Job Information
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer, Agriculture 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
The Global Growth & Opportunity (GGO) division works to catalyze sustainable and transformative socioeconomic change. In the face of inequities and market failures, GGO seeks to realize the potential of untapped markets, and ensure that economic and social benefits reach everyone. We focus on the areas of Agricultural Development; Financial Services for the Poor; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; and Global Education. We seek solutions that are sustainable, transformative, and inclusive with an eye toward applying technology innovations as well as data and evidence to motivate change in the world’s developing countries.
Summary
The Agricultural Development (Ag Dev) program aims to catalyze country-led inclusive agricultural transformation by developing and scaling products, services, policies, and system-wide innovations that benefit small scale producers, empower women, and improve nutrition. We want farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to be empowered with the knowledge, tools, and technologies to improve their livelihoods and lift themselves and their nations out of poverty. This position is a critical part of our Women’s Empowerment (WE) portfolio, and also supports the Nutritious Food Systems portfolio, both of which sit within the Adaptive and Equitable Systems (A&E) pillar.
*This role is a limited-term position for 10 months. Relocation will not be provided.
The Role
The primary responsibility of this Senior Officer is to strategically develop and manage a portfolio of investments (grants and contracts) within the WE team focused on data, evidence, and implementation of gender transformative programs within the agriculture sector. As a key advisor for women’s empowerment on the Ag Dev team, you will also contribute to strategic initiatives and partner closely with the A&E pillar to set overall strategy and goals for the pillar. This is a 9-month limited term employment (LTE) position with a start date of mid-July 2024 and will be based in Seattle.
Core Responsibilities
Partner with foundation colleagues and external collaborators to implement and assess the vision of the WE portfolio. Advance a forward-looking strategy for WE and the whole of Ag Dev that supports gender integration, emphasizes high-quality data and evidence on WE, and prioritizes gender transformative approaches.
Develop and manage a complex portfolio of up to 10 investments (grants and contracts) focused on women’s empowerment, data and evidence, nutritious food systems, and climate adaptation in the agricultural sector.
Provide technical support to the Ag Dev team and grantees on integrating gender into programmatic and measurement work.
Participate in working groups within the Ag Dev team and across the foundation, including the M&E working group, the WE Data & Evidence working group, and the Gender and Digital Community of Practice, among others.
Represent the foundation to key external audiences, as appropriate.
Regularly collaborate with grantees and other partners to maximize the impact of projects and ensure grants are contributing to strategy goals. This may include conducting site visits, providing technical and operational guidance, and convening meetings of key partners.
Provide input and feedback on materials for Ag Dev’s annual strategy review, as well as leadership learning sessions.
Serve as a champion for principles of equity and inclusion in Ag Dev’s strategy and programming, including a commitment to cultivate equitable partnerships within our grantee and partner community.
Experience We are looking for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, is a natural collaborator, and has a deep commitment to women’s empowerment globally. We seek:
Advanced degree in agriculture, gender equality, public policy, or related field.
10+ years of relevant work experience in agricultural development and/or women’s empowerment.
Recognized by the global professional community as a specialist within the field of women’s empowerment in agriculture and/or gender equality.
Exceptional track record of grant management with experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, including private and public sector actors.
Understanding of effective examples of gender transformative approaches within an agricultural context in Africa and/or Asia
Knowledge of the landscape of gender data efforts in agriculture, as well as monitoring and evaluation methods and concepts, including strong analytical skills, in agricultural development and women’s empowerment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively synthesize information to reach diverse audience and build consensus.
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.
Great teammate who can operate independently coupled with a proven ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in a fast-paced environment.
Previous residence or extensive work experience in a Sub-Saharan African or Asia country or countries preferred, especially Ag Dev’s focus countries (Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria).
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $166,300 to $221,766 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $181,000 to $271,800 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.
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.