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, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The Team
The mission of the Global Policy & 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.
The Philanthropic Partnerships team (PPT) works to mobilize resources and build the next generation of champions for global health and development (GH&D), ensuring that philanthropy helps the world’s most vulnerable children survive and thrive. Alongside this, we help advance Philanthropy and grow giving around the world, strengthening the broader philanthropic ecosystem through issue agnostic communities such as The Giving Pledge.
Over the next five years, the majority of our work will focus on mobilizing resources for priorities of GH&D, including: expanding our approaches and partnerships to unlock more capital; growing our work across global regions; and cultivating the next generation of GH&D champions - while continuing to strengthen philanthropic ecosystems and grow giving globally.
Your Role
The Communications Officer will lead external communications for the Philanthropic Partnerships Team (PPT), helping to shape and share the team’s story with global audiences. In this role, you’ll craft key narratives, drive media engagement, and manage high-impact storytelling across platforms, initiatives, and regions.
You will collaborate with colleagues across the foundations, especially in the Communications Division, as well as with external vendors and agencies. You’ll work closely with the Audience Engagement Officer to ensure public-facing messages are aligned with partner-facing narratives and timelines.
*Reporting to the Deputy Director of Shared Services, this position is a limited-term position for 11 months. Relocation will not be provided. Our preference is for this role to be based in Seattle, WA. In some instances we are open to hiring a US-domestic remote based employee. International remote outside of the US is not possible.
*Application deadline - Noon, Pacific Time (US), Monday, June 15, 2026
What You'll Do
Develop and drive PPT’s external communications strategy as a whole and for individual initiatives, providing strategic direction and serving as the lead communications thought partner for PPT program staff.
Lead communications for the Giving Pledge, including the development and implementation of its communications strategy and associated collateral and resources.
Serve as a strategic advisor and communications resource for PPT leadership. Develop leadership briefs, talking points, and preparation materials for media opportunities and high-visibility engagements. Coordinate across the foundation and private offices on the use of leadership voice on philanthropy issues.
Oversee media relations for PPT and in support of foundation’s use of leadership voice on issues in philanthropy. Develop messaging and support for speaking and media opportunities. Work closely with the foundation’s communications earned media lead to respond to media inquiries and develop proactive media engagement opportunities.
Partner with PPT Audience Engagement lead to develop core communications materials and collateral (e.g., newsletters, key messages and Q&A, website copy, brochures, video content, and briefing materials).
Support PPTs work globally, including in the US, India, China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, working in close coordination with the foundation’s regional communications teams.
Partner with the foundation’s Insights team on measurement and evaluation to track the public dialogue on philanthropy and to assess the impact of PPT’s external communications tactics. Use data and insights to refine strategy and demonstrate the value of communications investments.
Manage grants and contracts to advance program priorities and inform program investments with communications components. Manage external agencies, consultancies, and vendors to assist with key workstreams.
Support inclusive culture through modeling behaviors and actions; escalate issues in a timely fashion to appropriate stakeholders.
Your Experience
Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience in communications, journalism, public policy, or a related field; or equivalent demonstrated experience.
Experience developing and implementing communications strategies for large and/or complex organizations or initiatives, with a strong track record of translating complex ideas into clear and compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complexity and manage competing priorities across multiple diverse stakeholder groups, including senior leadership, program teams, grantees, and external partners.
Comfort working with and preparing high-profile principals and senior executives for media opportunities and public engagements.
Demonstrated understanding of the philanthropic sector, including donor behavior and the role of communications in advancing philanthropic goals. A preference exists for candidates with prior knowledge of, employment with, or consultation to the Gates Foundation or a related family office or entity.
*Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. This includes direct company sponsorship and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (eg: H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).
The salary range for this role is $143,000 to $214,400 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle, WA and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $157,300 to $235,900 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 candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.
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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
We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact HR@gatesfoundation.org with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.
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 — of voices, ideas, and approaches — 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.
