Company: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Title: Program Assistant, Postsecondary Success
Salary: Full-time, TBD
Location: Seattle, WA

**This position has a close date of end of day Friday, February 19**

Group Summary

The vision of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s U.S. Program (USP) works to ensure all students in the US have access to educational opportunities, from Pre-K to postsecondary, that enable them to develop the knowledge, skills, and agency needed thrive as adults and contribute to their communities. Our goal is to make sure more students are on track to obtain a postsecondary credential with labor market value such that race/ethnicity and income are no longer predictors of student success.

Leadership & Culture

Our culture shapes our choices about what we do and how we do it. We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment can do extraordinary things. We expect foundation employees to intentionally and consistently embody our four agreements; show respect, offer trust, be transparent, and create energy.

Position Summary 

The Postsecondary Success (PS) strategy supports colleges and universities transforming their institutions to dramatically improve credential attainment and eradicate equity gaps for low income students and students of color. The Program Assistant (PA) for Postsecondary Success provides wide and varied administrative and organizational support for Program Officers (PO), Senior Program and Portfolio Officers (SPO) and Deputy Directors (DD) as well as team-level support as needed.

Core Responsibilities

• Schedule a high volume of appointments and meetings, and manage complex calendars for multiple people.

• Make travel arrangements and update calendars to reflect those arrangements.

• Organize and submit expenses for multiple people on a timely basis.

• Provide logistical support for events such as meetings and convenings which may include coordinating arrangements for participants, preparing and disseminating materials, providing on site logistical support, etc.

• Responsible for high quality interactions, and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field that represent linguistically and culturally diverse communities.

• Act as liaison for team and internal partners, answering questions and routing requests as appropriate.

• Provide communications support and assistance to ensure timely responses to email and telephone inquiries.

• Maintain electronic records and a well-organized system for tracking, monitoring and prioritizing tasks and projects across multiple supported staff.

• Active engagement in learning opportunities, including participation in team skill building, collaboration and equity learning agenda.

Core Knowledge and Skills

• Sets priorities and meets deadlines while balancing the needs of and providing support for multiple individuals, including complex calendar, travel and event planning.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills utilizing diplomacy and good judgment in all interactions, particularly with individuals representing diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds at all levels inside and outside the organization.

• Demonstrated effectiveness meeting deadlines in a role requiring continual attention to detail in composing, typing, and proofing materials.

• Experience establishing organizational systems to improve efficiency and functioning in a changing environment.

• Flexibility in meeting changing organizational and team needs accompanied by a willingness to work with shifting role priorities to prioritize collaboration and teamwork.

• Openness to feedback and an ability to adjust to diverse communication styles.

• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and experience working with other complex software systems.

Education & Experience

• Associates Degree.

• Minimum three plus of experience in an administrative role supporting senior staff in a complex and fast-paced office setting, interacting extensively with internal and external contacts.

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve the mission of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 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

* Prior Protected Activity