Job Information
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Program Officer, Inclusive Instant Payment Systems in Seattle, Washington
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
Division Summary: Global Growth and Opportunity
The Foundation partners with people and organizations worldwide, through grant making, to tackle critical problems across various program areas and divisions. Our Global Growth & Opportunity (GGO) Division focuses on creating and scaling market-based innovations to stimulate inclusive and sustainable economic growth. GGO focuses on the areas of Agricultural Development, Global Education, Inclusive Financial Systems (IFS), Nutrition, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WSH). We believe that people are poor because markets do not work for them, and we promote innovative products and policies that can break down barriers to economic opportunity, help people lift themselves out of poverty, and deliver sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits everyone.
Team Summary: Inclusive Financial Systems
The Inclusive Financial Systems (IFS) team believes that valuable, low-cost financial products have the potential to offer a pathway out of poverty, and that digital financial systems can enable the private sector’s delivery of such products to the poor sustainably and at scale. IFS supports the buildout of inclusive digital financial services (DFS) systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by (i) enabling the right policy and regulatory environment, (ii) supporting the implementation of inclusive digital payments systems, (iii) driving scale and economic sustainability by promoting pro-poor use cases; and (iv) closing the gender gap in the usage of formal financial products.
Your Role
We are seeking a Program Officer to support the implementation of inclusive digital payments with a primary focus on Africa, under the Global Scale initiative. Our goal is that by 2030 all 54 African countries implement an Inclusive Instant Payment System (IIPS).
The role will focus on:
Communications and Advocacy
Partnership Development
Grantmaking/Investing for Impact
This role functions as an integral team member with two other existing Global Scale team members including the Senior Program Officer leading IFS’s Pan-African and Global Scale Strategy and the Program Officer focused on strategic regional deployments and partners.
This role reports to the Deputy Director, Payment Systems. The role does not have a people management responsibility, but does works across the Payments initiative, the larger Inclusive Financial Systems team, and our external partners.
This role is a full-time position with benefits, based in Seattle, WA. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for this position.
Applications accepted until 5 PM US Pacific Time on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
What You'll Do
Communications and Advocacy (40% of time)
Establish and manage a deployment dashboard tracking status progress of Instant and Inclusive Payment system (IIPS) deployments across Africa in collaboration with our key partners (AfricaNenda, Mojaloop Foundation and World Bank).
Develop and apply communications tools and collaterals on Digital Payment Infrastructure and Digital Public Goods that can be used by internal and external advocacy champions and partners in support of the Scale Africa sub-initiative.
Prepare and write briefs and synthesize existing literature.
Provide written analysis of key topics for foundation management.
Knowledge Management lead for Digital Payment Infrastructure team
Partnership Development (30% of time)
Contribute to the communications program of key partners in deployment projects as well as continental policy alignment for universal IIPS access.
Lead and manage the annual i2 Partners Convening in Africa and elsewhere.
Contribute to highlighting the work and progress of old and new partners to include the private sector actors who participate in IIPS schemes and develop products and services that reach and serve the newly banked population of Africa.
Grantmaking/Investing for Impact (20% of time)
Assists with the design, implementation, and management of an investment portfolio in support of the Scale Africa strategy and in close collaboration with existing PO’s.
Gains clarity between the foundation and partners on a shared set of outcomes.
Review expressions of interest, concept notes 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.
Consult with grantees to achieve desired impact of grants.
Conducts site visits when appropriate.
Provide technical guidance to regional grantees, convene meetings, and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives.
Supporting the Pan-African Strategy (5% of time)
Support and works closely with team members responsible for developing and advancing the Pan-African and Global Scale Strategy
Develop messaging that integrates national, regional & pan-African projects for advancing the pan-African strategy
Leading self & others (5% of time)
Communicates complex information and concepts simply
Sets high goals for accomplishment
Works independently to meet or exceed goals while deriving satisfaction from that achievement and continuous improvement
Works effectively with team to execute a strategy with guidance on expected results
Additionally
- Ability to travel 30% domestically and internationally.
Your Experience
Master’s degree in international development, development finance, communications,
Two to three years’ experience and strong knowledge in communications, Digital Financial Services, Instant and Inclusive Payment Systems.
Demonstrated deep knowledge and insight on the role of digital technologies in women’s economic empowerment in Africa.
Candidates with lived experience in Africa strongly preferred.
Effective collaborator in complex internal/external orgs with demonstrable teamwork skills
Leadership abilities to work with multiple partners, including government, other donors, grantees to create a common vision and visualize simple and effective but implementable solutions to complex problems.
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.
Strong understanding of shaping and leading sustainable and scalable ventures.
Strong analytical, writing, and verbal skills to communicate with a broad and diverse audience.
Extensive project management experience.
Works with efficiency and diplomacy.
French and English language proficiency preferred.
*Applicants for this role will only be considered if they are able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $151,200 to $226,800 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences where our offices are located, in Seattle, WA & Washington D.C. The range for this role in these locations is $164,700 to $247,100 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission and new hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary 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
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
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.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (http://www.gatesfoundation.org/) works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.