsel on champion engagement for foundation initiatives and campaigns, ensuring mutual value and authentic representation.
Relationship Management
Build and sustain trusted relationships with champions and their professional teams (agents, managers, publicists, and production partners).
Act as the primary liaison between champions and the foundation, ensuring seamless coordination, clear communication, and high-quality engagement.
Manage communications, logistics, and long-term relationship stewardship with discretion and cultural fluency.
Creative Content and Media Partnerships
Collaborate with creative and content teams to design and deliver storytelling, media, and digital campaigns featuring champions.
Develop creative partnerships with production companies, media outlets, and agencies to amplify champions’ voices and extend Goalkeepers’ reach in donor markets.
Oversee creative deliverables ensuring brand consistency and impact, including videos, interviews, social content, and media collaborations
Event Integration
Integrate champions into major Goalkeepers moments, including the annual event in New York, regional events (e.g., Goalkeepers Lagos), and high-profile donor-market engagements.
Support the planning and execution of champion appearances, panels, and media opportunities.
Collaborate with events and media relations colleagues to ensure aligned storytelling and logistics.
Measurement and Learning
Ensure alignment of champions to audience data by partnering with our Strategy and Insights teams.
Track and analyze the performance and influence of champion activations, assessing reach, resonance, and impact.
Share insights, lessons, and best practices to strengthen the foundation’s global champion engagement strategy.
Your Experience
Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s preferred) in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field.
Significant years of experience in strategic communications, talent relations, or partnership management, ideally within entertainment, philanthropy, or international development.
Proven success building and managing relationships with celebrities, creators, and cultural leaders in the U.S., U.K., and European donor markets.
Experience developing customized engagement strategies and managing high-profile partnerships from concept to activation.
Strong background in creative content development and media partnerships across digital, social, and experiential platforms.
Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills, with sound judgment and discretion.
Deep understanding of global culture, influence dynamics, and media landscapes in donor markets.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
#LI-PA1
The salary range for this role is $212,800 to $329,800 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 $234,000 to $362,800 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
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
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.
