Deputy Director, Internal Leadership Communications

Gates Foundation•Seattle, WA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Foundation is the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. We are committed to creating an environment where employees can thrive personally and professionally, offering an exceptional benefits package including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, a foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in employee communities. The Communications Division, led by the Chief Communications Officer, oversees the foundation’s global communications strategy, integrating internal and external communications to advance its mission. The Internal Communications team connects employees to the foundation’s mission, strategy, work, and impact by partnering with leaders and teams to develop strategic, employee-centered communications that inform, engage, and inspire. Through thoughtful planning, channel management, leadership communications, storytelling, and enterprise-wide coordination, the team ensures employees understand what matters most, feel connected, and contribute to a more informed, aligned, and engaged organization.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, business administration, organizational development, or a related field.
10+ years direct experience in internal or employee communications, with significant focus on senior leadership communications, executive communications, or enterprise communications in a complex, global organization.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute leadership communications strategies that build trust, alignment, and engagement across diverse employee audiences.
Strong writing and editing skills, with proven ability to draft high-quality communications for senior executives across a range of formats and channels.
Experience advising and preparing executives for high-visibility internal communications moments, including change announcements, all-staff events, and leadership forums.
Deep expertise in internal communications platforms—particularly SharePoint and Viva Engage—including platform governance, architecture, configuration, and employee experience optimization.
Strong command of internal communications data and analytics: defining metrics, building measurement frameworks, analyzing engagement data, and translating insights into actionable strategy.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex organizational strategies and sensitive topics into clear, credible, and motivating narratives for diverse audiences.
Experience working in a highly matrixed, global organization with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
Ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, cross-functional partners, and communications colleagues across hierarchies and disciplines.
Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with care.
Experience managing individuals or teams in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and ensuring communications reflect diverse perspectives and voices.
Ability to work with poise under pressure.
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

Experience working with philanthropies, global health and development organizations, public sector institutions, or mission-driven organizations is preferred.
Strong familiarity with change management principles and their application to communications strategies.

Responsibilities

Lead the foundation’s internal leadership communications practice—developing strategy, content, and programs that equip senior leaders to communicate effectively and authentically with employees across the organization.
Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the ELT, and other senior leaders on leadership communications approaches, message development, audience strategy, and communications risks.
Develop and manage an integrated leadership communications calendar and cadence—coordinating executive messaging, all-staff moments, leadership forums, and other high-visibility internal engagements.
Write and edit high-quality communications on behalf of senior leaders, including messages, scripts, talking points, video narratives, and presentations for enterprise-wide audiences.
Build and manage frameworks and tools that enable consistent, effective leadership communications across the foundation—including standards, templates, playbooks, and guidance for communicating during change or uncertainty.
Provide coaching and preparation support to leaders ahead of significant communications moments, including announcements, transitions, all-staff events, and other high-visibility engagements.
Co-lead the strategy, governance, and ongoing development of internal communications channels, in partnership with IT and other functions, ensuring they are dynamic, accessible, and aligned with organizational needs.
Serve as a primary expert for the team on internal communications data and analytics—establishing measurement frameworks, tracking engagement and reach, synthesizing insights, and using data to inform communications strategy and platform decisions.
Develop and deliver regular reporting on internal leadership communications effectiveness for the Internal Communications Director and Communications Division leadership.
Partner closely with the Deputy Director, Employee Experience and Engagement to ensure leadership communications are integrated appropriately into employee engagement channels and initiatives.
Collaborate closely with the Office of the CEO, People function, Foundation Strategy Office, and External Communications to ensure alignment and consistency across leadership messaging and enterprise-wide communications moments.
Support issue assessment and communications planning for sensitive or emerging organizational topics that require leadership communications guidance.
Travel domestically and internationally up to 20%.