The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Pacific Northwest (PNW) strategy is rooted in a commitment to the belief that race, gender and income should not be the determinants of success in life. The Senior Program Officer for Early Learning on the PNW team will be part of a national strategy focused on improving quality in early learning - with primary emphasis aimed at three states: Washington, Oregon and Tennessee. While there is substantial evidence of the benefits of high quality early education, few states have built state-administered systems that have both broad access and high quality. The strategy is focused on helping build state systems that effectively support leaders and teachers continuously improve their practice and generate positive impact on low-income students and students of color.
The Senior Program Officer, Pacific Northwest (PNW) is responsible for supporting the strategic and operational aspects of the Early Learning team including oversight of strategic planning, annual planning and budgeting, ongoing pipeline and portfolio management, business analysis and the coordination of business strategies across the Foundation.
- Solely, and/or indirectly lead a team to develop, manage and implement project strategies. Negotiate, execute, and manage complex, performance-based contracts/grants and portfolio of grants.
- Work on complex matters or unique issues of early learning and/or scaling and spreading early learning education reform policy & practices to strategic locations.
- Decide (a) who/when to approach external stakeholders to develop grant opportunities or to form strategic partnerships; (b) the crafting of grant opportunities within the boundaries of the Foundation's strategic priorities; (c) how funding should be allocated within the grant-making/contract pipeline; and (d) the content of external convenings.
- Solicit and 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 existing grants for review by Foundation leadership.
- Serve as point of contact on portfolio-related issues for key stakeholders.
- 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.
- Manage internal processes and progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting.
- 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.
- Maintain high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field.
We are looking for people who enjoy the opportunity of working on complex problems 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 and environment. The responsibilities of this role require that you should have some demonstrated experience in the following areas: critical issues in early learning (0-8), 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:
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills effective with a broad and diverse audience, including senior level executives and delivering presentations.
- Ability to be highly effective while managing shifting internal expectations.
- Strong program management and strategic thinking skills.
- Strong ability to integrate thinking, consider options, and understand trade-offs when making decisions.
- Prioritize and manage large amounts of information relevant to the work.
- Ability to work with a variety of local, state, and federal entities and grantees.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are paramount.
- Ability to engage in honest and open intellectual dialogue that strengthens the work in a manner that is constructive and leads to stronger relationships.
- 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.
Education and Experience
- Experience working in or closely with a school district, state education agency or charter management organization is preferred.