Communications Officer, Philanthropic Partnerships Team (11 Month LTE)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation•Seattle, WA

1d•$143,000 - $235,900•Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications Officer will lead external communications for the Philanthropic Partnerships Team (PPT), helping to shape and share the team’s story with global audiences. In this role, you’ll craft key narratives, drive media engagement, and manage high-impact storytelling across platforms, initiatives, and regions. You will collaborate with colleagues across the foundations, especially in the Communications Division, as well as with external vendors and agencies. You’ll work closely with the Audience Engagement Officer to ensure public-facing messages are aligned with partner-facing narratives and timelines. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Shared Services, this position is a limited-term position for 11 months. Relocation will not be provided. Our preference is for this role to be based in Seattle, WA. In some instances we are open to hiring a US-domestic remote based employee. International remote outside of the US is not possible.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience in communications, journalism, public policy, or a related field; or equivalent demonstrated experience.
Experience developing and implementing communications strategies for large and/or complex organizations or initiatives, with a strong track record of translating complex ideas into clear and compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complexity and manage competing priorities across multiple diverse stakeholder groups, including senior leadership, program teams, grantees, and external partners.
Comfort working with and preparing high-profile principals and senior executives for media opportunities and public engagements.
Demonstrated understanding of the philanthropic sector, including donor behavior and the role of communications in advancing philanthropic goals.
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.).

Nice To Haves

A preference exists for candidates with prior knowledge of, employment with, or consultation to the Gates Foundation or a related family office or entity.

Responsibilities

Develop and drive PPT’s external communications strategy as a whole and for individual initiatives, providing strategic direction and serving as the lead communications thought partner for PPT program staff.
Lead communications for the Giving Pledge, including the development and implementation of its communications strategy and associated collateral and resources.
Serve as a strategic advisor and communications resource for PPT leadership.
Develop leadership briefs, talking points, and preparation materials for media opportunities and high-visibility engagements.
Coordinate across the foundation and private offices on the use of leadership voice on philanthropy issues.
Oversee media relations for PPT and in support of foundation’s use of leadership voice on issues in philanthropy.
Develop messaging and support for speaking and media opportunities.
Work closely with the foundation’s communications earned media lead to respond to media inquiries and develop proactive media engagement opportunities.
Partner with PPT Audience Engagement lead to develop core communications materials and collateral (e.g., newsletters, key messages and Q&A, website copy, brochures, video content, and briefing materials).
Support PPTs work globally, including in the US, India, China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, working in close coordination with the foundation’s regional communications teams.
Partner with the foundation’s Insights team on measurement and evaluation to track the public dialogue on philanthropy and to assess the impact of PPT’s external communications tactics.
Use data and insights to refine strategy and demonstrate the value of communications investments.
Manage grants and contracts to advance program priorities and inform program investments with communications components.
Manage external agencies, consultancies, and vendors to assist with key workstreams.
Support inclusive culture through modeling behaviors and actions; escalate issues in a timely fashion to appropriate stakeholders.