Associate Program Officer – Policy, Advocacy and Communication

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF or the Gates Foundation) is the largest private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It was launched in 2000 and is said to be the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. The foundation, based in Seattle, Washington, is controlled by its three trustees: Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Other principal officers include Co-Chair William H. Gates, Sr. and Chief Executive Officer Susan Desmond-Hellmann.

It had an endowment of US$42.3 billion as of 24 November 2014. The scale of the foundation and the way it seeks to apply business techniques to giving makes it one of the leaders in venture philanthropy, though the foundation itself notes that the philanthropic role has limitations.[In 2007, its founders were ranked as the second most generous philanthropists in America, and Warren Buffett the first. As of May 16, 2013, Bill Gates had donated US$28 billion to the foundation. 

Your Role

The Associate Program Officer- Policy Advocacy and Communication (APO PAC) will provide technical, operational and project management support primarily to the members of the Nigeria PAC team and to other foundation teams as needed.
The role will report to the Deputy Director, Policy Advocacy and Communication, Nigeria, and work in close coordination with the Senior Program Officers on the team.

What You’ll Do

Organizing and facilitating internal meetings across teams at the NCO around health and other development priorities policy and financing advocacy activities in Nigeria.
Summarizing grant activities and budgets as requested; facilitating donor coordination meetings on PAC investments; responding to requests from country governments and other partners for information.
Project management duties include portfolio management and grantee coordination; logistics and information management.; following up on various requests for assistance and support from the NCO PAC team.
Support to strategy development for the NCO; and ad hoc requests from the NCO PAC and other foundation teams for research support.
Reviewing grant and contract progress and drafting internal analyses.
Helping to draft proposal documents including requests for proposals/calls for letters of interest, proposal analysis review documents, proposal approval memos, etc.
Assisting with proposal management process with internal and external partners.
Carrying out literature reviews, landscape analyses and other analytical reviews as assigned.
Providing analytical support to the NCO as needed.
Traveling to field sites within Nigeria and supporting the implementation and coordination of investments both at the Federal and State levels.
Develop and monitor implementation of formal engagements with government (e.g., MOUs, workplans) and technical grants in support of engagement strategies.
Participate in partner and/or government-sponsored events on behalf of the NCO.

Your Experience

A minimum of 3 years professional experience, preferably in public health and or economic opportunities (agriculture development, financial inclusion, and women economic empowerment) program advocacy and management, supporting a team
Bachelor’s degree in management or related field required. MBA, MPH, MPA or similar field desirable.
Experience in a dynamic environment with proven ability to juggle multiple and competing demands and establish priorities, while providing continual attention to detail in proofing materials, tracking projects, and grants.
Demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire knowledge and execute good judgment in a variety of global health and development contexts.
Excellent written and oral communication skills. Hausa language skills are a plus.
Preferably has experience with other donors (USG, GAVI, Global Fund, DFID, etc) and implementing partners work in supporting public health and development programs in developing countries.
Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.

Other Attributes

Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.
Ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

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