The Development Policy & Finance team (DPAF) sits within the Global Policy & Advocacy division and works together with Gates Foundation programs to ensure global resources are raised and spent effectively to support the needs of the world’s poorest people. DPAF aims to be a hub for creative analysis and ideas to modernize aid and multilateral development banking, and to support developing countries to raise and spend their own resources effectively to achieve their human development goals. The team uses a combination of grant making, direct advocacy and partnership to achieve its goals.
The Development Policy & Finance team has an opening for two Senior Program Officers, our most senior technical roles. SPOs are responsible for leading work in a particular area of team strategy, by contributing deep subject matter expertise and designing then leading complex grants and partnerships to advance team goals. These are deeply substantive roles but their purpose is entirely applied, shaping the practice of the foundation and/or our partners. We are currently looking for SPOs with expertise, network and passion to advance practice in one and preferably more of the following areas:
- Applied economic policy analysis supporting foundation sector work, especially connecting our micro work (in health, agricultural productivity, financial inclusion, sanitation) to macro policy and economic growth questions;
- Country economics focused on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, especially macro-fiscal issues including revenue prospects, debt, capital markets development, and other salient issues related to fiscal space and public finance;
- International development finance, including policy issues arising from trends in aid and multilateral funding, and experience designing and executing effective financing structures particularly in sectors of interest to the foundation.
The SPO is responsible for advancing supportive policies and effective financing for foundation programs, by:
- Designing, planning, and leading a portfolio of grants to advance knowledge, test policy solutions and implement new practice in the areas described above
- Serving as the internal subject matter specialist on areas above, and collaborating with teams across the foundation on technical and operational intersections to advance program work
- Cultivating a set of external relationships to identify partners and build technical, political or advocacy collaborations to advance the work;
- Reviewing submitted (or soliciting) concept notes and grant proposals; providing clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding; assessing progress of existing grants for review by foundation leadership
- Consulting with grantees to achieve desired impact of grants; conducting site visits, providing technical mentorship, convening meetings, and applying and evaluating milestone-based performance objectives
- Preparing and writing briefs synthesizing current practice and knowledge and/or recommending course of action on key topics of relevance to foundation; continuing to learn and maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the trends and drivers of areas above
- Representing the foundation externally on matters relevant to body of work
Our ideal candidates will combine technical knowledge, political savvy, creativity, excellent project management and a good dose of self-motivation. They may have:
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and implement exceptionally, translating research and ideas to ‘fundable’ proposals, advocacy and action
- Flexible mindset interested in connecting multiple disparate fields, adaptable to different contexts and audiences, and stimulated by that variety
- Strong relationships with relevant authorities and policymakers around the world, including direct policy work with governments in Africa or South Asia
- A sense of humor and a “campaign mentality” i.e. no job too big, small or hard
- Demonstrated critical and creative thinking, and excellent writing and public presentation skills – all on complex and deeply technical topics
- Proven ability to move significant issues successfully across large institutions, various levels of staff and different cultural contexts
- Proven ability as team player defined as someone who shares ideas generously, adjusts flexibly to changes in context, and is motivated to act with some urgency
- Ability to travel up to 1/3 time domestically and internationally