Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning and Management – Gates Foundation
Organisation: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Position: Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning and Management – Gender Equality
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Requisition: B021808
Closing Date: 15 November 2026
Salary: $238,400–$369,400 USD
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking a Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning and Management (DDSPM) to support its Gender Equality Division. This senior leadership position will focus on strategy, business operations, financial planning, portfolio management and organisational effectiveness across two teams: Data and Technology Adoption (DATA) and Adolescent Learning Agenda & Women Leaders (ALAWL).
The role offers an opportunity for an experienced strategy and operations leader to contribute to the Foundation’s global work addressing poverty, disease and inequality.
About the Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation is a global nonprofit organisation working to reduce inequities and improve health and development outcomes around the world.
The Foundation’s Gender Equality Division focuses on enabling women and girls in Africa and South Asia to enjoy good health, make their own choices, earn their own money and become leaders in their communities.
The DDSPM will work across the DATA and ALAWL teams, helping leadership connect strategic priorities with effective business operations, investment decisions and execution.
About the Role
The Deputy Director will lead strategic, financial and operational functions while serving as a key advisor to Directors and leadership teams.
Responsibilities include overseeing strategy development, annual planning and budgeting, pipeline and portfolio management, business analysis and reporting.
The successful candidate will lead annual strategy reviews and planning processes, helping teams define priorities, assess trade-offs and develop execution plans.
The role will also involve preparing materials for senior-level strategy meetings and supporting data-driven investment decisions.
Key Responsibilities
The DDSPM will lead complex initiatives involving multiple teams, functions, regions and leadership levels. The position requires the ability to influence stakeholders even when there is no formal reporting relationship.
Key duties include:
- Developing and refining team strategies and investment priorities.
- Tracking performance against strategic and business objectives.
- Identifying emerging opportunities, risks and strategic issues.
- Leading annual planning and strategy review processes.
- Coordinating integrated business planning across resources, talent, operations and strategy.
- Managing investment pipelines and supporting major grants.
- Advising leadership on strategic and operational decisions.
- Facilitating leadership meetings and organisational gatherings.
- Building relationships across the Foundation and its partner teams.
- Leading Strategy, Planning and Management staff.
- Supporting workforce planning, team development and culture initiatives.
- Improving business processes through technology, automation and AI.
The successful candidate will also contribute to Foundation-wide improvement initiatives and support collaboration with regional country offices and programme strategy teams.
Required Experience
Candidates should have at least 10 years of experience in business strategy, development or general management, ideally gained through senior positions in large international organisations or top-tier consulting environments.
The Foundation is seeking a strong systems thinker and problem solver with expertise in strategy development, implementation and performance management.
Experience in areas such as global health data systems, artificial intelligence, digital connectivity, research methods, economic evaluation, norms and culture insights is relevant to the role.
Candidates should demonstrate experience working in highly matrixed organisations, building alignment across diverse stakeholders and delivering results through influence.
Strong leadership, project management, communication and relationship-building skills are essential. Experience working across South Asia, East Africa, West Africa or international development is preferred.
The position is expected to involve up to 20% domestic and international travel.
Salary and Benefits
The salary range for the position is $238,400 to $369,400 USD. For positions based in Seattle and Washington, D.C., the salary range is $262,200 to $406,400 USD.
The Foundation provides a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions and other family and wellness benefits.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation careers platform and submit their application before the 15 November 2026 deadline.
This opportunity is particularly suited to senior professionals with expertise in strategy, business operations, international development, portfolio management, organisational leadership and cross-functional programme delivery.
The Deputy Director role offers an opportunity to work at a major global foundation and contribute to strategic initiatives aimed at advancing gender equality and improving outcomes for women and girls.
