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 TeamWe at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation believe philanthropy has a unique and powerful role to play in creating a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. Te foundation’s Philanthropic Partnerships team (PPT) inspires and enables generosity from all types of givers - from everyday donors to the world’s wealthiest - to accelerate progress and increase prosperity around the globe. Alongside our partners, we are working to increase global giving and to help donors direct their generosity where it’s needed most.
Our mission includes a commitment to advance equity around the world. We care deeply about how your experiences have shaped your understanding of philanthropy and advancing equity, and how they can help us achieve our mission. In applying for this role, we encourage you to think about the breadth and depth of your resume and add any information that would help us understand your personal and professional experiences related to our mission. This includes direct work in advocacy and community organization, social work, public policy, justice, or lived experience and/or education in any of these areas.
Your Role
We are seeking a highly skilled initiator and manager of strategic partnerships to join our team. The Senior Officer, Foundation Relations will create a strategy to engage institutional and corporate foundations focused on global health and development, and lead the formation and management of those relationships. This role is designed to cultivate new partnerships and enhance existing ones with large and complex philanthropic organizations; to identify new collaboration opportunities with these organizations; to expertly coordinate relationships across the foundation; and to act as a problem-solver and trusted advisor to our partners. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional relationship management skills, a strategic mindset, an appreciation of processes which enhance relationships, and a passion for maximizing the impact of philanthropic investments. This role will work across our foundation, serving as a dedicated partner to advance our mission through strategic alliances.
This is a limited-term position (LTE) for 24 months, based at the foundation’s office in London or in another foundation office location (e.g. Seattle, Washington DC) deemed more appropriate at the time of hire. The postholder reports to the Deputy Director, Global Policy and Advocacy.
What You'll Do
Planning and Coordination: Shape and execute partnership approaches that align with our foundation’s strategy, fostering meaningful relationships with top corporate and institutional foundations devoted to global health and development. Craft detailed engagement plans that support mutual goals and advance our impact.
Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with priority corporate and institutional foundation partners, acting as the primary point of contact and ensuring a high level of partner satisfaction. Oversee partnership activities, ranging from initial get-to-know-you meetings to executive summits to creative co-visioning exercises resulting in joint work for shared impact. Serve as the subject-matter expert on partner priorities, programs, and people.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work across internal teams to integrate partner goals and priorities, facilitating collaboration and ensuring a coordinated approach to partnership management.
Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution: Proactively address any challenges or issues in partnerships, providing solutions to maintain and strengthen the relationship. Provide personalized, high-level support to top partners, removing obstacles and resolving challenges.
Measurement and Reporting: Evaluate partnership performance, providing strategic insights, actionable recommendations, and data-driven assessments to measure success and drive improvement. Maintain systems to document partner interactions, agreements, and outcomes to ensure transparency and accountability.
Sector Engagement: Represent the foundation at conferences, events, and meetings to strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones, serving as an ambassador for the foundation.
Your Experience
Master's or Bachelor’s degree, other related field relevant field, or equivalent experience.
Demonstrable experience in partnership management or business development within the philanthropic or nonprofit sector, with a proven track record of success in strategic relationship management. Experience in global health or development is preferred.
Demonstrated ability to think strategically and identify opportunities for alignment and co-funding that advance both the foundation’s mission and partners’ goals.
Strong project management experience with excellent planning, execution, and analytical skills; with ability to independently develop a structure and strategy to address complex problems.
Strong relationship-building skills with a customer-centric approach, demonstrating empathy, adaptability, and professionalism in all interactions. Demonstrated ability to influence others in a constructive and optimistic manager while building and sustaining collaborative relationships.
Solid analytical skills, including proficiency in assessing partnership impact and performance, with a data-driven mindset and the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies.
Demonstrated experience working in cross-matrix programs and proven track record to adapt to a fast-paced environment and the networking and coalition-building demands of a highly matrixed organization.
Proven ability to successfully drive to action across large institutions, range of seniority levels and in different cultural contexts.
Demonstrated initiative and ability to multi-task and resolve unstructured problems with little oversight, creativity, high energy, and a positive attitude.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage partners at all levels, crafting messages that resonate with corporate and foundation leaders.
Other Attributes
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behaviour with a diverse range of people and a deep commitment to development issues and high standards of personal integrity.
Ability to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally.
Application deadline: 5 January 2025
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
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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.