The Gates Foundation is seeking a Program Officer - State Systems to support our India Country Office's strategy to strengthen state systems. In this role, you will create tools that enable governments to deliver improved outcomes at scale, working across multiple states and sectors. You'll co-create scalable models for institutional reform, focusing on human resource management, public financial management, and digital governance.
What You'll Do
- Contribute to strengthening state systems and diffusing successful models and practices for scalable, sustainable impact.
- Translate systems challenges into well-scoped investment opportunities and high-quality, risk-mitigated grants or contracts.
- Support the development of theories of change, results frameworks, learning questions, and adaptive implementation pathways.
- Ensure investment alignment with broader foundation goals and India Country Office strategy.
- Conduct diligence, budgeting, risk assessment, and compliance monitoring across assigned grants.
- Build and manage trust-based relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Engage key ecosystem stakeholders—development partners, think tanks, donors, and technology partners—to enable co-creation and collective action.
- Represent the foundation in key strategic dialogues, working groups, and convenings on state systems.
- Collaborate with colleagues to ensure high-quality results frameworks, monitoring, and evaluation of grants.
- Use data and learning from investments and global evidence to collaborate with grantees and partners for continuous improvement.
- Work with grantees and partners to track progress against learning agendas and ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and course correction.
What We're Looking For
- A Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, economics, development studies, management, or a related field.
- Minimum 7-10 years of relevant experience in a high-performing, results-oriented environment.
- In-depth knowledge of public sector systems, change management, digital tools, and monitoring, evaluation and learning.
- Strong communication and change management skills, with experience managing senior public and private sector stakeholders.
- A track record of impactful work driving system transformation at large scale beyond your direct span of control.
- Demonstrated ability to translate systemic gaps into strategic action plans to strengthen state systems.
- Experience in engaging government, donors, and implementing partners, and handling partnerships effectively.
- Proven ability to work in a highly matrixed and diverse environment with strong collaboration and diplomacy skills.
- Experience managing high-return, risk-mitigated grants with clear achievements.
- Excellent analytical thinking and communications skills, including writing, conceptualisation, and public speaking.
- A performance-driven, self-motivated approach with the ability to inspire excellence.
- Comfort navigating ambiguity and evolving challenges with flexibility and a solution-focused approach.
- Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
Nice to Have
- Experience working directly with government systems at a national or state level.
- A strong command of spreadsheets and proficiency in the use of AI tools.
Team & Environment
The Program Officer will be part of the State Systems and Public Finance (SS&PF) cluster within the India Country Office (ICO) of the Global Development Division, reporting to the Deputy Director, State Systems & Public Finance.
Benefits & Compensation
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.
- Generous paid time off.
- Paid family leave.
- Foundation-paid retirement contribution.
- Regional holidays.
- Opportunities to engage in several employee communities.
Work Mode
This is an onsite position located in New Delhi, India.
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.
