Advisor, AI Global Policy & Advocacy

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 Team

The Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) Division serves as the external affairs division of the Gates Foundation. Its mission 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 advance the foundation's objectives nationally and globally. GPA spans North America; Europe, Middle East & East Asia; the China Country Office; Development Policy & Finance; Philanthropic Partnerships; and Program Advocacy, as well as oversight for government relations globally.

Your Role

As the Advisor, AI Global Policy & Advocacy you will lead GPA's portfolio of cross-cutting “AI for good” public goods, including the field-shaping work that benefits the foundation and the wider ecosystem. You will bring coherence to GPA's engagement on AI, coordinating efforts across teams (both within GPA and across the foundation) and serve as a clear point of accountability and decision-making for the AI public-goods agenda.

Working in close partnership across the GPA division as well as with the foundation's AI Steering Committee (AISC), program strategy teams, regional and country offices, and Global Communications, you will ensure GPA engages the surge of new AI funding strategically, coordinates external engagement, and mobilize quickly to deliver high-priority outputs. Over time, you will connect this public goods work to GPA's broader AI strategy as it evolves.

You will bring sound judgment across funding and policy with the ability to convene senior internal and external stakeholders, set priorities, and move complex, cross-cutting work forward in a fast-moving space.

*This role reports to the Chief of Staff, GPA. This position is a limited-term position for 36 months. Our preference is for this role to be based in Seattle, WA or Washington, DC. In some instances we are open to hiring a US-domestic remote based employee. International remote outside of the US is not possible.

*Applications accepted until Noon Pacific Time on Friday, September 4, 2026.

What You'll Do

Coordinate and bring coherence across GPA's AI activity

• Serve as the connective point across GPA's AI efforts, identifying synergies and ensuring a coherent, consistent approach.

• Establish a clear operating rhythm and decision-making approach for GPA's AI public goods, coordinating with cross-cutting bodies such as the AISC and relevant program and regional teams.

• Take end-to-end accountability for the public goods deliverables in GPA's remit, driving them from concept to completion.

• Structure work that can be accomplished by different parts of GPA and stitched back together into a cohesive approach.

Shape, steward, and translate a coherent foundation position on AI

• Serve as primary point of contact on the foundation's position on the AI topics that surface publicly, coordinating across teams as needed (including Global Communications, program teams, and GPA).

• Refactor and connect existing AI-related content, examples, and proof points from across the foundation so they can be used effectively with priority influence channels and decision-makers

Enable a coordinated approach to mobilizing funding

• Maintain a dynamic view of the AI funding landscape, tracking philanthropies, multilaterals and DFIs, corporate funders, domestic sources, and high-net-worth and new AI money.

• Hold and prioritize “fundables” lists matching foundation priorities and ecosystem bottlenecks to partners and vehicles capable of delivering against them.

• Run two-sided matchmaking that triages, routes and actively shapes opportunities between sources and uses of capital.

• Develop prospective fundraising goals tied to tent-pole moments and help the foundation engage major funders and gifts proactively rather than reactively.

Bring structure to GPA's AI policy agenda

• Build a structured taxonomy of the AI policy space (by issue area, by geography, and by sector and its intersection with AI) and help drive prioritization and decision making for GPA engagement

• Work closely with teams to translate those priorities into concrete policy goals

Coordinate the foundation’s representation at external convenings

• Coordinate the foundation's representation at key AI summits and convenings, setting clear objectives for each tied to prospective policy and funding goals.

Coordinate and/or own surge capacity for high priority ‘announceables’

• Facilitate, accelerate, and provide surge capacity for the creation of high priority “announceables” (in partnership with the Foundation Strategy Office) and carry them through to a deliverable with a clear owner.

Your Experience

• Deep substantive expertise in artificial intelligence, including a strong understanding of foundation models, AI policy and advocacy, model development and deployment, open-source ecosystems, safety and governance, and the implications of these technologies for public policy and global development.

• Demonstrated experience translating AI expertise into strategy, policy, investment, or implementation decisions, with the ability to assess geopolitical dynamics, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and engage credibly with leading researchers, technology companies, policymakers, and practitioners.

• Demonstrated ability to bring structure, clarity, and momentum to complex, fast-evolving areas of work, including coordinating across teams and functions.

• Strong judgment across both funding/philanthropic and policy domains, with the credibility to convene and align senior internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience in global health, development, or related policy, financing, or philanthropy, with exposure to donor funding, multilateral institutions, or grantmaking.

• Deep knowledge of the AI landscape and its relevance to global development; sufficient to engage funders, policymakers, and technical partners credibly.

• A track record of operating effectively in large, matrixed organizations, building trusted relationships and coalitions across diverse institutional contexts.

• Exceptional communication and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complexity into clear positions, priorities, and action.

• An Advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in international development, law, public policy, or a related field. 

The salary range for this role is $267,000 to $413,800 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $293,600 to $455,200 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

*Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. This includes direct company sponsorship and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (eg: H-1B, O-1, L-1,  E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).

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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

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact HR@gatesfoundation.org with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.

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.