Associate Strategy Officer

Position Summary & Responsibilities

The Associate Strategy Officer (ASO) will support their team with high quality analysis and decision analytics around key issues; making sure that new data is captured, analyzed and the results fed back into strategic decision making processes. The ASO will also contribute to identifying topics for new primary research and technology innovation with high potential.

Key responsibilities will include:Support strategy development process:
Participate in the design of the overall process for strategy development

Support Senior Strategy Officers (SSO) or Strategy Officers (SO) with the day-to-day management of the strategic process and be responsible for driving discrete bodies of work

Develop materials to drive project execution – e.g. analyses, project plans, meeting materials, ultimate strategy document outputs

Contribute and participate in discussions with internal team, external experts, and other partners

Employ strategic tools to develop and assess options, ensure logical reasoning, and challenge assumptions

Support strategy development process with a customer-focus orientation (e.g. effective communication and relationship management skills)

Support the implementation of creative solutions to manage group processes (e.g. managing conflict and driving alignment).

Perform research and analytical work in support of the strategy development and execution planning processes:

Contribute to the identification and design of required research and analytical work

Research and analyze data to support decision-making, including statistical analysis and working with third party resources to develop analytical methodologies and analyze results (e.g. collating information required from economic literature and existing public databases)

Participate in the development and use of tools to facilitate strategy development and processes associated with budgeting, portfolio management, and other areas as needed.

Contribute to knowledge management processes and tools for the Strategy team.

Provide project management and analytical support to cross-cutting strategy projects.

Contribute and participate in team building activities such as team vision and goal refinement, professional development, training, recruiting, onboarding, broader Foundation Strategy community of practice, team social events and retreats, etc.

Participate in foundation-wide activities (e.g., learning sessions, all staff meetings, performance reviews).

Located in Seattle, WA, the Associate Strategy Officer will report to the Deputy Director, Strategy.

Leadership and Culture

We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal things.

Core Knowledge and Skills

We are looking for people who enjoy the challenge of working on complex problems and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for transformational change in the lives of people around the world. S/he must be prepared to work across a diverse set of disciplines, bridging a wide range of expertise all the while being a solid team player, with a demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in a fast-paced, challenging environment.

We seek an experienced professional with a minimum of three to five years’ experience; preferably with at least two years’ experience gained in strategic planning functions preferably at a top tier strategy consulting firm. Additional knowledge and skills desired include:

Bachelor’s degree required.

Broad understanding of global health/development issues and some global health/development experience is preferable.

Ability to learn new content quickly, identify connections and second-order implications and demonstrate competence with internal/external teams.

Some experience with strategy execution, measurement, review and adjustment is preferable.

Deep knowledge of strategy development and end-to-end complex project management (including process design, team structure, analytical requirements, development of novel communication tools and external/senior leadership engagement).

Proven strength in structured problem solving and strategic business planning, with the ability to easily identify and communicate framework to analyze issue.

Demonstrated ability to bring new frameworks and tools to facilitate strategy development process.

Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and to demanding timelines.

Experience in a role requiring collaboration (both internal and external) as well as a solid understanding of the realities and complexities of working within and effectively managing projects within a complex matrixed environment.

Experience with supporting overall leadership and direction to varied consulting projects to assure the quality of content and interaction with client – as well as driving team performance and productivity.

Ability to question and challenge colleagues including managers and partners in constructive manner.

Comfortable with highly unstructured and ambiguous situations; ability to proactively resolve.

Strong quantitative/financial knowledge, including experience creating complex models, with a demonstrated ability to extract appropriate data to convey complex information through the use of supporting tables, graphs and other visual representations.

Excellent organizational, facilitation, oral, and written communication skills.

Ability to function successfully in a politically demanding environment.

Ability to work effectively and with sensitivity across barriers such as language, culture and distance. Excellent listening skills and empathy.

Excellent software skills with Microsoft Office applications. Ability to quickly learn new software modules. Knowledge and fluency in Stata or other statistical program is useful.

Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.

A sense of humor.

Commitment to the foundation’s core values, mission, and programs with an approach that is consistent with the foundation’s guiding principles and holding self to the highest ethical standards.

This is a Limited Term Employee role targeted for 12 months .

For internal candidates, you are required to have a conversation with your manager to confirm their support before you apply to this position. Managers have the right to decline a request to apply for a backfill position, regardless of tenure in role.

Please apply to this posting to indicate your interest in the role, rather than contacting the hiring manager directly.

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Thank you for your interest in working at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

It is the policy of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disabilities, marital status, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. If an applicant has a disability and needs assistance in using this Web site, completing a profile, or applying for a position, please notify us at disability.accommodations@gatesfoundation.org and we will make appropriate arrangements. We are an equal opportunity employer.