The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Pacific Northwest (PNW) strategy is rooted in the belief that race, gender and income should not be the determinants of success in life. The Senior Program Officer for the Washington State Strategy (WSS) on the PNW team will be part of a regional strategy focused on narrowing and closing achievement gaps - with primary emphasis aimed at seven school districts in King County, WA. We believe that gaps in outcomes for low-income children and children of color in Pre-K to 5th grade will be substantially narrowed if they are supported in an integrated and coordinated way by skilled and aligned adults who work together in support of their education and growth.
As the Senior Program Officer (SPO), you will support the development and execution of the WSS strategy aimed at integrated student supports in selected elementary schools in South King County, WA. You will contribute heavily to the execution of the strategy, support the management of the WSS team and learnings internally, coordinate the activities of an external steering committee and manage a small portfolio of investments.
- Partner with the Deputy Director to develop and implement a strategic framework, objectives, and outcome measures across all initiatives supporting the WSS.
- Provide strategy and team management support in partnership with the Deputy Director and support the team’s annual review process.
- Make and Manage Investments:
- Consult with grantees and other partners to maximize impact of projects and ensure grants are meeting strategy goals. This may include: site visits, providing operational guidance and convening meetings of key stakeholders.
- Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals; provide clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding, including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for review by foundation leadership.
- Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting. Improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Represent the foundation to key program-related external constituencies, as appropriate, on committees related to area of expertise and responsibilities of the position.
- Responsible for high-quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field. Represent the foundation as a thought leader in the education innovation community through active strategic relationship development, speaking, and engaging in industry activities
- Consult and provide thought partnership with grantees and partners to maximize impact of projects and ensure optimal learning. This may include preparation for Program Officer & leadership site visits, development of materials, and convening meetings of key stakeholders.
- Contribute to the design of new strategies, collaborations and implementation plans to ensure long-term sustainability and impact, including tight collaboration with staff leading measurement, learning and evaluation activities and staff leading policy, advocacy and communications activities.
- Work with the Deputy Director to serve as point of contact and manage all activities of the WSS Steering Committee
We are looking for people who enjoy the opportunity of working on complex education and community issues and collectively creating solutions that have the potential for transformative change. You must be prepared to work with flexibility, efficiency and diplomacy in an exciting, challenging environment. The responsibilities of this role require that you should have some demonstrated experience in the following areas: critical issues in education, and management of all aspects of the grant and portfolio life cycle; including pre-development (making new grants), development (managing multi-year grants), post-development (dissemination, scale and disposition of grants in portfolio). Additionally, we seek:
- Strong analytic skills, a high degree of intellectual curiosity, and the ability to engage with other senior leaders in addressing complex issues.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and a penchant for data-supported and fact-based solutions.
- It is critical this person can meet challenges head on and the agility to deal with the unexpected.
- Commitment to our four agreements is critically important and includes trust, respect for colleagues and partners positive energy, a deep sense of community, and an enduring commitment to quality.
- Ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships with integrity are qualities of great importance.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills effective with a broad and diverse audience, including senior-level executives and delivering presentations.
- Strong program management and strategic mindset
- Strong ability to integrate thinking, consider options, and understand trade-offs when making decisions.
- Project management skills, such as scoping and organizing work, clarifying roles, motivating others, and tracking progress.
- Ability to negotiate and mediate, in ways that build and reinforce transparency and trust.