Director, Policy, Government Relations and Partnerships, Africa

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Position Title: Director, Policy, Government Relations and Partnerships, Africa
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline Date: 28th February 2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the principle that everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life, the foundation emphasizes diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. It offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, and opportunities for employee engagement in various communities. The foundation is committed to fostering a supportive work environment that promotes personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
The Director, Policy, Government Relations and Partnerships for Africa will play a pivotal role in leading the foundation's advocacy and government relations efforts across East, Southern, and West/Central Africa. This position requires a strategic and experienced leader who will cultivate partnerships with government entities, foundation grantees, and private sector partners. The Director will oversee policy and communication efforts in key areas such as health systems strengthening, maternal and child health, and economic opportunities like agricultural development and digital public infrastructure. The role involves close collaboration with various teams within the foundation to ensure alignment with government priorities and mobilization of resources for impactful interventions. The Director will also manage a team of Deputy Directors and Senior Program Officers, ensuring effective execution of the foundation's advocacy strategies and alignment with regional objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of advocacy strategies for priority countries in East, Southern, and West/Central Africa, ensuring coordination with advocacy leads in Nigeria and Ethiopia.
• Foster high-level government relations and partnerships with national and regional stakeholders to align policies and financing with foundation goals.
• Oversee technical advocacy efforts to influence public policy and support regional priorities.
• Supervise Deputy Directors and collaborate with Senior Program Officers to manage programmatic portfolios and ensure integrated advocacy approaches.
• Cultivate relationships with government, funders, and regional organizations to align resources and policies with foundation objectives.
• Engage with grantees and partners to support advocacy outcomes and facilitate stakeholder engagements during regional visits.
• Collaborate with the Global Policy and Advocacy division and other foundation divisions to ensure regional strategies reflect programmatic priorities.
• Oversee policy and advocacy-related grants and investments, ensuring robust portfolios that drive scalable impact.
• Represent the foundation in key forums and contribute to global advocacy strategies. 1
• Lead efforts to understand and influence macroeconomic issues impacting the foundation's work in Africa, ensuring alignment with global finance architecture and funding ecosystems. 1
• Build and sustain strategic philanthropic partnerships across Africa to drive measurable impact aligned with the foundation's mission.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Policy, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in advocacy, government relations, or public policy, particularly in the international development or philanthropic sectors.
• Proven experience in managing multi-functional teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Extensive background in designing and implementing advocacy strategies that align with organizational priorities.
• Strong experience in managing complex partnerships and high-level government relationships, including engagement with multilateral organizations and NGOs.
• Demonstrated expertise in navigating politically sensitive environments and building consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in relevant fields such as Public Policy, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, Economics, or Business Administration. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of policy and advocacy in the context of international development.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 15 years of professional experience in advocacy, government relations, or public policy, with significant exposure to the international development or philanthropic sectors. Candidates should have a robust background working within Africa, demonstrating a deep understanding of the continent's political, economic, and social dynamics. Proven experience in managing teams and fostering collaboration across diverse groups is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and French is mandatory for this role, as it facilitates effective engagement in francophone regions across Africa. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the regions of focus may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and may require travel up to 40% domestically and internationally for oversight, engagement, and partnership-building activities. The role is part of a senior leadership team and involves significant responsibility in shaping the foundation's advocacy and policy strategies across the African continent. The hiring process will include a background check, and accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities. The foundation is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring practices.