JOB DESCRIPTION

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 Communications Division, led by the Chief Communications Officer (CCO), oversees the foundation’s global communications strategy. The division unites internal and external communications to advance the foundation’s mission and amplify its impact around the world.

The Content and Campaigns team brings the foundation’s mission to life through compelling storytelling, events, and integrated campaigns that build trust in the foundation’s reputation and inspire more people to care about and support our mission. This team leads the foundation’s flagship external communications platforms, including the website: gatesfoundation.org, newsletter: The Optimist, and enterprise-wide social media channels.

Application Deadline: Application review for this position will begin in January 2026. We encourage interested candidates to submit their materials in advance to the application deadline of Friday, December 12, 2025.

Your Role

We are building a leadership team to accelerate the next phase of our strategy. As a senior communications leader, the Director, Content and Campaigns, will define and direct the Gates Foundation’s global brand and public engagement strategy, inspiring audiences around our mission to create a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. You will oversee the foundation’s global campaigns, digital ecosystem, and brand management, ensuring cohesive storytelling, consistent brand identity, and measurable impact across all channels and regions. Drawing on your expertise in strategic marketing, digital innovation, campaign development, and global communications, you will guide how the foundation reaches, inspires, and engages key audiences across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team of campaign strategists, digital experts, creative producers, and experiential designers to deliver high-impact, multichannel content and events that elevate understanding of the foundation’s work and amplify our voice on the world stage. You will be a key member of the Communications leadership team, and sit on the Division’s “Editorial Board”, which determines the communications priorities and campaign cadence of the foundation. You will ensure that our campaigns, platforms, and partnerships reflect both the foundation’s mission and the values that guide it.

What You’ll Do

• Lead Global Campaigns and Engagement: Direct the development and execution of global campaigns that deepen understanding of and support for the foundation’s charitable mission, setting clear objectives and performance indicators for engagement and impact.
• Oversee Digital Ecosystem and Channel Strategy: Manage the foundation’s global digital presence including owned platforms, publications, and social channels using data and insights to drive reach, relevance, and audience growth.
• Strengthen Brand and Visual Identity: Ensure consistency of brand voice, messaging, and visual language across all content, experiences, and activations, reinforcing the foundation’s credibility and distinctiveness worldwide.
• Invest in Creative Excellence: Oversee strategic investments in campaign design, creative production, and distribution. Partner with regional communications teams to ensure local insight and cultural relevance in global initiatives.
• Champion Data-Driven Decision Making: Use analytics and performance insights to guide continuous improvement across campaigns and channels, driving innovation in how the foundation engages key audiences.
• Foster Collaboration and Inclusion: Build partnerships across communications, program, and regional teams to align priorities, model inclusive decision-making, and amplify the foundation’s collective impact.
• Develop and Mentor Talent: Lead, inspire, and grow a high-performing global team cultivating creativity, collaboration, and professional development. Promote an inclusive, purpose-driven team culture anchored in learning and excellence.
• Ability to travel up to 30% both domestically and globally.

Your Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in communications, marketing, digital media, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of leadership experience driving global communications, brand, and marketing strategy within complex, international organizations.
• Proven success designing and executing integrated, multichannel campaigns that deliver measurable engagement and brand impact across paid, owned, and earned media.
• Deep understanding of digital platforms, data analytics, and audience strategy in a global context.
• Demonstrated ability to lead creative teams and guide the development of compelling narratives and visual storytelling.
• Strong record of success operating across diverse cultural and political environments, with sensitivity to regional dynamics and audiences.
• Skilled at managing partnerships and vendors, overseeing significant creative and campaign investments.
• Proven ability to coach, inspire, and develop global talent and lead teams in a complex environment.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and a passion for using communications to advance social impact.

#LI-PA1

The salary range for this role is $261,700 to $405,700 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 $285,300 to $442,100 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

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.