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 mission of the Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division is to understand and craft the public policy debates affecting the foundation's work, build support for its major program and policy objectives, and develop partnerships and alliances that can advance the foundation's objectives nationally and globally. Because the foundation's resources alone are not enough to solve the challenges ahead, GPA also supports advocacy efforts to engage diverse collaborators and promote innovative solutions that advance our program goals. We work in close partnership with grantees, our colleagues in the Global Health, Global Development, Global Growth & Opportunity, U.S. and Gender Equality programs and Foundation Communications to build the environment in which all people have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.Your Role
Based in Paris, the Senior Advocacy Regional Officer, France, Spain, and Italy, leads the foundation’s development and advocacy efforts across these markets. You will be responsible for driving advocacy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement strategies in alignment with the foundation’s priorities.
Supporting the Deputy Director for Europe, Middle East & East Asia, you will oversee country portfolios, translate strategy into execution, and ensure strong alignment across advocacy, communications, partnerships, and programmatic engagement. Working in close partnership with the Deputy Director, the role will help shape, operationalize, and deliver against strategic priorities. You will deliver measurable outcomes and provide high-quality insights, briefings, and recommendations to support leadership decision-making.
This position is intended to be engaged through a third-party Employer of Record (EOR). You will be employed by the EOR and assigned to support the foundation’s work in the role described in this document.
What You’ll Do
a) Country Strategy & Portfolio Delivery
Develop, implement, and regularly refresh country-specific advocacy and engagement strategies for France, Spain, and Italy, in alignment with regional priorities set with the Deputy Director.
As part of the assignment, own delivery against country portfolio objectives, including tracking progress, adapting plans, and ensuring follow-through on key commitments.
Develop and oversee country workplans, including objectives, milestones, and indicators of impact.
b) Grants & Partnerships
Lead for the development and oversight of a country-level grant portfolio, including identification, design, and oversight of investments.
Identify, assess, and oversee advocacy and delivery partners, ensuring strong alignment with Foundation strategy and performance.
c) External Engagement & Influence
Build and maintain trusted relationships with decision-makers, senior policy actors, experts, and influencers.
Support the Foundation externally and support senior leadership engagement, including preparing and accompanying high-level meetings.
e) Strategic Insights, Briefings & Trips
Monitor political, scientific, cultural, and media dynamics and assess implications for strategy and reputation.
Translate country insights, risks, and opportunities into clear, actionable recommendations for the Deputy Director and leadership.
Lead the development of high-quality briefings, key messages, and background materials for senior leadership engagement.
Conceptualize and lead planning of high-level country engagements and visits, ensuring clear objectives and strategic outcomes.
f) Leadership & Coordination with the foundation during the assignment
Drive alignment across advocacy, communications, and program teams.
Lead cross-functional coordination and proactively address misalignment, risks, or gaps across country work.
Provide regular updates to the Deputy Director, including clear escalation of risks, trade-offs, and decision points.
g) Team & Culture
Coordinate consultants and external support supporting execution and coordination.
Contribute to an inclusive team culture and model Foundation values.
Your Experience
Advanced degree in public policy, politics, international development, or a related field, with experience in consulting/advisory, government or the corporate sector in an advocacy or policy-focused role.
Significant experience in government relations, advocacy, public affairs, research, or related fields, in France, and ideally with exposure to Spain and Italy.
Experience working within or alongside government institutions, international organizations, or philanthropic foundations.
Strong project management, coordination, and organizational skills.
High attention to detail and the ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.
Strategic communicator with the ability to represent the foundation credibly and effectively at senior levels.
Experience in health, climate, gender, or development work in Sub-Saharan Africa and/or other LMIC contexts is desirable.
Strong knowledge of French and European government systems and donor processes.
Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and political judgment skills.
Ability to analyze, synthesize, and condense large volumes of complex information into clear and concise outputs.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both French and English are required; fluency in Spanish and/or Italian is desirable.
Ability to deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines.
Self-driven, with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.
Strong interest in international development and gender-related issues and debates at the EU level.
Other Attributes
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behaviour with a diverse range of people and a deep commitment to development issues and high standards of personal integrity.
Ability to travel up to 25% both domestically and internationally.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
Application deadline: 11 June 2026
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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.