New

Senior Officer, AI Innovation & Access

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
paid time off
United States, Washington, Seattle
500 5th Avenue North (Show on map)
Feb 25, 2025
The Foundation We are the largest nonprofitfighting 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 Division The foundation's U.S. Program (USP) is dedicated to ensuring that every person navigating U.S. education systems and job markets can develop the knowledge, skills, and agency needed to thrive. We aim to dismantle systemic barriers so that race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status no longer dictate educational attainment or economic mobility and security. The Team The US Programs Data Team aims to put data and AI to work for every student, teacher, and worker in the US. We work with partners at the cutting edge of AI innovation to transform education and economic mobility in the United States. Our work goes beyond simply keeping pace with the rapid evolution of AI; we are shaping its future through catalytic investment and open collaboration. We envision a world where transformative AI technologies redefine education and economic systems in a way that centers on the learner and provide universal access to the best teaching, tutoring, and learning experiences for every individual in America. We work in collaboration with programmatic teams that span the learner journey, from early learning and K12, Postsecondary and workforce success. By fusing deep technical expertise with a passionate commitment to our shared vision, we are able to support other teams to mark more impactful investments, and invest ahead in cross-cutting AI capabilities that demonstrate and unlock new avenues for impact for out partners inside and outside the foundation. Our collaborative spirit extends beyond program teams, to partners in academia, technology platforms, nonprofits, and government stakeholders-all united in building an open and accessible AI ecosystem that generates sustainable impact. Your Role You are a visionary technical leader with deep expertise in artificial intelligence and a passion for applying that knowledge to improve education for all. You have a strong point of view on how emerging AI can reshape the future of education and economic mobility, particularly for communities that have been historically underserved. As the Senior Officer for AI Innovation and Access, you will define and drive our AI strategy, ensuring that cutting-edge technologies are not only implemented with technical precision but also aligned with our commitment to equity and transformative social impact. This is a unique opportunity for an early-to-mid career professional who is eager to make a significant, long-lasting contribution to the trajectory of AI progress and then move on to shape its next frontier. This role is uniquely positioned for passionate AI talent looking to make a profound impact early in their career. If you are passionate about harnessing AI to redefine the future of education and economic opportunity for all, we invite you to join us at the Gates Foundation. Together, we will drive innovation that not only pushes the boundaries of technology but also ensures that its benefits are shared broadly across society. This new role is a 24-month limited term employment position with competitive salary and foundation provided benefits. Relocation is available to Seattle, WA (our preferred location) or Washington, DC for the hired candidate. What You'll Do *Vision & Strategic Leadership* Shape the Future of AI in Education: Articulate a bold vision for how AI innovations-such as large language models, AI agents, and knowledge graphs-can transform education and economic mobility, driving equitable outcomes. Technical Strategy: Provide technical leadership by tracking AI progress in detail, vetting emerging technologies, and maintaining an in-depth understanding of state-of-the-art AI research and applications. *Technical Evaluation & Implementation* Advanced AI Solutions: Lead the evaluation and implementation of advanced AI technologies, ensuring robust technical feasibility, correctness, and scalability. Responsible Frameworks: Design and oversee frameworks for responsible AI deployment that prioritize fairness, transparency, and inclusivity. *Collaborative Partnerships & Ecosystem Building* Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with program teams across the US Programs to identify high-impact opportunities for AI innovation, ensuring seamless integration into education and economic mobility initiatives led by those teams. External Coalitions: Forge and nurture partnerships with nonprofits, government agencies, academic institutions, and leading AI research centers to build a more open and accessible AI ecosystem. Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate high-trust relationships with key partners to ensure that our AI solutions are both technically robust and aligned with real-world needs. *AI Research & Development Pipeline Management* Portfolio Leadership: Design and manage a diverse portfolio of AI initiatives and cross-cutting investments that directly tackle educational and economic disparities. Due Diligence & Impact Metrics: Lead rigorous technical due diligence for AI investments and partnerships while developing innovative frameworks to measure the impact of AI interventions. Ethical & Community-Centric Design: Develop and implement strategies to mitigate algorithmic bias and foster community engagement, ensuring that AI development is participatory and ethically grounded. Internal Consulting: Provide technical consulting support to internal teams, translating complex AI capabilities into actionable, high-impact solutions. Your Experience Educational Background: Advanced degree in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, or a related field or equivalent experience working in an applied AI setting. Technical Expertise: Extensive experience in AI development and implementation, with deep knowledge of modern AI technologies, including large language models, generative AI, deep learning architectures, AI agents, and cognitive systems. Proficient in MLOps and AI system deployment with a strong track record in translating complex AI capabilities into practical applications. Leadership & Impact: Demonstrated experience in leading technical teams, managing complex projects, and driving initiatives that yield measurable social impact. A strong portfolio evidencing your commitment to equity and the transformative potential of technology. Core Competencies: Technical Excellence: Mastery of AI technologies and the ability to rigorously evaluate technical solutions. Strategic Vision: Capability to identify and articulate high-impact AI opportunities in education and economic mobility. Collaborative Leadership: Proven success in building and leading cross-functional teams and external coalitions. Equity & Communication: A deep commitment to fairness in technology and an exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences. Applicants for this role will only be considered if they are 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. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle, WA and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $203,100 to $314,900 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. #LI-TO1 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 If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here. 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.