Senior Officer, Strategy & Implementation Management (11 month LTE)
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 Business Operations division executes on several enabling capabilities that maintain the foundation’s operational infrastructure and programmatic impact. We strive to enable the foundation’s mission- and impact-driven work by maintaining an efficient, well-run global organization where employees can thrive and make their best contributions. Our goal is to provide innovative and scalable solutions to support the overall priorities, allocation, and leadership agenda with the highest standards of integrity and operational excellence. The division comprises Information Technology (IT); Global Workplace Services (GWS); and the Office of the COO (OCOO) inclusive of Global Business Design and Strategy, Planning and Management functions.Your Role
The Senior Officer, Strategy & Implementation Management, will join a small and mighty team while playing a critical role in supporting department strategy updates and reviews, portfolio execution, and pipeline management. This is a cross-functional role requiring systems & process-thinking, project management, organizational savvy, analytical expertise and multi-level proactive engagement. You are an organized, creative, thoughtful, and curious driver who identifies as a problem solver, trusted partner, key advisor to leadership, and subject matter expert in overall planning, communications, change management, and operational effectiveness. This role reports to the GWS department in the Business Operations division and will work in a hybrid arrangement from our Seattle, WA office, with an expectation of in-office engagement at least 50% of the month.
What You’ll Do
Strategy & Rhythms of Business
Own and lead GWS rhythms of business, including annual planning, budget development, business and portfolio reviews, and financial reporting, ensuring processes are coordinated, timely, and decision-ready.
Lead execution of the department’s annual planning process, aligning timelines, inputs, and communication across GWS teams and in partnership with FP&A and HR.
Maintain and evolve rhythms of business tools and documentation—including Airtable databases, dashboards, and portfolio trackers—ensuring inputs from GWS teams are coordinated and tools reflect current priorities, progress, and decision-making needs.
Prepare and synthesize materials for leadership discussions and reviews, ensuring information is clear, accurate, and actionable.
AI Program Management
Assume full ownership of the GWS AI workstream upon conclusion of the current LTE engagement, ensuring continuity across backlog management, governance processes, engineering coordination, and tool deployment.
Provide day-to-day project management oversight for engineering consulting resources, tracking milestones, leading scope, and ensuring deliverables align with defined user needs, timelines, and quality expectations.
Coordinate quarterly AI learning and development sessions for GWS in partnership with Interact, supporting topic selection, planning, and execution to enable practical and responsible adoption across the department.
Stay informed on emerging AI capabilities relevant to workplace services and surface actionable opportunities to improve workflows, operational efficiency, and service delivery.
Cross-Team Collaboration & Process Improvement
Identify cross-team dependencies and support alignment across GWS functional areas to reduce duplication, clarify ownership, and improve coordination.
Lead targeted process improvement efforts, documenting workflows, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and supporting implementation of updated tools or operating procedures.
Support change management activities related to new processes or tools, ensuring collaborators are informed, trained, and equipped for successful adoption.
Engage with the foundation’s SPM community to stay aligned on standards, share relevant findings, and apply guidelines within GWS operations.
Communication & Team Enablement
Facilitate core GWS communication forums, including leadership meetings, team updates, and divisional touchpoints, ensuring agendas, materials, and follow-ups are clear and well-coordinated.
Draft and distribute concise communications, summaries, and briefing materials to support leadership alignment and stakeholder awareness.
Support inclusive participation in planning and operational discussions by ensuring materials are accessible, decision pathways are clear, and next steps are documented.
Your Experience:
We seek experienced professionals with demonstrated ability to support strategy and operations at large organizations. Additional experience, knowledge and skills desired include:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent demonstrated experience. Advanced degree preferred.
7+ years of progressive experience in strategy, planning, operations, program management, or a related field within a complex or matrixed organization.
Demonstrated success designing and driving organizational rhythms of business—annual planning, strategy reviews, business reviews, and leadership communications.
Experience leading or managing AI, technology, or digital transformation initiatives, including backlog management, vendor/consultant oversight, and governance.
Strong financial acumen including budget development, financial analysis, and resource allocation.
Proven ability to manage complex, cross-functional projects from strategic planning through execution.
Skilled at building relationships and influencing stakeholders across organizational boundaries without direct reporting lines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complexity into clear, actionable frameworks and recommendations.
Demonstrated expertise in change management, including both theoretical frameworks and practical application in complex organizational settings.
Comfort operating in ambiguity and shifting priorities; able to balance multiple initiatives and meet demanding timelines.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $190,100 - 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 HR@gatesfoundation.org 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.
