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Senior Program Officer - Policy and External Relations

Division Global Development Program
Department Policy and Advocacy
Location China

Foundation Overview
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Group Summary
The goal of the Global Development Program is to increase opportunities for poor people in the developing world to lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.

We support efforts in the following areas:
- Agricultural Development: helping poor farmers increase their productivity and incomes;

- Financial Services: making a wide range of financial services-particularly safe places to save-more widely available to people in developing countries

- Policy, Advocacy, and Special Initiatives: increasing awareness of global development issues; identifying and promoting powerful solutions; and advocating for more effective investments;

- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: investing in effective sanitation approaches that will contribute to a world where children and families lead healthier, more productive lives;

- Global Libraries: providing free access to computers with the Internet through public libraries in emerging countries.

Responsibilities

Summary: The Policy and External Relations Officer will be based in our China Office and will act as a focal point in China for the Foundation's Global Development Policy & Advocacy team, which seeks to cultivate more and better resources and policies for global development in both the developed and developing world. The primary responsibility of the Policy and External Relations Officer will be to play a lead role in engaging with China about its role in Africa, particularly with respect to promoting the foundation's priority strategic goals around agricultural development. Across all areas, the Policy and External Relations Officer will work closely with and under guidance from the Director of the China Office to ensure they are helping advance the foundation's single, overall plan to engage Chinese decision makers and other influential partners directly and through the foundation's principals, the media, and advocacy partners, in order to cultivate more and better resources and policies to achieve the foundation's priorities.

Responsibilities:

- Serve as a senior-level foundation representative and spokesperson in China as appropriate.
- Build and maintain close relationships with key stakeholders in government, grantees, private sector, NGOs, media, and other individuals of influence to enhance implementation of our Agricultural Development strategy in Africa, as well as other priority strategies of the foundation.
- Identify engagement priorities annually with the China Office, Agricultural Development team, and other relevant teams and execute upon that work.
- Play a coordinating role with program officers in the respective teams to ensure the growing partnership with the Chinese government and related intergovernmental bodies (e.g. G20 and BRICS) is strategic and its implications understood.
- Working with the China Office Director, provide strategic advice and support for foundation leadership and staff to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in Chinese government and other China-based institutions
- Map trends and analysis China's foreign aid policies, making decision and priorities of Chinese ministries, agencies, business networks, universities and other influential players and make recommendations for joint projects related to Africa.
- Identify, prioritize, and develop advocacy opportunities for briefings, meetings, and activities in China.
- Draft short issue briefs as needed for senior foundation leadership including the President, CEO and co-chairs.
- Grant making will not initially be a major part of the role, although that has the potential to change in future years.


Qualifications
• Advanced degree in public policy, international relations, development or a related field is preferred.
- 10 years relevant experience preferred including: work on a broad range of development policy or foreign policy issues, significant experience working with the Chinese government, as well as a wide range of other governments and bilateral or multilateral donors. Outstanding record of achievement in these assignments.
- Knowledge of the governmental and administrative processes and structures in China pertinent to international development research, funding, or policymaking, as well as experience applying this knowledge internationally.
- Must have basic knowledge of agricultural development. Knowledge of and experience in Sub-Saharan Africa preferred.
- Experience in the conception, design and management of strategies, initiatives and programs related to motivating an enhanced governmental response.
- Demonstrated leadership, analytical, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills in both English and Chinese.
- Strong public presentation skills and ability to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with policy partners (e.g. government, think tanks, universities, other development players).
- The ability to stay calm and poised under pressure and remain focused in a rapidly changing environment.
- The ability to work effectively to deadlines.
- Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort.
- Demonstrated commitment to the foundation's core values, mission, and programs and to serving our grantees.
- The highest personal and professional integrity along with a sense of humor.
- Ability to travel up to 35% of time domestically and internationally as needs dictate.

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

Requisition Number 2795BR


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