Senior Program Officer, Assessments, Digitally-Enabled Teaching and Learning

Gates Foundation • Seattle, WA

11d

About The Position

The Senior Program Officer manages a portfolio of investments in digitally-enabled teaching and learning, including courseware, assessments, AI innovations, course supports, professional development, and community building. The role emphasizes summative assessments and contributes to the Digitally-Enabled Teaching and Learning team’s strategy to improve postsecondary student success, reduce demographic success gaps, and support faculty and academic communities. The position is part of the Foundation’s U.S. Program and its Postsecondary Courseware and Navigation team.

The officer serves as the team’s primary resource on summative assessments, monitoring innovations in assessment design, pedagogy, and technology; sharing updates; and advising colleagues. The role includes conducting market analyses, designing and overseeing efficacy and implementation research, building partnerships across higher education and technology, and helping institutions adopt technology effectively. The officer also conducts literature reviews, gathers input from faculty and students, drafts syntheses, plans convenings, supports proposals and funding recommendations, and represents the Foundation externally.

The preferred locations are Seattle, Washington, or Washington, D.C.; relocation assistance is available for candidates outside commuting distance. In some instances, remote work from within a U.S. state may be considered. The role requires unrestricted work authorization in the country where it is located; the Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship.

Requirements

• Advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in a STEM field or postsecondary education; academic experience is ideal.
• Deep knowledge of the assessment landscape, including modern assessment pedagogies that improve student learning and success and reduce equity gaps.
• Familiarity with modern assessment technologies, including computer-based testing facilities, academic integrity technologies, and AI auto-graders.
• Experience developing, scaling, or evaluating digital education products such as assessments, courseware, or AI-enabled platforms.
• Deep familiarity with traditional higher education markets and STEM faculty and student needs, and knowledge of new higher education approaches and models.
• Significant experience designing and managing grant or investment portfolios, including market analyses and efficacy and implementation research.
• Significant experience building and advising partnerships with edtech companies, universities, and research institutions.
• Demonstrated hands-on, organized, execution-oriented work style, including research, end-user engagement, and event facilitation.
• Proficiency in AI and productivity tools.
• Unrestricted work authorization in the country where the position is located; immigration-related sponsorship is not provided.

Nice To Haves

• Academic experience.
• Expertise in assessment approaches such as growth-oriented assessments, community-designed standardized exams, highly randomized exams, AI-based adaptive exams, and exam analysis and improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage grants and contracts across digitally-enabled teaching and learning topics, with an emphasis on assessments, and ensure investments align with team strategy and measurable impact.
• Co-invest with fellow officers and division colleagues.
• Serve as the team’s primary resource on summative assessments by tracking innovations, participating in Foundation events and task forces, providing team updates, and advising colleagues on assessment-related work.
• Conduct market analyses to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities in college-level teaching and learning.
• Design and oversee efficacy and implementation research to produce actionable evidence and inform courseware and product design.
• Build and advise partnerships with AI innovators, edtech developers, open-source communities, faculty, administrators, and research institutions.
• Help guide higher education toward effective technology adoption and increased collaboration within and across institutions, while supporting important human roles and the cultural role of the university experience.
• Conduct literature reviews, gather input from faculty and students, draft syntheses, and help plan convenings.
• Use AI tools to improve the efficiency and quality of work, and execute work methodically.
• Assist partners in developing grant proposals, review proposals from team members, provide concise funding recommendations, and represent the Foundation at external convenings and conferences.
• Communicate concisely and clearly, contribute to a trusting, optimistic, positive, and collegial team culture, prioritize collective success, and model equitable and inclusive behaviors.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.
• Generous paid time off.
• Paid family leave.
• Foundation-paid retirement contribution.
• Regional holidays.
• Opportunities to engage in employee communities.
• Relocation assistance for candidates who need to move to Seattle or Washington, D.C.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior