Senior Program Assistant, Development Policy and Finance

Senior Program Assistant, Development Policy and Finance

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Washington, DC 20005

Role Title: Senior Program Assistant (SPA), Development Policy and Finance

Division: Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA)

Group: Development Policy and Finance (DPAF)

Location: Washington, D.C.

Application Deadline: September 15th, 2021

At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation we believe that by creating an environment for our employees to personally and professionally thrive, we will have maximum impact toward our missions to achieve our vision.

Leadership & Culture

Our culture shapes our choices about what we do and how we do it. We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment can do extraordinary things. We expect foundation employees to intentionally and consistently embody our four agreements; show respect, offer trust, be transparent, and create energy.

Global Policy and Advocacy

The mission of the Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division is to understand and shape the public policy debates affecting the foundation's work, build support for its major program and policy objectives, and develop partnerships and alliances that can advance the foundation's objectives nationally and globally. Because the foundation's resources alone are not enough to solve the challenges ahead, GPA also supports advocacy efforts to engage diverse stakeholders and promote innovative solutions that advance our program goals. We work in close partnership with grantees, our colleagues in the Global Health, Global Development, Global Growth & Opportunity, U.S. and Gender Equality programs and Foundation Communications to build the environment in which all people have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.

Group Summary

The Development Policy & Finance (DPAF) team is the foundation’s development economics and finance team, accountable for ensuring GPA’s work – and by extension the foundation’s work – is informed by strong economic and financial analysis and viewpoints, resonant with economic trends, and connected with key decision-makers at major multilateral development banks (MDBs), development finance institutions (DFIs) and think tanks focused on development economics and finance. This is not a research team but a group of advisory economists and development finance experts accountable for using economic analysis and perspectives to strengthen foundation policy and advocacy strategies, and for growing the community of economic policymakers engaged in foundation issues such as global health, human capital and gender equity.

Position Summary

The DPAF Senior Program Assistant (SPA) will provide wide and varied administrative and organizational support for division/team. This position will have responsibility to provide guidance and coordination of team support with other Program Assistants and have frequent collaboration with other Senior Program Assistants in the GPA Division. In the performance of these functions, the SPA will demonstrate the highest standards of integrity among diverse external and internal partners to achieve results.

Position reports to: Director, Development Policy and Finance (DPAF)

Core Responsibilities

Complex calendar management and travel planning. Schedule a high volume of appointments, meetings and travel arrangements.

Schedule and assist with planning events, such as meetings, conferences, convenings and presentations, which may include coordinating arrangements for participants, handling logistics, preparing, and disseminating materials.

Prioritize, lead, and improve administrative functions, and represent DPAF in collaborative and foundation-wide administrative support activities.

Basic financial duties including expense, budget and invoice reconciliation.

Records and data management including but not limited to management of the team SharePoint site, maintaining an organized filing system etc.

Act as liaison for team and internal partners, answering questions and routing requests as appropriate.

Work on division specific special projects as needed.

May determine methods and procedures on new assignments and may provide guidance to support staff.

Interact and communicate clearly and consistently with grantees and partners in the field.

Active engagement in learning opportunities, including participation in team skill building, collaboration and a diversity, equity and inclusion learning agenda to cultivate a healthy team culture.

Core Knowledge and Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills; must be able to communicate effectively with internal and external contacts and have the ability to adjust to a wide variety of working styles.

Proficient with MS Office Suite.

Knowledge of foundation priorities and how they align with the goals of the department/division.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of experience, or equivalent experience.

“The foundation requires a COVID-19 vaccination for in-person business in the United States. Therefore, all U.S. employees are required to present proof of vaccination status upon hire unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption.”

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve the mission of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to: