Senior Strategy Officer, AI Initiatives, Foundation Strategy Office LTE 2 Years
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 Foundation Strategy Office is the primary function supporting the creation and evolution of our program level strategies, as well as exploring new paths to impact that align with our mission. This includes supporting the CEO, CFO and Chief Strategy Officer in key accountabilities including strategy development, strategy revision, strategy performance measurement, portfolio management, and special initiatives to accelerate the impact of the foundation.Your Role
The Senior Strategy Officer will serve as a strategic advisor to the members of the AI Steering Committee, the Strategy Committee Chair and the Deputy Director of AI Strategy and Leadership Advising. You are responsible for senior stakeholder engagement and leadership support, AI strategy development and cross-foundation AI coordination. You will translate a fast-moving external AI landscape into clear strategic frameworks and programmatic principles to inform foundation work. You will report to the Deputy Director for AI Strategy And Leadership Advising and collaborate closely with program strategy teams across the foundation.
What You'll Do
AI Strategy Development & Analysis
Track evolution and development of AI dimensions of programmatic strategies and provide analytical support to equip the AI SC Chair and members for effective internal and external engagement on the topic
Lead Ad hoc cross-foundational AI strategy projects as they arise from the AI SC priorities
Liaise with internal clients to co-develop/test strategy concepts and facilitate change management.
Stakeholder Engagement & Senior Leadership Support
Prepare strategic materials and briefings for senior leadership engagement on AI topics
Support the material preparation and progress of the AI SC
Support the AI SC chair and secretariat leadership in translating committee decisions into actionable workplans, tracking progress and escalating issues as needed
Serve as a thought partner to program strategy teams navigating AI-related questions in their domains and help them connect programmatic needs with the foundation’s broader AI strategy
Cross-Foundation AI Best Practices Identification
Support the design and implementation of key principles for cross-foundation AI initiatives to inform AI-grant making and partner selection
Develop and maintain internal public goods and evergreen assets that support the foundation’s AI engagement such as identification and evaluation of potential AI concepts for external co-funding and partnership engagement resources
Your Experience
A Master’s degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in business, economics, or science.
Significant experience working in a progressive capacity leading projects at a top-tier strategy consulting firm, in corporate strategy, or product management.
Significant experience in structured problem solving and strategic business planning, including the ability to identify and communicate frameworks, facilitate strategy creation, and analyze core issues.
Demonstrated ability to rapidly develop working fluency in new technical domains. Prior AI/ML expertise is not required but candidates with this expertise will be given preference. Comfort with engaging in technical concepts, evaluating emerging technology landscapes and translating technical developments into strategic implications is key.
Significant experience pattern matching and synthesizing cross-cutting themes across a wide variety of domains areas (i.e., health, economics, advocacy, organizational dynamics).
Significant experience communicating with a broad and diverse audience, including the ability to work with sensitivity across potential barriers such as language and distance.
Significant experience preparing materials for and engaging with senior executives and board-level stakeholders, including the ability to distill complex or ambiguous topics into decision-ready formats.
Mastery level knowledge of end-to-end complex project management, including process design, team structure, critical thinking requirements, development of novel communication resources, and external/senior partner engagement.
Mastery level knowledge of data analysis and visualization, including the ability to visually use data to create persuasive narratives and novel insights.
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 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.
#LI-AK1
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.
