Deputy Director, Strategic Planning & Management

Deputy Director, Strategic Planning & Management

Gates Foundation

June 3, 2026July 18, 2026SeattleUnited States
Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
The Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Established with the mission that every individual, regardless of their identity or circumstances, should have 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 funded by the Foundation, 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:
As the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director of Strategic Planning & Management (DDSPM) within the Office of the President (OOP), you will play a pivotal role in leading the integration and execution of division-wide strategies aligned with the Foundation's Ambition 2045 initiative. This initiative aims to enhance equitable upward mobility through educational attainment. Your responsibilities will include translating strategic goals into actionable priorities, establishing planning processes, governance mechanisms, and decision frameworks that ensure effective leadership and operational coherence across the division. You will be tasked with designing management systems and facilitating cross-functional coordination to enable the division to function as a cohesive entity while maintaining the flexibility necessary for portfolio-specific contexts. This role requires collaboration across various priority pillars and strategies to drive the development and refinement of division-wide strategies, ensuring that leadership decisions are informed and actionable.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your primary responsibilities will include leading the design and implementation of strategic planning processes that align with Ambition 2045, structuring annual and multi-year planning and budgeting processes, and facilitating leadership governance forums that support timely decision-making. You will be responsible for translating division strategies into operational guardrails and frameworks, ensuring alignment across strategies and portfolios, and supporting integration between division-level goals and portfolio-level Bodies of Work (BoWs). Additionally, you will design and facilitate leadership forums and governance structures, clarify ownership and accountability in decision-making processes, and surface operational dependencies and risks to inform leadership decisions. You will also work to strengthen organizational alignment through integrated planning and communication mechanisms, support organizational change efforts, and foster a community of practice among SPM leaders to enhance strategic planning and management capabilities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in public policy, business, organizational leadership, education, management, or a related field, or have equivalent experience. Significant leadership experience, typically 12 years or more, in strategy, planning, operations, management consulting, or organizational effectiveness is required. A proven track record of leading enterprise-wide strategic planning and governance efforts in complex organizations is essential, along with the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and navigate organizational complexity. Strong influencing skills, experience in facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups are also necessary. Experience in leading high-performing teams and fostering inclusive cultures is preferred.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in a relevant field such as public policy, business, organizational leadership, education, or management is required. Equivalent experience may also be considered in lieu of formal education.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant leadership experience, typically 12 years or more, in roles related to strategy, planning, operations, management consulting, or organizational effectiveness. Experience in leading enterprise-wide strategic planning and governance efforts in complex organizations is crucial, as is the ability to influence senior leaders and facilitate collaboration across diverse teams.

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. Additional language skills may be considered beneficial but are not explicitly stated as requirements.

Additional Notes:
This position is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role, meaning candidates must have unrestricted work authorization in the United States. The salary range for this role is between $238,400 to $369,400 USD, with specific adjustments for high-wage markets like Seattle and Washington D.C., where the range is $262,200 to $406,400 USD. The Foundation aims to balance competitive pay with its mission, and new hires typically fall between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range based on their skills and experience. The organization is committed to providing an inclusive hiring experience and will accommodate candidates with disabilities or medical conditions as needed.
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