Senior Program Officer, Program Advocacy and Communications, Malaria

$166,300 - $249,500/Yr

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Seattle, WA

Full-time - Senior

Seattle, WA

251-500 employees

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) for Program Advocacy and Communications (PAC) at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will lead the global advocacy strategy for Malaria. This role is pivotal in refining, implementing, and evaluating advocacy and communications strategies that align with the foundation's Malaria strategies. The SPO will engage with policy and financing agencies globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America, to support the foundation's mission of reducing the malaria burden in high-burden countries and those nearing malaria elimination. The SPO will work closely with the PAC Malaria team and other program teams to ensure that advocacy efforts are synergistic with the foundation's broader strategies, including research and development for vector control, malaria chemoprevention, and treatment. In this role, the SPO will be responsible for developing and managing a grant portfolio aimed at achieving advocacy outcomes, directly advocating with sector leaders, influencers, media, and government officials. The SPO will also lead issue-specific communications to support advocacy goals and develop policy recommendations in collaboration with programmatic and regional offices. The position requires a strong understanding of the global health landscape, particularly the dynamics of malaria and related infectious diseases, and the ability to build partnerships across various sectors to enhance the foundation's impact. The SPO will also participate in cross-PAC efforts to enhance integration and accelerate impact, ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are prioritized in all initiatives. This role demands excellent project management skills, the ability to synthesize complex information, and a commitment to fostering collaborative relationships within and outside the foundation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global PAC strategy for Malaria, refining, implementing, and evaluating advocacy and communications strategies.
• Engage with policy and financing agencies globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America.
• Develop and manage a grant portfolio dedicated to achieving advocacy outcomes.
• Directly advocate with sector leaders, influencers, media, and government officials to achieve advocacy outcomes.
• Lead issue-specific communications in service of advocacy goals.
• Develop policy recommendations or proposals in partnership with programmatic and regional offices.
• Conceptualize and lead high-impact partnerships, grants, coalitions, and advocacy campaigns.
• Serve as a point of contact on strategy and portfolio for internal and external partners.
• Represent the foundation and its strategies to external constituencies through presentations and meetings.
• Identify and assess key risks at the portfolio level; develop and manage mitigation and contingency plans.
• Consult with partners regularly to maximize project impact and ensure optimal learning.
• Write and produce clear, concise, and insightful briefings, reports, and other materials on key issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, international relations, public health, development, or a related field.
• Significant (10+) years of progressive senior-level experience leading advocacy strategies in global health and development.
• Experience working on advocacy globally and in partnership with organizations in donor countries and in high infectious disease burden regions.
• Understanding of the issues driving the Malaria epidemics and broader global health issues.
• Experience designing and leading resource mobilization strategies and initiatives is desirable.
• Understanding of bilateral and multilateral institutions and mechanisms related to global health funding.
• Proven ability to provide vision and influence others constructively while building collaborative relationships.
• Outstanding project and team leadership skills, including strategy development and execution.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to synthesize information for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing a grants portfolio with direct responsibility for grant making and management.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience developing and managing complex projects and/or grants in support of policy initiatives and advocacy programs.
• Experience working in an environment with ambiguity while helping teams adapt to change.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.
• Generous paid time off.
• Paid family leave.
• Foundation-paid retirement contribution.
• Regional holidays.
• Opportunities to engage in several employee communities.