Principal Officer, Measurement, Learning & Evaluation

Job Posting Organization:
The Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded with the mission that everyone, regardless of their identity or circumstances, should have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, 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 with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various communities. The foundation is committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally, ensuring that their workplace is inclusive and supportive of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Job Overview:
In this role, you will lead a team focused on measurement, evaluation, and research, developing and refining strategies to assess the efficacy of interventions. You will be responsible for gauging progress against key outcomes and researching emerging topics related to the foundation's strategies. Although this position does not involve direct management of staff, you will serve as the measurement and evaluation lead, collaborating closely with other teams to ensure accountability and effective reporting. Your work will involve leveraging insights from research to create engaging learning experiences and opportunities for the team, ultimately aiming to enhance the educational landscape for students across the United States. The foundation is particularly interested in evidence-based approaches that support students at critical moments in their educational journeys, with the goal of increasing the number of learners who achieve valuable credentials by age 34.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your primary responsibilities will include leading the development and refinement of measurement and evaluation strategies, investing in partners to assess the efficacy of interventions, and gauging strategy progress against key outcomes. You will act as a technical and thought leader for the Advocacy & System Improvement (A&SI) strategy, collaborating with senior program officers and deputy directors on the team-wide learning agenda. Additionally, you will leverage insights from research and evaluation to create high-quality learning experiences, develop learning opportunities across the division, and establish regular rhythms for applying insights. You will also build a vision for how A&SI measures progress and support resource allocation decisions based on predictive modeling and impact assessments.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience in measurement, evaluation, and research design. A strong understanding of the diversity of sector missions, objectives, and resources is essential, along with the ability to interpret research and evaluation findings effectively. The ideal candidate will have a track record of experimenting with new tools to enhance colleagues' understanding of measurement and evaluation, and will be recognized as an expert in the field. Technical expertise in measurement and evaluation, along with comprehensive experience in progressively increasing thought leadership roles, is required. Experience leading complex initiatives with budget responsibilities is also necessary, as is a forward-thinking approach to predictive modeling and impact assessment.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in a relevant field such as education, public policy, economics, or a related discipline is required. Candidates should have a strong foundation in research methodologies and evaluation techniques, as well as an understanding of the educational landscape, particularly in K-12 and post-secondary education.

Experience:
Candidates should have extensive experience in measurement and evaluation, with a proven track record of leading complex initiatives and projects. Experience in progressively increasing roles of thought leadership, including formal project leadership, is essential. The ability to operate effectively in diverse sectors and interpret research findings is crucial, as is experience in fields without a single unifying metric of impact.

Languages:
While no specific languages are mandated, proficiency in English is essential for effective communication within the organization. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly in relation to the diverse populations served by the foundation.

Additional Notes:
This position is a limited-term role for 24 months, with the possibility of relocation assistance for candidates not residing within commuting distance of the Seattle office. The salary range for this role is between $212,800.00 and $329,800.00 USD, with higher ranges applicable in Seattle and Washington D.C. Actual salary placement will depend on the candidate's skills, experience, and expertise as evaluated during the interview process. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, and the foundation is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates.