Senior Program Officer, AI-Enabled Engagement Systems

Job Posting Organization:
The Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Established with the belief that every individual, regardless of their identity or circumstances, deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life, the Foundation emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the global populations it serves. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage without premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The Foundation is committed to fostering a workplace environment that supports both personal and professional growth for its employees.

Job Overview:
In this role, the Senior Program Officer, AI-Enabled Engagement Systems will report to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director of Digital Holistic Student Supports (DHSS) and will be responsible for overseeing the strategy and investment portfolio related to the development of AI-native workflow platforms within the higher education sector. The position aims to deliver impactful use cases that enhance outcomes for students, faculty, and administrators, particularly focusing on underrepresented groups such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous students, as well as those from low-income backgrounds. The overarching goal is to revolutionize how educational institutions manage core support workflows by transforming engagement platforms into AI-driven orchestration layers and funding the integration of institutional policies into machine-readable digital systems. This role is pivotal at the intersection of AI technology, institutional practices, and regulatory compliance, requiring collaboration with various stakeholders including product developers, grantees, and institutional partners to ensure equitable and sustainable adoption of AI solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Program Officer will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including: owning the strategy and investment portfolio for the development of AI-native workflow platforms in higher education; delivering high-impact use cases that lead to measurable improvements in student outcomes; partnering with product developers to evolve engagement platforms into AI-powered orchestration layers; funding tools and methods to codify institutional policies into machine-readable logic; advancing best practices for AI-mediated interactions; monitoring the AI infrastructure ecosystem to identify strategic investment opportunities; managing a portfolio of grants and contracts; nurturing relationships with key partners and collaborators; and providing written analyses and presentations on critical topics for foundation leadership and external partners.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Education, Computer Science, Public Policy, or Business Administration, or have equivalent demonstrated experience. They should have fluency with emerging AI solutions in educational technology, particularly in relation to agentic and LLM-based workflow systems. Experience in designing or funding conversational and agent-based interfaces for educational use cases is essential, along with hands-on experience in evaluating agentic AI systems. Familiarity with open-source products and compliance requirements in regulated environments is also required. Additionally, candidates should have a deep understanding of institutional policy logic and compliance frameworks, as well as the challenges faced by lower-resourced higher education institutions in adopting AI technology.

Educational Background:
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required, with a preference for candidates who have pursued studies in areas such as Education, Computer Science, Public Policy, or Business Administration. Equivalent demonstrated experience may also be considered in lieu of formal education.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have substantial experience in the educational technology sector, particularly with AI solutions. This includes experience in designing or funding AI systems, familiarity with compliance frameworks, and a practical understanding of the challenges faced by educational institutions in implementing AI technology. Candidates should also have experience managing complex investment portfolios and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the nature of the role and the organization’s operations. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Seattle, Washington, and does not offer immigration-related sponsorship. The salary range for this role is between $190,100 to $294,700 USD, with higher ranges for specific locations such as Seattle and Washington D.C. The Foundation emphasizes a balance between competitive pay and its mission-driven goals, with new hires typically placed between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range based on their skills and experience. The hiring process includes a background check, and the organization is committed to providing an inclusive hiring experience, offering accommodations for candidates with disabilities.