Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning & Management (DD-SPM) at Gates Foundation (GF), Ethiopia

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Job Title: Deputy Director – Strategy, Planning & Management (SPM)

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Type: Full-time

Organization: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Job Summary

Are you an experienced strategy leader passionate about driving sustainable impact in Africa? The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking a Deputy Director – Strategy, Planning & Management (DD-SPM) to provide strategic programmatic leadership and operational excellence across our Continental Policy, Government Relations, and Partnership (PGRP) strategy and the Ethiopia Country Office.

Based in Addis Ababa, this pivotal leadership role serves as a dual-reporting thought partner to the Ethiopia Country Office Director and the Director of PGRP. You will bridge global strategy with regional execution, leading a high-performing team to optimize investments in health, nutrition, agricultural transformation, and economic opportunity.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy Development, Refinement & Management

• Lead Regional Strategy: Continuous refinement and execution of continental and regional strategy development processes aligned with foundation-wide priorities.

• Translate Strategy to Action: Convert high-level strategies into actionable execution plans (defining roles, outcomes, and resources) at initiative and country levels.

• Data-Driven Insights: Design analytical models, performance dashboards, and operational metrics to monitor progress and communicate risks/opportunities to senior leadership.

2. Regional Leadership & Cross-Foundation Alignment

• Portfolio Coherence: Anchor Africa’s strategic priorities across health, growth & opportunity, and advocacy portfolios to ensure a unified “One Africa Team” approach.

• Bridge Global & Local: Align global programmatic goals with local implementation realities, focusing on maternal and child survival, infectious disease eradication, and financial services for the poor.

3. Portfolio, Financial & Investment Management

• Stewardship & Budgeting: Partner with Finance and Grants teams to lead regional budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning.

• Investment Advisory: Advise Program Officers on grant development, pipeline management, portfolio reviews, and risk mitigation to maximize impact.

4. People Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Team Development: Recruit, onboard, coach, and manage an impactful Strategy, Planning & Management (SPM) team.

• Promote DEI: Shape a healthy team culture that actively reflects the Foundation’s commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

5. Measurement, Learning & Evaluation (MLE)

• Framework Design: Refine MLE frameworks to cultivate a data-driven culture, turning performance insights into real-time strategic adjustments.

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Candidate Profile & Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you should possess a mix of strategic rigor, financial acumen, and regional expertise:

• Education: MBA or an advanced degree in Business Management, Public Health, International Development, or a related field.

• Experience: 10+ years of professional experience leading strategy development, execution planning, and portfolio management in a complex, matrixed environment.

• Sector Expertise: Proven track record working with or advising African governments, multilaterals, or large-scale development implementation partners.

• Skills: Strong structured problem-solving skills, financial acumen (managing complex budgets), and exceptional communication skills for senior leadership engagement.

• Travel: Ability to travel up to 40% across the region.

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Why Join the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation?

We believe that every person deserves the chance to live a healthy, productive life. As part of our team, you will enjoy:

• Exceptional Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.

• Financial Security: Generous foundation-paid retirement contributions and regional holiday alignment.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off (PTO) and paid family leave.

• An Inclusive Culture: Dedicated space to thrive both personally and professionally with strong Employee Resource Groups.

How to Apply

See Details and Apply Directly via: >>> the Gates Foundation Career Portal.

Application Deadline: July 21st, 2026

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion.