Gates Foundation is hiring a Senior Program Officer, Data & Insights

The Gates Foundation is hiring a Senior Program Officer, Data & Insights. You will lead a portfolio focused on the data that underpins giving to global health and development. Your role will shape and execute a strategy that advances three focus areas: strengthening data about philanthropic flows, curating high-impact giving opportunities for donors, and exploring how AI and other emerging tools can transform philanthropic decision-making.

What You'll Do

• Lead the ongoing development of Data & Insights core bodies of work, scoping, shaping, and building support for specific grant strategies.
• Ensure Data & Insights strategies complement the team's resource-mobilization strategy integrating internal and external partner voices.
• Develop execution plans that are the optimal mix of grants, contracts, and partnerships that advance the team's goals.
• Develop and steward a grant portfolio that cultivates a rich, actionable philanthropy-data ecosystem.
• Cultivate partnerships with and among data providers to enable deeper integration, shared standards, and a common strategic direction.
• Align investments with team goals, prioritizing data gaps in Africa/MENA and South-South flows.
• Build and evolve the portfolio by sourcing new investments, rebalancing or sunsetting existing ones, and maintaining a healthy pipeline.
• Serve as an excellent grantmaker, working with the utmost respect and kindness with grantees and partners.
• Serve as a philanthropy data thought leader internally and externally, sharing insights and innovations.
• Represent the foundation externally at conferences and events.
• Contribute to shaping the foundation’s position on issues related to philanthropy, charitable giving, and sector resilience.
• Support the team’s measurement, learning and evaluation work ensuring strong tracking and actionable insights.
• Track impact and learning from grantee efforts, adapt strategy accordingly, and share lessons learned.
• Proactively identify opportunities to infuse sector lessons into the team's work.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., economics, finance, public policy, business, gender studies, data science).
• Significant experience (7+ years) in nonprofit strategy consulting, leading grant strategies in nonprofit data, or leadership of nonprofit / philanthropic data initiatives.
• Strategic thinker with experience shaping investment portfolios that align with broader organizational goals in philanthropy or international development.
• Familiarity with philanthropic and nonprofit data, and how it can be used to inform giving, build tools, or influence practice.
• Strong collaborator who can work across a matrixed organization to co-develop strategies and align internal and external partners.
• Skilled communicator who can synthesize complex information, build consensus, and make ideas actionable for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in grantmaking or partnership design, ideally including work at the intersection of data, insight, and philanthropic practice.
• Ability to travel approximately 20% of time as required.
• Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

Nice to Have

• Experience working in philanthropy, particularly direct experience working with UHNW donors.
• Experience working in measurement and evaluation in philanthropy.
• Experience in translating research into practice for various audiences.
• Knowledge of the landscape and partners in Africa, India, the Middle East and/or China.

Team & Environment

This role is part of the Philanthropic Systems and Core Services team within the Philanthropic Partnerships team (PPT) and reports to the Deputy Director of Philanthropic Systems and Core Services.

Benefits & Compensation

• Compensation: $186,400 to $288,800 USD. Range for Seattle and Washington D.C. offices is $203,100.00 to $314,900 USD.
• 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 a hybrid position based in either Seattle, WA or Washington, DC.

The Gates Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. 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.