Associate Program Officer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

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 which include 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 Digitally-Enabled Teaching and Learning team, part of the Postsecondary (PS) Courseware and Navigation team, develops, scales, and supports postsecondary solutions. A key goal is to significantly improve student success rates in college gateway courses, while reducing success gaps in key student demographics, all while assisting faculty and academic communities in their success goals.
Your Role
You are a key enabler for the Digitally-Enabled Teaching and Learning team, supporting the Deputy Director and the team's investment officers across a wide range of research, operational, and investment activities. You work hands-on and are highly resourceful: conducting literature reviews, organizing convenings, helping officers with investment details, and identifying ways to streamline team processes. You also make your own investments-typically in collaboration with the Deputy Director or another investment officer-and actively use AI and productivity tools to keep the team efficient and effective. You bring strong organizational and communication skills, technical savviness, and the positive, collaborative orientation that makes you a go-to resource for everyone on the team and helps build a healthy team culture.
What You'll Do

• Support the Deputy Director and investment officers on a wide range of investment-related activities, including serving as primary or secondary officer on select grants and contracts, co-investing alongside colleagues across the team and division, helping arrange meetings with partners, meeting with partners, synthesizing notes and plans, and leading projects.

• Conduct literature reviews, synthesize research findings, and produce clear written reports and presentations to inform investment strategy and advise grantees and partners.

• Plan, coordinate, and provide on-the-ground support for team convenings, partner events, and conferences, including travel as needed.

• Assist officers with investment details-tracking progress, monitoring budgets, preparing funding recommendations, and ensuring grant management tasks are completed accurately and on time.

• Identify and propose improvements to team processes, tools, and workflows, serving as a resource on AI and productivity tools and helping colleagues adopt practices that improve efficiency and quality.

• Engage directly with partners, grantees, faculty, and students to gather input, support relationship management, and maintain strong communication across projects.

• Exhibit respect and understanding of traditional university culture, working towards using technology to help instructors and students succeed while simultaneously strengthening the important human connections needed for quality education, and building towards the cooperation needed for academia to rise to higher levels.

• Help build an exceptionally positive and trusting team culture, prioritize collective success, and model equitable and inclusive behaviors.

Your Experience

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent demonstrated experience; an advanced degree or relevant graduate-level coursework is a plus, preferably in education, a STEM field, public policy, or a related area.

• Familiarity with digitally-enabled teaching and learning and an eagerness to develop deeper expertise across the team's portfolio.

• Demonstrated hands-on, organized, execution-oriented work style, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously with attention to detail and follow-through.

• Proficiency with AI and productivity tools, and a track record of using technology to improve the quality and efficiency of work; experience identifying and implementing process improvements is a plus.

• Strong research and synthesis skills, including experience conducting literature reviews, summarizing evidence, and communicating findings clearly to diverse audiences.

• Experience planning or supporting convenings, workshops, or events, including logistics coordination and on-site facilitation support.

• Demonstrated excellence in concise written and oral communication and a track record of contributing to team cultures defined by directness, optimism, positivity, and collaboration.

* Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. This includes direct company sponsorship and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (eg: H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).
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.
#LI-SC2
The salary range for this role is $118,200 to $177,200 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 $130,000 to $195,000 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires 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
We're committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process-such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support-we're happy to help. Please contact HR@gatesfoundation.org with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.
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.