Senior Program Officer Digital Public Infrastructure

Job Overview

Senior Program Officer, Digital Public Infrastructure – Seattle, WA

Apply now to join a leading nonprofit fighting for a more equitable world. Senior Program Officer

Are you a technical expert in digital public goods with a passion for global development? The Gates Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer to lead the global scaling and evolution of digital identity technologies. This is a unique opportunity to use your skills to drive impact for marginalized populations worldwide. The position is based in Seattle, WA, and therefore offers relocation assistance.

About the Organization & Team

The Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. We operate on a simple premise: everyone, regardless of circumstance, should have the chance to live a healthy, productive life. In addition, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees can thrive.

The Global Growth & Opportunity (GGO) division works to drive sustainable change. For this reason, our team focuses on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), aiming to enable an inclusive, equitable, and technology-led model for digital transformation. We believe that foundational digital building blocks like identity, payments, and data-sharing—combined with strong governance and a collaborative community—can consequently accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Your Role

As the Senior Program Officer on the DPI team, you will report to the Deputy Director, DPI Scaling and Innovation. In this role, you will lead the global scaling and evolution of digital identity technologies. Consequently, you will focus on delivering impact for vulnerable populations through platforms based on open-source and open-standards principles.

A core aspect of your role will be advancing open ecosystems to foster the development of digital public goods. These efforts will aim to create sustainable and adaptable technologies that improve the delivery of products and services for low-income populations by lowering costs and opening new opportunities. Therefore, you will collaborate closely with internal teams, governments, academia, and civil society to build a robust ecosystem for digital identity solutions.

Senior Program Officer

What You’ll Do

Develop & Execute Strategy: First, you will design and implement global strategies to scale digital identity technologies.
Make & Manage Investments: Furthermore, you will develop a portfolio of grants and contracts to achieve programmatic goals.
Mitigate Risks: In addition, you will develop strategies to increase the privacy and security of digital infrastructure and address potential risks of exclusion and misuse.
Drive Innovation: Next, you will identify and implement new use cases and emerging technologies that advance digital identity systems.
Build Partnerships: You will foster relationships with governments, multilateral organizations, and private sector partners to co-develop solutions and drive global adoption.
Build Capacity: Moreover, you will strengthen the capabilities of local institutions in low-resource geographies by providing technical assistance and supporting knowledge transfer.
Travel: Finally, you must be able to travel up to 30% of the time, both domestically and internationally.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking a candidate who has a deep technical understanding of digital technologies and a proven ability to lead complex projects at scale.

Your Experience

Advanced Degree: You must have a graduate degree in a relevant field such as engineering, computer science, or a related physical science.
Technology Scaling Expertise: You must have proven experience in designing, prototyping, and deploying digital systems. We highly prefer private sector experience in leading large teams and projects.
Global Perspective: We strongly prefer professional or lived experience in low-income or lower-middle-income countries.
Strategic Thinking: You must have the ability to conceptualize, create, and implement strategies in complex, dynamic environments.
Cybersecurity & Privacy: You must have demonstrated knowledge of cybersecurity and privacy best practices.
Partnership Development: You must have proven success in building and managing partnerships across diverse groups.

Important Details for Senior Program Officer

Location: We have based this position in our headquarters in Seattle, WA. Relocation assistance is available for U.S. work-authorized candidates not currently residing in Seattle.
Salary: The salary range for this role is $185,000 to $277,400 USD. New hire salaries are typically between the range minimum and the midpoint.
Application Deadline: We are accepting applications until 5 PM, Pacific Time on Monday, September 15, 2025.
Work Authorization: You must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

Apply on the official website

FAQs for Senior Program Officer

Q1: What is Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)?A: DPI refers to foundational digital building blocks such as identity, payments, and data-sharing, along with the governance and community needed to support them. The goal is to create scalable, inclusive, and equitable digital systems for public benefit.

Q2: Is relocation assistance provided?A: Yes, relocation assistance is available for U.S. work-authorized candidates not currently residing in Seattle, WA.

Q3: What is the salary for this role?A: The salary range for this position is between $185,000 and $277,400 USD. New hire salaries are typically set between the range minimum and midpoint, based on experience.

Q4: Is visa sponsorship available?A: No, you must be able to legally work in the United States without requiring visa sponsorship.