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Description
Employer: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Position: Senior Policy Officer - Federal Activities US Program
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
The United States Program Policy Team works to advance the Foundation's US Program goals, with a particular focus on developing advocacy strategies and grants to support the scaling and sustainability of the Foundation's work in Education, US Libraries, the Pacific Northwest and emerging components of the domestic Special Initiatives team. The team also manages a range of large, visible and inter-related policy grantees working on complementary issues, requiring considerable political and policy sophistication. This person will join a Policy Team that currently leads policy issues for the Education Team and post secondary “plus†strategy and will be expected to lead congressional outreach on a range of topics in USP, including work to inform key reauthorizations. In addition to leading policy development in partnership with the above program areas, this SPO will also work to integrate activities with USP's Communications team and work across disciplines to identify potential joint and/or complementary policy efforts across the US Programs that could be executed at the federal legislative level.
The Senior PO, Federal Activities should have a background encompassing work on Capitol Hill in both the House and Senate and will use that experience to manage an existing portfolio of grants across a wide range of organizations and will inform federal policy makers. The SPO will also develop additional grants and projects to further the foundation's objectives.
Responsibilities:
• Manage existing federal policy grant portfolio and develop new projects. Update federal policy strategy. Identify existing grantees for expansion; identify additional partners to advocate for federal policy change. Develop and execute new grants.
• Work with Federal consultants, Federal Program SPO and USP leads to identify potential Jointly Funded Projects (JFP) opportunities that align with Foundation strategy and require congressional action (within IRS lobby restrictions)
• Serve as internal point person for congressional action on Jointly Funded Projects
* Brief Foundation staff, directors and leadership on JFP's.
* Work with other foundation staff to identify need for research and/or grantee best practices to inform JFP's. * Through the JFP lever, secure federal funds for sustainability of key efforts.
• Serve as primary liaison for Foundation Government Relations staff.
• Manage relationship with Federal consultants and ensure coordination with broader foundation staff efforts.
• A minimum of 10 years experience in government affairs, public policy or related field and experience in both legislative and or executive branch preferred – and appropriations experience a plus;
• At least 5 years of experience specifically on Capitol Hill, ideally both House and Senate;
• Familiarity with of key domestic policy including education, work force development, English language acquisition, immigration, higher education, e-rate, low income housing and broadband deployment;
• Demonstrated success in affecting policy change at the federal level.
• Independent worker but collaborative and inclusive as part of larger team.
• The ability to be a quick learner, flexible, highly organized, with ability to manage multiple projects with a strong orientation to detail/quality work.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including interpersonal and small group interactions in Washington DC and public speaking to a range of diverse audiences.
• Strong managerial skills and background in goal-driven project implementation.
• Must be able to deal with sensitive information and situations with utmost care and composure.
• Sincere commitment to equity, accountability and results in the educational system.
• Positive attitude and sense of humor a must.
• Scope of work requires up to 20% travel and residency in or relocation to the Washington, DC area.
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