Principal Officer, Measurement, Learning & Evaluation at Gates Foundation

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

Posting Close Date: Friday, July 3rd at 11:59pm PT

Your Role

As Principal Officer, Measurement, Learning & Evaluation (PO) within OOP, you will define and steward the division-wide MLE system that enables the U.S. Program Leadership Team (USLT) to make high-quality, evidence-informed decisions.

You are accountable for translating signals from across investments and portfolios into a coherent, decision-ready view of progress, performance, and risk against Ambition 2045. That means defining what must be measured, how it is standardized and interpreted, and how it informs leadership decisions—ensuring MLE is not only rigorous but actionable, driving changes in strategy, investment, and execution across the division.

You will work across all priority pillars and strategies to:

• Establish division-wide standards, guardrails, and leadership-level metrics aligned to Ambition 2045

• Define how portfolio- and program-level signals are aggregated, compared, and interpreted

• Ensure underlying data, tools, and processes enable consistent, reliable inputs into the system

• Synthesize cross-portfolio insights to inform USLT tradeoffs, prioritization, and resource allocation

• Provide visibility into division-level progress, risks, and opportunities

• Ensure decision-grade evidence is available at the right time to support invest, scale, pivot, and stop decisions

• Identify and elevate emerging insights and MLE opportunities that materially improve decision quality

You will partner closely with OOP Strategy, Planning & Management leadership, Program-level DDMLEs, and Directors to strengthen integration across strategy, learning, and decision-making.

What You’ll Do

Enterprise Measurement & Impact Architecture

• Lead the design and stewardship of the division-wide impact model, including shared outcomes, leading indicators, and performance expectations aligned to Ambition 2045

• Define and maintain the "ladder of outcomes" connecting BOW, PST/FST, and division-level goals

• Establish and govern shared measurement standards, definitions, and reporting norms across portfolios

• Oversee development and continuous improvement of division-wide dashboards and analytical tools that enable cross-portfolio visibility

• Advance enterprise approaches to impact accounting, predictive modeling, and scenario analysis to inform strategic decisions

Cross-Portfolio Insight & Decision Support

• Integrate program signals with broader context signals to surface patterns, tradeoffs, and risks that inform strong division-level decisions

• Translate complex evidence into clear, decision-relevant insights for USLT and senior leadership

• Provide forward-looking, decision-aligned analysis to inform division-level decisions on prioritization, sequencing, and resource allocations

• Surface cross-portfolio implications early, particularly where strategies are interdependent or competing for resources

• Serve as a trusted, independent voice in decision-making forums, bringing an evidence-based perspective and constructive challenge to consequential decisions

Division-Wide Learning, Standards & Capability

• Design and facilitate structured forums that embed cross-portfolio learning throughout the strategy and investment lifecycle (e.g., start, scale, pivot, stop)

• Monitor external field signals, research, and emerging trends, synthesizing them into strategic foresight that tests assumptions and surfaces risks

• Define expectations for core MLE deliverables (e.g., learning agendas, dashboards, evaluation approaches) and partner with program-level DDMLEs to ensure consistency with context-specific flexibility

• Provide leadership across the MLE community of practice, driving coherence, quality, and shared standards

• Influence hiring, talent development, and performance expectations to strengthen enterprise MLE capability

• Partner with OOP and SPM leadership on planning and governance rhythms, and with the AI Enablement hub on AI-enabled learning systems

Leadership & Culture

• Model and reinforce a one-division mindset, balancing respect for portfolio ownership with enterprise-level coherence

• Promote intellectual honesty, constructive challenge, and transparency in decision-making forums

• Foster a culture that values rigorous, inclusive evidence—elevating diverse perspectives and interrogating bias in data and decision-making

• Ensure MLE practices reflect principles of equity and inclusion, including non-extractive data collection, incorporation of lived experience, and rigorous attention to bias in analysis and interpretation

• Operate effectively in a highly matrixed environment, influencing without direct authority over distributed teams

Your Experience

We seek a leader who combines deep technical expertise in measurement and evaluation with strong enterprise judgment and the ability to influence senior leaders in complex environments.

• Advanced degree in economics, public policy, education, statistics, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 12+ years of experience in measurement, evaluation, research, analytics, or related discipline, with increasing levels of responsibility.

• Demonstrated experience designing and leading complex measurement, performance, or learning systems at scale.

• Deep expertise in impact measurement, analytics, evidence generation, and the application of data to inform strategic decision-making.

• Proven ability to synthesize complex information and translate technical findings into actionable insights for senior leaders.

• Strong track record of influencing decisions and driving alignment across diverse stakeholders in matrixed and ambiguous environments.

• Experience balancing methodological rigor with practical decision-making needs in fast-moving or resource-constrained contexts.

• Exceptional communication skills, including executive-level presentation, facilitation, and storytelling.

• Enterprise mindset with the ability to connect insights across portfolios, functions, and systems.

• Experience in philanthropy, education, public sector, or other mission-driven organizations preferred.

Leadership Characteristics

• Acts as a trusted advisor with discretion to senior leadership

• Demonstrates intellectual rigor, curiosity, and openness to challenge

• Champions evidence-informed decision-making and adaptive learning

• Builds alignment and trust across diverse teams and perspectives

• Operates with humility, integrity, and a strong commitment to equity

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 (e.g.: H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.). 

The salary range for this role is $212,800 to $329,800 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 $234,000 to $362,800 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.