Deputy Director, AI Infrastructure for Education (2 Year LTE)

Gates Foundation•Seattle, WA

About The Position

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 USP Data team works to unlock the full potential of data and artificial intelligence to improve educational and economic outcomes. Our vision is that by 2045, all learners and the adults who support them are empowered by safe, evidence-based, AI-enabled solutions that deliver personalized experiences and universally recognized skills – enabling them to navigate pathways, move across institutions, and thrive in meaningful work. To achieve this, we invest in three catalytic areas: AI solution enablement, trusted evidence for AI in education, and dynamic feedback systems. We amplify this work through investing in focus geographies, driving strategic partnerships with hyperscalers and co-funders, and supporting other teams within U.S. Program in using data and AI to drive equitable impact. This position is a limited-term position for 24-months. Relocation will be provided Your Role The Deputy Director, AI Infrastructure leads the Foundation’s strategy for AI solution enablement and evidence in education. This role shapes our approach to increasing the efficacy, safety, and trust of AI-enabled solutions – both within the Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) and across the broader education and workforce market. The Deputy Director will develop and advance a strategic portfolio that accelerates responsible AI adoption through evidence generation, solution validation, and ecosystem partnerships. They will bring thought leadership at the intersection of AI, education, and market design—helping to ensure the next generation of tools are equitable, transparent, and effective for learners and educators alike. As a senior member of the Data & AI leadership team, this role collaborates across investment areas, manages a team of program officers, and engages external partners to advance a coherent, evidence-based approach to AI in education markets.

Requirements

An advanced degree in a relevant field or equivalent demonstrated experience
Deep understanding of both AI and EdTech markets, including major players, business models, and innovation pipelines.
Proven track record of building relationships across AI and education sectors, including executives, product leaders, engineers, and researchers.
Demonstrated ability to analyze market trends and translate insights into actionable strategies.
Experience leading multi-stakeholder collaborations or coalitions, ideally across competitive landscapes.
Successful history of managing and developing high-performing teams, balancing autonomy with accountability.
Record of adapting strategy in response to evolving technical, political, and funding conditions.
Bring together and inspire team members with a diverse set of backgrounds, approaches, and beliefs to pursue a coherent long-term direction, and collaborate with the team on how to achieve it.
Thoughtfully plan, organize, and prioritize work of self and others in a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands, which requires ability to see the critical path, measure and mitigate risk, and make trade-offs.
Hold people accountable for their commitments, providing clarity and assisting when barriers arise; maintains the team’s focus on results, integrity, and impact.
Establish practices to reinforce independent and open communication among team members and other groups within the Data team and across US Program that contribute to the team’s work.
Experience engaging successfully with senior collaborators (Board of Directors, partner organization executives, etc.).
Thoughtfully communicates complex information and data in written and oral formats; synthesizes large volumes of information into clear recommendations and decisions; and advocates and communicates effectively with a broad and diverse audience.

Nice To Haves

Prior leadership in evidence generation, product validation, or technology governance strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead Strategy and Portfolio Execution Develop and implement the AI Market and Solutions strategy to enable high-quality, trusted, and evidence-based AI solutions in education.
Oversee a portfolio of investments and partnerships that catalyze responsible innovation in AI and EdTech.
Identify and manage key portfolio risks, developing and implementing mitigation plans.
Partner with the Strategy, Planning, and Management (SPM) team to develop annual investment plans and budgets.
Advance Evidence and Market Enablement Guide the generation and use of evidence to assess AI tools’ efficacy, safety, and fairness.
Strengthen market incentives and infrastructure for transparent and validated AI adoption across learning and workforce systems.
Foster Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Leadership Build and lead coalitions with AI companies, EdTech providers, research institutions, and funders to advance responsible AI practices.
Serve as a thought leader and foundation representative in cross-sector initiatives.
Engage and influence leaders within and outside the foundation regarding strategy, priorities, and emerging trends.
Drive Collaboration and Learning Apply systems thinking to connect data innovations with educational and workforce outcomes.
Advise and support colleagues and grantees in the design and implementation of projects and partnerships.
Manage partnerships and grantee relationships through site visits, convenings, and evaluation of progress toward milestones.
Lead People and Culture Manage and develop a team of program officers, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture.
Model equitable decision-making and inclusive leadership behaviors, addressing issues promptly and constructively.
Ensure the team has the resources and conditions needed to thrive and deliver impact.