The FoundationWe 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 TeamThe mission of the Global Policy &amp; Advocacy (GPA) division is to understand and shape the public policy debates affecting the foundations work, build support for its major program and policy objectives, and develop partnerships and alliances that can advance the foundations objectives nationally and globally. Because the foundations 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 &amp; Opportunity, U.S. and Gender Equality programs and Foundation Communications to build the environment in which all people have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives. The North America Team (NAT) 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.The application deadline for this role is October 26, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. ​Your RoleThe Senior Officer, California State Lead position leads the foundation’s policy, advocacy and communications efforts and works to design, develop and help execute government relations strategies in support of the foundation’s domestic priorities. Reporting to the Deputy Director, State and Local, you will be a key member of NAT’s senior staff and provide strategic guidance and expertise to further our core mission in the U.S. of strengthening educational opportunities and improving economic mobility.Our ideal state lead is a creative problem solver, thoughtful and trusted partner, and intellectually curious government relations expert with a range of expertise to drive the work of diverse grantees. You will collaborate with colleagues using diplomacy and flexibility to help solve important issues in a dynamic environment.This is a remote based position located in Sacramento, California with an expectation of frequent on-site engagement at the state capitol, generally multiple times each week. Candidates must live within a commutable distance to the capital.This position is a limited-term position for 9 months. Relocation will not be provided.What You’ll Do <ul><li>Lead the development and execution of government relations strategies designed to advance the foundation’s perspective on issues such as education data access and privacy, K-12 math, higher education degree completion and value, education finance, early learning and high school-to-postsecondary pathways.<ul><li>Engage regularly in-person in state Capitols to establish and sustain relationships with key decision-makers (i.e. legislators, agency/institutional heads) and cultivate policy champions (key business, community and philanthropic leaders) that support policy solutions that align with our priorities </li><li>Liaise and collaborate regularly in-person with state-based advocates, influencers, advocacy organizations and other partners and stakeholders</li><li>Track state budget development processes and assess implications of changes for foundation priorities</li><li>Represent the foundation to key external constituencies including making speeches, attending conferences and other formal/informal meetings as necessary</li><li>Coordinate opportunities to use foundation leadership voices in advocacy activities in coverage states</li><li>Develop, implement and coordinate place-based advocacy strategies that support the adoption and scaling of K-12 education and Postsecondary education policy solutions</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Work with key internal stakeholders to provide innovative government relations solutions to sophisticated and challenging problems<ul><li>Assist Deputy Director and Director with the development, refinement and execution of high-impact, cross-team strategies.</li><li>Collaborate with the NAT Policy and Finance Team to identify and adapt needed policy solutions to state policy contexts</li><li>Operate effectively in a highly dynamic and matrixed environment;</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Guide preparation for regular updates to NAT, GPA and foundation leadership on the direction and progress of team strategies and investments based on agreed-upon goals and measurable outcomes; also, brief leadership as needed on broader trends and developments at the state and local level affecting our issues and policies in education and economic mobility.<ul><li>Update NAT, GPA, and U.S. Program leadership about political and policy trends within coverage states</li><li>Operate effectively in a highly dynamic and matrixed environment</li><li>Adapt effectively to change and maintain a positive attitude</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Prepare and manage investment portfolio, meeting all required milestones within the foundation’s annual budget cycle, and ensure clear and consistent communications with the leadership of our grantees and vendors.<ul><li>Identify potential advocacy partners; assess their alignment with foundation priorities; evaluate their capacity to advocate; manage resulting policy, advocacy, and communications grants; and then assess their performance over time</li><li>Create, review, and discuss funding proposals to ensure plans effectively and efficiently support and move program strategies forward towards impact.</li></ul></li></ul>Your Experience <ul><li>Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with 15+ years of state and/or local government relations experience. Must have at least 10 years’ experience working in or closely with at least one of the following; state legislatures, governor’s office and/or state education agencies (eg State Board of Education, State Education Agencies, Super Intendant Offices) or in established government relations firms or organizations. </li><li>Established and proven leader in developing government relations strategies, designing and managing multifaceted projects and initiatives, and building strong partnerships around issues.</li><li>Significant knowledge and experience developing government relations strategies in K-12 and higher education at the state and federal level. Demonstrated ability to develop written analysis and reports in response to internal requests as well as proactively around emerging priorities.</li><li>Demonstrated success leading and managing change and cultivating strong cross-team relationships in a large, matrixed organization with a diverse array of internal stakeholders and external partners.</li><li>Demonstrated expertise to manage, monitor, and evaluate grants.</li><li>Agility to envision new ways to scale tools and solutions to complex and challenging problems.</li><li>Outstanding writing and editing ability and excellent verbal communication and presentation skills.</li><li>Strong initiative, analytical skills, organizational skills, and ability to work towards real results within and across teams while remaining adaptable and flexible in an environment with evolving priorities, tasks, and roles and responsibilities.</li></ul>** Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.The salary range for this role is $186,400 to $288,800 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hire salaries are typically between the salary range minimum and the midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.#LI-BR1Hiring RequirementsAs part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.Candidate AccommodationsIf you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request <a href="http://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ODhrKdVLbEm9S_RW6nQ7dA6ethIGP9NAlRemHliH1cRUNUNENkZROTRQVk1HTDhJMktOTUZLVzE4US4u&amp;web=1&amp;wdLOR=cBC7FD42D-01C7-4C1B-80E3-B29970D716AC" target="_blank">here</a>.Inclusion StatementWe 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.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Senior Officer, California State Lead, State and Local Government Relations, North America, 9-month LTE Remote - California

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation