Deputy Director Gates Foundation: Strategy & Implementation

Job Overview

Your Role: Deputy Director, Strategy & Implementation Management (Pathways) at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Are you a senior leader passionate about transforming U.S. education? The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation seeks a Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning & Management (DDSPM) to join their Pathways team in Seattle. In fact, this role is a unique opportunity to tackle complex challenges and create transformational change for students, particularly Black, Latino, and Indigenous students and those from low-income backgrounds. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure they successfully transition from high school to a valuable postsecondary education and career.

What You’ll Do

As a key member of the Pathways leadership team, you will drive strategic and operational planning. To that end, your main responsibilities include:

Lead Strategy & Operations: You will guide strategic and operational planning, thereby ensuring the execution of integrated program areas. This includes overseeing strategic planning, budgeting, portfolio management, and aligning business strategies across the foundation.
Manage Performance & Data: You’ll be responsible for guiding strategy performance management, consequently leveraging data and rapid-cycle learning to inform decisions. You will also develop a portfolio management approach that promotes strong stewardship and risk mitigation.
Develop Talent: This role involves managing direct reports, from the start with hiring and onboarding to professional development. You will foster a culture of feedback, coaching, and accountability and at the same time recognizing accomplishments.
Improve Processes: You will oversee knowledge management and process improvement for the team, for example creating standardized playbooks and championing the use of emerging technologies like AI to improve efficiency.
Provide Grant Support: You will give feedback and advisory support to program teams on the development and management of major grants. Furthermore, you will be responsible for the team’s overall rhythm of business.

Your Experience

The ideal candidate will be a senior leader with at least 10 years of related experience, with a focus on U.S. secondary and/or postsecondary education. In essence, we are looking for someone who excels at the intersection of performance, change management, and education.

Essential qualifications include:

Education: An advanced degree is preferred, however, it is not required if your work experience validates skills in strategy, operations, financials, and people management.
Strategic Knowledge: You must have deep knowledge of strategy development and execution, including designing and monitoring performance management systems.
Portfolio Expertise: You should have a proven ability to design and manage portfolios to create an optimal investment mix and drive outcomes within a large philanthropic organization.
Problem-Solving: You must be skilled at structured problem-solving and strategic business planning, specifically with the ability to easily identify and communicate frameworks for analyzing issues.
Communication & Leadership: Strong written and verbal communication is essential. Ultimately, you must have a demonstrated ability to build consensus and lead teams to achieve complex goals, especially in a matrixed environment.

Deputy Director

Application & Salary for Deputy Director Gates Foundation

This is a fully remote role based in Seattle. It is important to note that the application deadline is Friday, September 12th.

Salary Range: The annual salary is $233,600 to $362,200 USD. As a result, for candidates in Seattle and Washington D.C., the range is $254,700 to $394,700 USD.
Note: New hire salaries are typically between the minimum and midpoint of the range, which depends on your skills and experience.

Apply on the official website

FAQs for Deputy Director Gates Foundation

Is this a fully remote position? Yes, this is a fully remote role, although the position is officially based out of the Seattle office.

What is the application deadline? The application deadline is Friday, September 12th.

What is the salary for this position? The salary range is between $233,600 and $362,200 USD. Consequently, for candidates in Seattle or Washington D.C., the salary range is $254,700 to $394,700 USD.

Do I need an advanced degree to apply? An advanced degree is preferred but not required. In other words, your experience in strategy, operations, financials, and people management may be considered in place of an advanced degree.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. They believe all lives have equal value and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.