Project Manager, Communications & Business Process Improvement 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

The Strategy, Planning & Management (SPM) Team sits within Information Technology (IT), part of our Business Operations Division. SPM serves as IT's central hub for connecting strategy, planning, and operations so that IT can deliver on foundation priorities. We are looking for a Communications & Business Process Improvement Project Manager to join SPM, focused on IT's communications portfolio, continuous improvement activities, and department events. Our team partners with IT Leadership and cross-divisional stakeholders to manage the business and technical rhythms that keep work aligned — including rhythm of business operations, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, and IT procurement activities.

*This position is a limited-term position for 12 months. Relocation will not be provided.

Your Role

As a Project Manager, Communications & Business Process Improvement, you are a versatile communications and operations professional responsible for keeping IT informed, connected, and running effectively. You will work with IT leadership, team members, and cross-divisional partners to shape and execute the department's communications model, manage the rhythm of business calendar, and coordinate events that bring the organization together. You will manage content and communications workflows across channels and audiences—from the monthly newsletter and annual report to SharePoint and partnering on productivity messaging—while maintaining the knowledge management resources and operational processes that enable IT to function smoothly. As a Project Manager on the SPM team, you will identify and implement process improvement opportunities, support culture and inclusion programming, and build strong relationships across IT and the broader foundation to help the team deliver on its priorities.

What You’ll Do

Communications Management & Content Creation

• Supporting the development and operationalization of a departmental communications model, including content strategy, editorial calendar, and channel governance

• Leading the department’s annual report effort through drafting, editing, stakeholder coordination, and distribution

• Maintaining and iterating on the accomplishments tracking process (Airtable), ensuring data quality and alignment with executive reporting needs

• Drafting and publishing clear, engaging communications for varied audiences, including the monthly newsletter, announcements, SharePoint updates, and other operational messaging as needed

Rhythm of Business, Events & Culture

• Maintaining and updating the IT Rhythm of Business (RoB) calendar, ensuring accuracy and timely communication to stakeholders

• Partnering with divisional stakeholders to align the IT Rhythm of Business with broader organizational planning cycles

• Coordinating department-wide and team-level events end-to-end, including venue selection, catering logistics, run-of-show creation, and day-of in-person support

• Supporting quarterly culture surveys, including distribution, results synthesis, and preparing recommendations for senior leadership

• Supporting quarterly diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) discussions in partnership with the DEIA lead

Knowledge Management & Operations

• Maintaining and updating departmental SharePoint sites and resources, ensuring content is accurate, accessible, and up to date

• Managing and iterating on the employee onboarding checklist, ensuring all resources and links are current

• Supporting space planning and coordination, including workstation assignments and collaboration with Facilities on layout changes

• Monthly oversight of software API integrations to ensure data accuracy and system continuity

• Creating, maintaining, and consolidating process documentation to ensure recurring workflows are well-documented and easy to hand off

• Partnering with the broader team to identify and implement process improvement opportunities across shared workflows and tools

• Supporting additional time-bound projects based on team priorities and capacity

Your Experience

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience

• Strong written communication skills with experience writing for organizational and executive audiences, including annual reports and newsletters

• Experience effectively collaborating with stakeholders standing up a team-wide communications strategy with balanced outcomes for risk, efficiency, affordability and user experience.

• Experience managing editorial calendars, content strategy, and channel governance

• Experience with metrics tracking, survey administration, and data synthesis

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with experience managing multiple cross-functional workstreams, meeting deadlines independently, and keeping complex projects on track

• Strong facilitation skills with confidence leading diverse groups in person and virtually

• Experience with end-to-end event planning and coordination

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 suite, including SharePoint site creation

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and proactively communicate progress and roadblocks to stakeholders

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Graphic design experience, with proficiency in Adobe Express or comparable tools

• Experience creating or editing video content for organizational or executive audiences

• Familiarity with human-centered design or similar facilitation methods

• Experience with Airtable or comparable work management tools

*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.).

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.