Senior Program Officer, Government and Multilateral Relations, Canada

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

The mission of the Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division is to understand and shape the public policy debates affecting the foundation’s work, build support for its major program and policy objectives, and develop partnerships and alliances that can advance the foundation’s objectives nationally and globally. Because the foundation’s resources alone are not enough to solve the challenges ahead, GPA also supports advocacy efforts to engage diverse stakeholders and promote innovative solutions that advance our program goals. We work in close partnership with grantees, our colleagues in the Global Health, Global Development, Global Growth & Opportunity, U.S. and Gender Equality programs, and Foundation Communications to build an environment in which all people have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.

The North America Team (NAT) is a team within GPA that develops and executes policy, advocacy, communications, and government relations strategies to build political support and advance domestic and global programmatic priorities that are funded by, or executed within, the United States, Canada, and the United Nations.

Your Role

The Senior Program Officer, Government and Multilateral Relations (SPO), Canada Government Relations, will be responsible for developing and executing a cross-cutting advocacy strategy to advance key foundation priorities in global health and development. Reporting to the Deputy Director, Global Policy, Strategy & Operations, North America, in this role you will represent the Foundation to external constituencies in support of the foundation’s overall policy and advocacy objectives in Canada.

This position is based in Washington D.C., where employees work a hybrid schedule with some flexibility to work from home. This position is eligible for our relocation package.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, implement, and coordinate a Canada-facing global health and development advocacy strategy that aligns with foundation priorities and is operationally integrated with other foundation teams.
• Identify advocacy opportunities and provide guidance on prioritization for foundation leadership.
• Contribute to maintaining existing relationships and forming new partnerships by reinforcing senior-level relations with key government officials, civil society organizations, foundations, relevant crown corporations, and other groups.
• Represent the foundation to key program-related external constituencies, including making formal and informal presentations, such as speeches, attending conferences, and other necessary meetings.
• Assume primary responsibility for shaping and managing policy and advocacy grants and contracts in Canada.
• Partner with grantees to develop project objectives and define key outcomes and milestones, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems and processes are established to produce robust evaluation of outcomes.
• Lead ongoing high-quality interactions and clear, consistent communications with grantees and partners.
• Provide regular updates and political intelligence to the North America team and foundation leadership.
• Prepare, support, and staff leadership meetings with government officials, including writing all political intelligence and briefing notes related to Canada.
• Ability to travel within Canada and within the United States (15-20%).

Your Experience

• Advanced degree in a related field with 7+ years of experience working in a global health and development-focused advocacy organization and/or a similarly focused legislative or executive branch.
• Prior experience working in or with senior-level government officials in Canada.
• Experience in the conception, design, and management of strategies, initiatives, and programs related to motivating an enhanced governmental response.
• Experience in the conception, design, and management of advocacy strategies, initiatives, and programs in international development or global health.
• Demonstrated success in leadership roles developing and managing policy and advocacy organizations, programs, or initiatives.
• Demonstrated leadership, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to speak both English and French preferred.
• Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy.
• High level of self-awareness and a low-ego approach to work.
• Ability to navigate complex relationships.
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently in a highly demanding environment.

The salary range for this role is $182,600 to $283,100 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $199,000 to $308,400 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hire salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.

Learn more here