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, weโre committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The TeamThe Office of the CEO serves to support the institutional responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer for The Gates Foundation as well as directly supporting the CEO as they execute those responsibilities.
This position is a limited-term position for 11 months. Relocation will not be provided.
Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm PDT on January 16, 2026
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 embody our four agreements intentionally and consistently; show respect, offer trust, be transparent, and create energy.
Your Role
The Program Officer has primary responsibility for leading and steering the planning process for their assigned Chair and CEO engagements and trips, managing their schedules for these engagements on behalf of the foundation, and guiding them through the activities within the trip. The role works with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistently successful outcomes for all external engagements at the highest level of foundation leadership.
This includes working with foundation teams to successfully plan and execute activities; advancing locations domestically and internationally; representing the foundation externally with partners; acting as liaison between the foundation, private offices and personal offices to ensure proposed activities are feasible from an operational, security, contextual, and principal preference perspective.
Core Responsibilities
Lead the planning and execution of foundation Chair and CEO domestic and international trips. As such, plan, lead, handle, and execute activities in support of and following leadership trips (i.e., internal planning meetings, coordination with internal and external partners, advance trips, correspondence, debrief/feedback sessions).
Serve as trip director for the Chair and CEO ensuring that their time is well spent and their needs (e.g. briefing/intelligence, preparation time, and other) are met.
This role is responsible for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with external stakeholders from affiliated entities (Gates Ventures, etc.), grantees, government officials and other partners. As well as for cultivating decisions, communication, and analysis pertaining to the planning and execution of trips with internal partners.
Collaborate with the Chair security team, foundation security, and private travel offices to ensure efficient operations, specifically with issues of overlapping relevance (e.g. risk assessments, reputation, logistics, travel schedules, operational security etc.).
Participate in special projects for the SP&E team and OCEO as needed.
Coordinate with other members of OCEO to ensure a cohesive and aligned set of activities across internal and external engagements for CEO trips.
Your Experience
We are looking for a specialist in executive advocacy and leadership logistics. Specifically, the successful candidate will have:
4+ years of experience in policy, advocacy or communications work with government, multilateral organizations, and/or NGO/civil society organizations with shown success in supporting leadership roles and high-profile initiatives.
Experience with, and knowledge of high-profile event and trip planning as a disciplineโincluding virtual and hybrid events. Experience with staffing high-profile principals is beneficial.
Excellent time management, project management, and interpersonal skills with demonstrated effectiveness and interest in leading and coordinating across a variety of disciplines in complex organizations.
Strong analytical, writing, editing, and verbal skills for communicating with diverse range of stakeholders.
Ability to credibly convene and influence diverse partners, filter information, frame issues, and facilitate high-quality decision-making around multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
A deep commitment to the overall mission of the foundation, its programs, and an approach consistent with the foundationโs guiding principles. Committed to delivering results against the mission and holds self to the highest ethical standards.
Demonstrated critical thinking and business judgment; able to work with efficiency & diplomacy, and able to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
Ability to work effectively and thoughtfully across barriers such as language, culture, and distance.
Intellectual curiosity and proven ability to solve complex problems.
International, particularly developing country, work experience is strongly preferred.
Microsoft Office proficiency.
Ability to travel up to 50% domestically and internationally; valid driving license preferred.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $152,800 - $229,200 USD (Seattle). 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 candidateโs 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
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
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 โ of voices, ideas, and approaches โ 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.