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 mission of the Global Policy and 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.
The North America Team develops and executes policy, advocacy, communications and government relations strategies to build political support and advance domestic and global programmatic priorities that are funded by, or executed within, the United States, Canada, and the United Nations.
Your Role
The Senior Program Officer for Pathways and Data Communications will help achieve the foundationโs goals in U.S. education by developing and deploying sophisticated communications strategies that include media engagement, message development, editorial planning, and content creation, as well as developing and leading all aspects of supporting investments such as advocacy grants and media grants. This role will work closely with foundation leadership voices, grantees, and partners and requires a high level of creativity, critical thinking, and diplomacy. This role sits within the U.S.-focused part of the Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) division and, as such, works closely with federal and state policy-focused program officers. It also serves as the communications partner for two strategies (Pathways and Data) in US Program, a separate division focused on making programmatic investments that move good ideas, practices, and tools forward in the field. This role is at times tasked with using communications tactics to weave together policy priorities and program goals.
What Youโll Do
Coordination and engagement with colleagues across the Foundation, specifically program partners in Pathways and Data strategies, state leads, policy and government relations teams, grantees, and other external partners.
Coordination of communications priorities and activities, maintaining communications calendar and providing progress updates.
Collaboration with colleagues around communications needs and key inflection points tied to policy priorities (such as legislative sessions, research releases, etc.), especially in the foundationโs focus geographies.
Strategic planning and collaboration with earned media lead to advance data and pathways priorities and generate positive coverage.
Develop and lead all aspects of communications grants to advance pathways and data priorities (including grants to nonprofit media outlets, grants to organizations that the foundation wants to empower as messengers, and contracts with service providers, among others) and advise program investments that include communications components.
Creation of written and other materials (e.g., fact sheets, briefings, newsletters, messaging) for internal and external use.
Development of messaging and other support for director speaking and media opportunities.
Generation of creative ideas to amplify the foundationโs data and pathways priorities using a variety of communications tools (e.g., video development, public opinion research, event and conference activation).
Your Experience
We are looking for a skilled communications professional with extensive experience and roots in the education field and with issue-based advocacy and communications. Specifically, the effective candidate will have:
Bachelorโs degree or advanced degree with 7+ years of experience in communications, experience in non-profit, advocacy, or political communications.
Experience working in philanthropy is preferred, as well as experience working on issues such as education pathways and/or data privacy.
Deep understanding, experience and expertise in U.S. education, specifically student transitions between high school and postsecondary education and careers, including a sophisticated understanding of the varied perspectives on related issues at the state and national levels.
Strong experience in communications planning and execution, including materials development.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
Proven expertise in leading sophisticated projects involving multiple partners, completing each in a timely manner with outstanding attention to detail.
Familiarity with education data issues, such as privacy and emerging uses of artificial intelligence.
Familiarity with philanthropy (either as a funder or grant recipient) and with policy and advocacy work, at the state and/or federal level.
Willingness to travel up to 20%.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
#LI-SC2
The salary range for this role is $169,700 to $254,500 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 $185,000 to $277,400 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 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.