Deputy Director, Internal Leadership Communications

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation•Seattle, WA

2d•$234,000 - $362,800•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Internal Communications, this role oversees the foundation’s internal leadership communications portfolio. The position involves building systems, strategies, and capabilities that enable leaders across the foundation to communicate with clarity, empathy, and purpose. The individual will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and a skilled strategist, understanding the importance of how leaders communicate. This role develops and manages frameworks, tools, channels, and content to equip the Executive Leadership Team and leaders at all levels to engage authentically with employees during strategic moments, organizational change, and daily interactions. The position requires a sophisticated understanding of leadership communication, including coaching leaders, building credibility, and translating complex organizational moments into clear narratives. Additionally, the role serves as an expert and coach on internal communications platforms, data, and analytics, helping to architect and steward the foundation’s internal communications technology ecosystem (SharePoint, Viva Engage) and using data to improve leadership communications. The role requires a systems thinker for both platform architecture and communications strategy to ensure a coherent and effective employee experience. As a key member of the Internal Communications leadership team, this role models strong judgment, creative problem-solving, and decisive leadership through ambiguity. It is designed as a potential succession path for the Director of Internal Communications, offering significant scope, visibility, and growth opportunities.

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.).
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

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%.