The Gates Foundation is Hiring! Program Officer, Data & Insights (Development Finance): Salary range for this position is $140,200 – $210,200 USD

Program Officer, Data & Insights (Development Finance)
Location: Washington, DC
Job Type: Full-time
Deadline: April 24, 2025
Job ID: B020906

About the Foundation

The Foundation is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the belief that every individual, regardless of identity or circumstance, deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life, the Foundation strives to make this vision a reality. It is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of the global populations it serves and offers an exceptional benefits package.

This includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and numerous opportunities for employees to engage in employee communities. The Foundation fosters a work environment that supports personal and professional growth.

The Team

The Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division works to shape policy debates, build support for the Foundation’s programs, and form strategic partnerships aimed at addressing global challenges. GPA’s work is critical in engaging diverse stakeholders to advance the Foundation’s objectives, particularly in areas like global health, human capital, and gender equity.

The Development Policy & Finance (DPAF) team plays a vital role by ensuring that development finance strategies are informed by solid economic analysis.

This team works closely with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development finance institutions (DFIs), and ministries of finance in developing countries to enhance public financial management and leverage digital infrastructure for transformation.

Role Overview

The Program Officer will lead the Foundation’s data and analytics capabilities across the GPA division. This role will focus on data sourcing, processing, analysis, and visualization, enabling the Foundation to use development finance and policy data effectively in decision-making.

This position is a 24-month limited-term employment with competitive compensation and a full benefits package. Relocation assistance to Washington, DC is available if necessary. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship.

Key Responsibilities

Data Architecture & Management

• Identify, acquire, and manage key datasets relevant to development finance (e.g., OECD-DAC, IATI) and development outcomes (e.g., World Development Indicators).
• Build and maintain robust data pipelines, ensuring high-quality and repeatable processes through well-documented code.
• Collaborate with IT and communications teams to implement secure and efficient data storage and sharing systems, translating analytic needs into technical specifications.

Analytics & Reporting

• Develop interactive data dashboards (e.g., using Power BI, R Shiny) to facilitate the exploration of critical development and financing data at the country, sector, and flow levels.
• Produce regular data insights in accessible formats, including memos, notes, and leadership reports.
• Apply AI models and machine learning techniques to extract actionable insights, such as forecasting trends in ODA or identifying financing flow patterns.

Knowledge Sharing & Capacity Building

• Maintain a knowledge hub or SharePoint site with technical documentation, best practices, and FAQs to support data literacy across the team.
• Organize training sessions, tutorials, and “Data Days” to enhance the use of data and analytics throughout the GPA division.
• Work closely with communications teams to create engaging data stories for both internal and external audiences.

Methodological Leadership

• Serve as the go-to expert on major development finance datasets, explaining their methodologies and strengths.
• Write technical notes on dataset analysis, identifying gaps and suggesting improvements to enhance data collection and quality.
• Contribute to policy research by distilling complex data insights into clear recommendations to inform strategic decisions.

Collaboration & Strategic Alignment

• Work closely with cross-functional teams (policy, program, communications) to proactively identify and address emerging data needs.
• Support strategic planning by analyzing development financing scenarios and trends affecting human welfare outcomes.
• Engage with external data providers and research partners to ensure the timely flow of data and insights.

Required Experience

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in data analytics, particularly related to development finance. They will have experience working with datasets such as Official Development Assistance (ODA), Other Official Flows (OOF), and private sector financing.

Key Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in data-driven policy analysis, research, and strategic insights, preferably within development finance or a related field.
• Proficiency with advanced data analysis tools, including R, Python, and SQL for managing large datasets.
• Expertise in data visualization and reporting, using tools like Power BI, R Shiny, or Tableau to create interactive dashboards.
• Experience in building automated data pipelines and ensuring data integrity across multiple data sources.
• Hands-on experience in econometric modeling, forecasting, or applying machine learning techniques to development finance data.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, macros, and strong PowerPoint data visualization.
• Familiarity with major development finance datasets (OECD-DAC, IATI, World Bank indicators).
• Experience in international development, government, or policy institutions is highly desirable.

Preferred Skills

• Experience contributing to policy-oriented research and publications.
• Knowledge of development finance institutions, philanthropy, and the international aid ecosystem.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $140,200 – $210,200 USD. In Seattle and Washington, D.C., the salary range is adjusted to $152,800 – $229,200 USD to reflect regional market differences. The Foundation offers competitive pay while aligning compensation with its mission-driven goals.

Commitment to Inclusion

The Foundation is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All applicants will receive equal opportunity and fair treatment in all stages of employment, irrespective of race, color, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.

Application Process

Applicants interested in this impactful, mission-driven role should submit their applications by April 24, 2025. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to contribute to global development finance strategies and drive meaningful change through data-driven insights.

APPLY NOW

Note: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring company. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding