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

In June 2020, the foundation hired a Chief Communications Officer and established a new Communications Division to oversee the foundation’s global communications strategy. The division brings together internal and external communications to advance the foundation’s mission of a more equitable world.

The Office of the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) team is responsible for ensuring strategic and operational alignment within the division and across the foundation, through strategy planning and development, business operations, measurement and insights, portfolio management, and process/project development and management.

Your Role

The Director, Chief of Staff (CoS) will serve as an extension of the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) within the Communications division and across the foundation to provide critical support across a range of work – including internal management and alignment of leadership to goals and priorities, strategy development, oversight of strategy performance and allocation of financial & human resources, implementation of cross-cutting change and project management and division-wide business processes and external relations.

Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, the CoS will sometimes lead special projects on behalf of the CCO. The CoS will often act as communication liaison in internal meetings across the organization (e.g. Offices of the Presidents (OoPs), CEO office, Global Policy and Advocacy, etc.) and may represent the CCO in key endeavors both internally and externally to the foundation. You will enable effective leadership by ensuring strategic use of her time, voice, and influence.

What You’ll Do

• Translates the CCO’s priorities and divisional direction into a measurable plan to improve efficiency and ensure goals are met.

• Applies judgment to ambiguous and dynamic situations to resolve issues; exercises judgment to elevate issues and decisions to CCO when needed.

• Leads team to support the CCO in achieving the foundation’s goals.

• Proactively engages with peers in other divisions and in the CEO office to ensure streamlined communication and prompt inter-divisional problem solving.

• Assists the CCO in aligning the Communications leadership team and extended leadership team, builds bridges and finds common ground.

• As needed, serves as proxy for CCO for both internal and external commitments including with co-chair private offices.

• Provides critical support and counsel to the CCO across a range of issues including meetings, events, trips, strategy, working groups, projects, reading materials, and correspondence.

• Supports CCO’s internal relations work by helping prioritize, manage, and track critical relationships and helping prepare presentation materials.

• Enhances CCO’s awareness of key organization and external events and information.

• Participates in CCO meetings as the need arises and ensures prompt follow through.

• Ensures that the CCO’s external commitments align with CCO and divisional priorities, and that such engagements are effectively led; (e.g. briefing and other trip/partner engagement materials meet the President’s objectives and information needs).

• Handles the division’s Rhythm of Business; specifically, accountable for preparation and follow-through for Communications Leadership Team meetings, All staffs, Extended Leadership Team Meetings, retreats, regular tactical meetings, etc.

• Supports the team through the Annual Planning process, including Portfolio Reviews.

• Supports the HR Business Partner to drive the Communications Leadership Team effectiveness in ongoing efforts.

• Facilitates meetings with the CCO by prioritizing agenda items and facilitating materials, minutes, and follow up for the Communications Leadership Teams.

• With the Communications Leadership Team and extended leadership team, identifies, facilitates, and, where appropriate, leads key initiatives and special projects that require cross-division coordination or otherwise lack clear ownership.

• Represents the views and needs of our regional communications leads; acts as a key Seattle liaison and counsel for these leaders.

Your Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with significant (15+) of experience in roles of expanding scope, responsibility and demonstrable results or equivalent experience.

• You will bring a combination of experience in strategy development and implementation, business operations/performance management, as well as deep exposure to philanthropy and international development in low-resource settings.

• Understanding of the global communications landscape, and/or experience working with communications teams or divisions preferred.

• Management and relationship management:

  • Excellent people leadership skills with demonstrated experience of mentoring and developing talent.

  • Must be a standout colleague who can operate autonomously, as well as possess excellent relationship management skills to guide confidential information and situations with flexibility and diplomacy, while cultivating trust within the team.

  • Ability to work well with a wide range of internal and external partners to incorporate new information and aim to appropriate decisions with and for the team.

  • Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.

• Demonstrate excellent leadership, intellectual quickness, creativity, curiosity, discipline and resourcefulness.

  • Excellent meaningful work experience in roles for developing, implementing, and managing projects/programs.

  • Must be highly organized and efficient and possess excellent judgment with a demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks, complex issues, and competing priorities with strong attention to detail.

  • Unquestioned commitment to the foundation’s mission and values.

  • and adaptability to engage with program teams to understand critical issues and facilitate CCO’s consistent engagement.

  • Knowledge of strategy development and implementation, performance management systems of goals, targets, and monitoring process.

  • Highest personal and professional integrity along with an optimistic outlook and a solid sense of humor.

• Organization, communication, and execution

  • Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills in order to optimally and accurately represent the CCO to a variety of audiences as well as draft and proof-read written documents.

  • Ability to navigate a wide range of operational issues with solid experience and understanding of core business/organizational teams – strategy, operations, legal, IT, HR, marketing, finance, planning, and budgeting.

  • Innovative and empathetic approach to all aspects of work.

  • Ability to travel up to 20% of time as needed.

Other Attributes

• Prior experience as a Chief of Staff, Advisor, DDSPM or Special Assistant highly preferred.

• Advanced degree and global experience, preferably in Africa and/or Asia highly preferred.

The typical salary range for this role is $206,000 to $383,200 USD. The exact offer will be determined by a variety of factors such as the candidate’s individual skills, qualifications, and experience relative to the requirements of the role.

**Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

Hiring Requirements

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

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.