Advisor, AI Global Policy & Advocacy

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation•Washington, DC

11d•$267,000 - $455,200•Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) Division serves as the external affairs division of the Gates Foundation. Its mission 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 advance the foundation's objectives nationally and globally. GPA spans North America; Europe, Middle East & East Asia; the China Country Office; Development Policy & Finance; Philanthropic Partnerships; and Program Advocacy, as well as oversight for government relations globally. As the Advisor, AI Global Policy & Advocacy you will lead GPA's portfolio of cross-cutting “AI for good” public goods, including the field-shaping work that benefits the foundation and the wider ecosystem. You will bring coherence to GPA's engagement on AI, coordinating efforts across teams (both within GPA and across the foundation) and serve as a clear point of accountability and decision-making for the AI public-goods agenda. Working in close partnership across the GPA division as well as with the foundation's AI Steering Committee (AISC), program strategy teams, regional and country offices, and Global Communications, you will ensure GPA engages the surge of new AI funding strategically, coordinates external engagement, and mobilize quickly to deliver high-priority outputs. Over time, you will connect this public goods work to GPA's broader AI strategy as it evolves. You will bring sound judgment across funding and policy with the ability to convene senior internal and external stakeholders, set priorities, and move complex, cross-cutting work forward in a fast-moving space.

Requirements

Deep substantive expertise in artificial intelligence, including a strong understanding of foundation models, AI policy and advocacy, model development and deployment, open-source ecosystems, safety and governance, and the implications of these technologies for public policy and global development.
Demonstrated experience translating AI expertise into strategy, policy, investment, or implementation decisions, with the ability to assess geopolitical dynamics, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and engage credibly with leading researchers, technology companies, policymakers, and practitioners.
Demonstrated ability to bring structure, clarity, and momentum to complex, fast-evolving areas of work, including coordinating across teams and functions.
Strong judgment across both funding/philanthropic and policy domains, with the credibility to convene and align senior internal and external stakeholders.
Experience in global health, development, or related policy, financing, or philanthropy, with exposure to donor funding, multilateral institutions, or grantmaking.
Deep knowledge of the AI landscape and its relevance to global development; sufficient to engage funders, policymakers, and technical partners credibly.
A track record of operating effectively in large, matrixed organizations, building trusted relationships and coalitions across diverse institutional contexts.
Exceptional communication and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complexity into clear positions, priorities, and action.
An Advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in international development, law, public policy, or a related field.
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.).
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and bring coherence across GPA's AI activity
Serve as the connective point across GPA's AI efforts, identifying synergies and ensuring a coherent, consistent approach.
Establish a clear operating rhythm and decision-making approach for GPA's AI public goods, coordinating with cross-cutting bodies such as the AISC and relevant program and regional teams.
Take end-to-end accountability for the public goods deliverables in GPA's remit, driving them from concept to completion.
Structure work that can be accomplished by different parts of GPA and stitched back together into a cohesive approach.
Shape, steward, and translate a coherent foundation position on AI
Serve as primary point of contact on the foundation's position on the AI topics that surface publicly, coordinating across teams as needed (including Global Communications, program teams, and GPA).
Refactor and connect existing AI-related content, examples, and proof points from across the foundation so they can be used effectively with priority influence channels and decision-makers
Enable a coordinated approach to mobilizing funding
Maintain a dynamic view of the AI funding landscape, tracking philanthropies, multilaterals and DFIs, corporate funders, domestic sources, and high-net-worth and new AI money.
Hold and prioritize “fundables” lists matching foundation priorities and ecosystem bottlenecks to partners and vehicles capable of delivering against them.
Run two-sided matchmaking that triages, routes and actively shapes opportunities between sources and uses of capital.
Develop prospective fundraising goals tied to tent-pole moments and help the foundation engage major funders and gifts proactively rather than reactively.
Bring structure to GPA's AI policy agenda
Build a structured taxonomy of the AI policy space (by issue area, by geography, and by sector and its intersection with AI) and help drive prioritization and decision making for GPA engagement
Work closely with teams to translate those priorities into concrete policy goals
Coordinate the foundation’s representation at external convenings
Coordinate the foundation's representation at key AI summits and convenings, setting clear objectives for each tied to prospective policy and funding goals.
Coordinate and/or own surge capacity for high priority ‘announceables’
Facilitate, accelerate, and provide surge capacity for the creation of high priority “announceables” (in partnership with the Foundation Strategy Office) and carry them through to a deliverable with a clear owner.