Gates Foundation Deputy Director, Solutions – K-12, Seattle | Apply by 28 November 2026
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is inviting applications for a Deputy Director, Solutions – K-12 position based in Seattle, Washington, USA. This senior leadership opportunity is focused on transforming K-12 mathematics education through high-quality instructional products, artificial intelligence-enabled learning solutions, technology, partnerships and evidence-based investment.
The position is a full-time role and offers an opportunity for an experienced education, technology or product leader to help shape the Foundation’s strategy for improving mathematics learning outcomes for millions of students.
The application deadline is 28 November 2026.
Gates Foundation Deputy Director – Key Details
Organisation: Gates Foundation
Position: Deputy Director, Solutions – K-12
Job Requisition ID: B021836
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Job Type: Full-time
Application Deadline: 28 November 2026
Salary: US$238,400–US$369,400
Seattle/Washington, D.C. salary range: US$262,200–US$406,400
Work authorization: Unrestricted authorization required
Sponsorship: Not provided
About the Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation is a major global nonprofit organisation working to address poverty, disease and inequality. Its mission is based on the belief that people everywhere should have the opportunity to live healthy and productive lives.
The Foundation’s U.S. Program is focused on improving educational outcomes and helping more learners earn valuable credentials that can lead to greater economic mobility.
Within this work, the K-12 Teaching and Learning team focuses particularly on mathematics education. The team works to help more students develop strong mathematical foundations and successfully complete Algebra I by ninth grade, an important milestone for advanced education, postsecondary opportunities and future careers.
About the Deputy Director Role
The Deputy Director, Solutions will provide strategic leadership for the Foundation’s portfolio of investments designed to develop, validate and scale AI-enabled solutions for K-12 mathematics education.
The successful candidate will help advance four major objectives: expanding access to AI-enabled instructional products, creating coherent instructional systems, improving curriculum and product quality and performance, and increasing access to modern high school mathematics courses.
This is a senior role requiring a combination of technical expertise, strategic leadership, investment experience and people management.
The Deputy Director will work with product developers, technology leaders, educators, researchers, publishers, school districts, investors and other partners to identify promising solutions and support their development and adoption.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will lead the Foundation’s K-12 Solutions strategy and manage a team of programme and strategy staff responsible for investment portfolios.
A major responsibility will be advancing coherent learning systems that bring together curriculum, assessment, tutoring, AI-enabled instructional support and district infrastructure to create effective classroom experiences.
The role will also involve evaluating technology architectures, product roadmaps, AI capabilities, evidence plans, implementation requirements and business and go-to-market strategies.
The Deputy Director will work to improve the quality and effectiveness of AI-enabled mathematics solutions by partnering with developers, publishers, researchers, districts and investors.
Another important responsibility will be developing common quality signals, implementation frameworks and procurement approaches that help school districts confidently adopt AI-enabled instructional products.
The successful candidate will also manage a significant portfolio of grants, contracts and strategic partnerships, ensuring that investments generate evidence, demonstrate measurable impact and contribute to continuous product improvement.
Experience and Qualifications
The Foundation is seeking a senior product and technology leader with a strong understanding of education markets and the ability to evaluate sophisticated AI-enabled products.
Candidates should have deep knowledge of curricula, interventions, assessment markets, publishers and education technology developers. Experience in mathematics education would be particularly valuable.
Applicants should also understand the opportunities and risks associated with AI safety, including perspectives from students, teachers, school districts and parents.
Strong strategic-thinking skills are essential. The successful candidate must be able to develop and continuously improve strategy, identify critical priorities, manage risks and make informed trade-offs in a fast-moving environment.
Experience leading diverse teams is also important. The Deputy Director will be expected to inspire employees, establish clear goals, encourage collaboration and maintain accountability for results.
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience is required, while an advanced degree is highly preferred.
Salary and Benefits
The salary range for the position is US$238,400 to US$369,400. For positions based in Seattle and Washington, D.C., the stated salary range is US$262,200 to US$406,400.
The Foundation also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions and other financial, wellness and family benefits.
Work Authorization
Applicants must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where the position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this position.
This includes sponsorship or immigration support associated with work authorization categories such as H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN and J-1.
How to Apply
The application deadline for the Gates Foundation Deputy Director, Solutions – K-12 position is 28 November 2026.
The Gates Foundation is working with Spencer Stuart on the search. Candidates and individuals wishing to submit nominations or expressions of interest may contact the confidential search email listed in the vacancy announcement.
This is a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced education technology, product or strategy professional interested in using AI, innovation and evidence-based investment to improve mathematics education and student outcomes.
