Senior Communications Officer – North America (Digital Strategy & Campaigns)
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking an experienced communications professional for the position of Senior Communications Officer – North America (Digital Strategy & Campaigns) in Washington, DC. This is a full-time opportunity for a strategic digital communications leader who can translate complex global health and development priorities into compelling campaigns that engage U.S. audiences.
The role sits within the Foundation’s Communications Division and the North America Team, which works across policy, advocacy, communications, and government relations to advance domestic and global priorities.
About the Role
The Senior Communications Officer will lead innovative digital communications strategies designed to expand how the Gates Foundation and its partners engage audiences around global health and development issues.
The successful candidate will bring strong expertise in digital storytelling, audience targeting, campaign development, and integrated communications. A key part of the role will be translating complex policy and development issues into culturally relevant content that can reach audiences beyond traditional policy circles.
The position will also involve providing strategic advice to program teams, grantees, partners, and other stakeholders on how to use digital channels effectively to influence audiences and build support for advocacy priorities.
Key Responsibilities
The Senior Communications Officer will work across communications, federal government relations, and program teams to align digital strategies with broader advocacy and policy objectives.
Responsibilities include monitoring emerging digital platforms, trends, and audience behaviours and identifying opportunities to expand the Foundation’s reach. The successful candidate will help define campaign objectives, target audiences, messaging strategies, partnerships, and digital channels.
The role will also involve developing creative digital storytelling approaches and building relationships with organizations, content creators, influencers, and nontraditional media platforms.
Another important responsibility will be managing agencies, consultants, creators, and digital vendors involved in campaign development and execution.
The officer will develop campaign concepts that can be adopted and amplified by partners, grantees, and trusted validators. Audience research and performance data will be used to test strategies, refine messaging, improve campaign effectiveness, and identify lessons for future initiatives.
Who Should Apply?
This position is particularly suited to a senior communications professional with extensive experience in the U.S. digital, media, cultural, nonprofit, advocacy, or political environment.
Candidates should have a strong understanding of digital and media trends and the ability to turn emerging developments into forward-looking communications strategies. Experience leading national or multi-state digital communications initiatives is strongly relevant.
The Foundation is also looking for someone with experience developing partnerships with influencers, creators, and external organizations to increase campaign reach and impact.
Applicants should demonstrate experience designing integrated, audience-first digital campaigns that influence perceptions, mobilize stakeholders, and deliver measurable results.
Strong project management skills are important because the role involves coordinating complex initiatives across internal teams, external partners, agencies, consultants, and vendors. Candidates should also be comfortable working in environments involving ambiguity and competing priorities while exercising sound strategic judgment.
Experience working within nonprofit, advocacy, political, or other mission-driven organizations will be valuable.
Salary and Benefits
The salary range for the position is $173,000–$259,600, with a Washington, DC range of $190,300–$285,500. New hires are generally placed between the minimum and midpoint of the applicable range, depending on skills, experience, and expertise.
The Gates Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage with no employee premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contributions, regional holidays, and additional employee and family benefits.
The position may require up to 20% domestic and international travel.
Important Eligibility Requirement
Applicants must have unrestricted work authorization in the United States, where the position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this position, including sponsorship or other immigration support associated with visas or temporary work authorization.
The hiring process is also contingent on successfully completing a background check.
How to Apply
This is a senior-level opportunity for an experienced digital communications professional interested in using communications, technology, and audience strategy to support global health and development priorities.
Interested candidates should review the official vacancy requirements carefully and submit their application through the Gates Foundation careers portal.
Job Location: Washington, DC, USA
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: $190,300–$285,500 in Washington, DC
Travel: Up to 20%
Employer: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
