Job Description
Senior Program Manager, Program Advocacy and Communications
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA 98109
Division Summary
The mission of the Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division is to understand and shape the public policy debates affecting the foundation's work, build support for its major program and policy objectives, and develop partnerships and alliances that can advance the foundation's objectives nationally and globally. Because the foundation's resources alone are not enough to solve the challenges ahead, GPA also supports advocacy efforts to engage diverse stakeholders and promote innovative solutions that advance our program goals. We work in close partnership with grantees, our colleagues in the Global Health, Global Development, Global Growth & Opportunity, U.S. and Gender Equality programs and Foundation Communications to build the environment in which all people have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.
Group Summary
The Program Advocacy and Communications (PAC) team works in partnership with program teams and other teams in Global Policy and Advocacy to achieve their policy and finance goals by:
Developing and coordinating the execution of advocacy and communications strategies.
Leveraging leadership and foundation voice to implement advocacy strategies.
Developing and managing a grant portfolio dedicated to achieving advocacy outcomes.
Directly advocating with sector leaders, influencers, media and government officials in order to achieve advocacy outcomes.
Leading issue-specific communications in service of advocacy goals.
Developing policy recommendations or proposals in partnership with programmatic and regional offices.
Leadership & Culture
Our culture shapes our choices about what we do and how we do it. We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment can do extraordinary things. We expect foundation employees to intentionally and consistently embody our four agreements; show respect, offer trust, be transparent, and create energy.
We expect foundation leadership to demonstrate our leadership principles & management expectations. As a people leader, you are responsible for:
Creating a culture for impact by shaping an environment where your team thrives, and their unique perspectives and identities are valued
Strategy development, refinement and management to ensure your team goals align with overall foundation strategies
Nurturing people and building great teams by prioritizing collective success, team development, setting expectations and assessing performance
Position Summary
The Senior Program Manager, Program Advocacy and Communications will help to lead, implement, and execute the strategic and operational aspects of the PAC team in close partnership with GPA and PAC leadership. This role also engages effectively at all levels of the organization; collaborate productively with peers, partners, leaders, staff and consultants while exercising sound judgment using influence appropriately to drive work forward. Additionally, the Senior Program Manager is a highly qualified resource available to PAC leadership and program staff on strategy, planning, management, and foundation operations.
Core ResponsibilitiesProgram Management
Provide PAC Deputy Directors with appropriate business and operational support to deliver on team goals.
Collaborate with Deputy Director, SPM and leadership and key stakeholders to design and facilitate key management processes, including annual planning and budgeting, business performance measurement, scorecard management and resource allocation.
Support successful implementation of cross-division efforts in partnership with Global Program Operations.
Partner with GPA Program CFO’s office to support informed strategic investment decisions related to grants and contracts.
Ensure alignment and cohesion across all required tools and annual requirements, including strategy deliverables, investment and portfolio planning, and bodies of work (budget and headcount)
Strategy Development and Implementation
Work closely with the DDSPM and PAC Directors to design and implement PAC strategy evolutions
Work with PAC DDs and POs to refine and strengthen PAC’s PST-facing strategies
Strengthen the consistency, rigor, evaluation and learning of PAC’s Bodies of Work across PAC strategies
People Management
Lead and cultivate a team of 4-5 Senior Program Coordinators
Project Management
Lead large and/or complex projects in support of strategy development, resource allocation (both financial and human), investment management, and business performance management.
Establish and execute work plans, drive and monitor progress against milestones and key decisions, manage stakeholder communications.
Learning and Knowledge Management
Design and lead implementation of business process and system improvements to foster a culture of learning and knowledge sharing on the PAC team
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Serve as an active member of PAC’s DEI Working Group
In partnership with the DDSPM, PAC Leadership Team and DEI Working Group, work to ensure DEI recommendations are embedded into PAC’s strategies, business processes and reporting
Contract Management
Manage contracts that support strategy and program development and implementation.
Cross-team Collaboration
Work closely with GPA leadership, staff and GPA Program CFO’s office.
Coordinate appropriately with regional office staff in Washington, DC, Europe, China, India, and Africa.
Engage daily with partners within and outside of GPA as needed to drive work forward, including Talent Acquisition, Finance, HR, Operations, and IT
Contribute to cross-foundation initiatives in coordination with Program Managers throughout the organization
Position reports to: Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning and Management, PAC
Core Knowledge and Skills
Ability to lead and support a wide array of projects to successful conclusion while operating in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment
Excellent communication skills (both written and oral), with demonstrated ability to adapt tone and style for broad and diverse audiences
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; empower teammates and colleagues to understand seemingly complex information to increase capacity and improve effective engagement across the division
Ability to be creative and successful both collaboratively and as an independent thinker.
Ability to identify, assess, and develop creative solutions to complex strategic and operational challenges.
Strong people / team management skills
Strong analytical and organizational skills, confidence, versatility and initiative
Ability to navigate a wide range of operational issues including, legal, IT issues, financial, HR
Ability to work well with a wide range of internal and external partners to incorporate new information and work towards appropriate decisions with and for the team
Knowledge of strategy development and implementation and interest in helping to build the processes, systems, and strategy to improve program impact
Experience leading organizations through change; understanding of change management approaches with a focus on continuous improvement frameworks and methods to facilitate optimal outcomes
Experience with program design, results frameworks, MLE, scorecards and performance management
Knowledge of policy development and advocacy in donor and developing countries contexts for global health and development issues preferred
Willingness to travel up to 10%.
Education and Experience
At least 7-10 years of progressive broad operational experience, including in the areas of strategy, planning, project management, human resources management
Master’s in business administration, public policy, public affairs or equivalent experience in global health/development preferred
Management consulting experience preferred
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
#LI-TO1
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve the mission of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to:
Race
Color
Age
Religion
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