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

Since we opened our China Office in Beijing in 2007, we have been committed to supporting our Chinese partners as they play an ever-increasing role in improving the health and well-being of people both in China and around the world. We provide financial and technical support to our Chinese partners and build bridges for international collaboration to help them accelerate innovations in health, agricultural development and poverty reduction for application in low- and middle-income countries around the world. We create broad new partnerships to ensure these innovations reach vulnerable populations at scale as quickly as possible. Together we have seen the tremendous impact that life-saving innovations can have when they become available to those most in need.

The China Office is part of the Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) Division. The mission of the Division is to understand and shape the public policies 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 stakeholders 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, 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

The Deputy Director, Policy and Advocacy (DDPA) is responsible for developing and executing policy, advocacy, government relations, and resource mobilization strategies to build political and financial support to advance global programmatic priorities (e.g. malaria, Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, vaccine-preventable diseases, maternal, neonatal, and child nutrition and health (MNCNH), medical product Research & Development (R&D), development finance, agriculture innovation, and sanitation technologies) that are funded by, or executed within, China.

The DDPA works closely with the GPA Office of the President, foundation program strategy and function teams to strategize and manage relationships with decision makers and influencers at the national, select provincial, and municipal levels in China, and with international partners in support of foundation priorities. The postholder is responsible for the use of leadership voice and influence with government partners and influencers, managing portfolios of foundation investments to support cross-cutting priorities within China, and managing relationships with relevant grantees, contractors, and key partners in public, private, social, and philanthropic sectors to achieve the foundation’s desired impact. S/he also contributes to the advancement of the foundation’s vision, mission and impact by prioritizing collective success; modelling courageous inquiry and intellectual integrity; and nurturing people and building a high-performing team.

The postholder will be based at the foundation’s China Office in Beijing, report to the Director, China Office, and be a member of the China Leadership Team.

What You’ll Do

• Advise the Director, China Office, on management of the foundation’s political partnership and engagements in China.
• Work closely with the Director, China Office, to advise the Chair and the CEO of the foundation, the President of GPA, and Executive Leaders on the foundation’s political partnerships and engagements in China.
• Design and manage staff and budget to execute policy, advocacy and resource mobilization strategy portfolio in China based on a clear understanding of programmatic goals and direction across the China portfolio, in support of the overall China strategy.
• Act as a key representative across the scope of the foundation’s work in China, including serving as a spokesperson to partners, at events, and for media at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
• Work collaboratively with the China leadership team to develop policy, advocacy and resource mobilization strategies, and drive implementation with impact.
• Jointly accountable with the Deputy Director for Health and Innovation Partnership, Deputy Director for Global Development, and Deputy Director for Communications to co-develop advocacy and government relations strategies for resource mobilization and policy change in programs like malaria elimination, agriculture, and other global health/global development programs.
• Collaborate effectively with various partners across the foundation, including global and regional programmatic leads for the achievement of the foundation’s goals in China and globally.
• In collaboration with other Deputy Directors, lead engagement with foundation leaders when they visit the China office.
• Communicate with division and program staff about opportunities and progress (as well as barriers and challenges) with critical partnerships.
• Develop reports, reviews, and summaries for key stakeholders with the foundation (e.g. Division President, CEO, and Chair)
• Be a critical thought partner, provide functional expertise to program teams on strategy and priority on program development and investments.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior leadership within the foundation to ensure overall success of the Office and the Division.
• Build and nurture a strong and high-performing team in the policy, advocacy, and resource mobilization space.
• Contribute towards building an effective culture for impact at the China office.
• Other duties as assigned.

Your Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with 15+ years of experience or equivalent combination, ideally with leadership experience in government, international organizations, policy banks, financial institutions, public or private sectors, social impact or philanthropic organizations, and/or academic institutions.
• Demonstrable experience in strategic relationship management with central government and ministerial leaders in China, ideally across a range of policy matters, including health, development finance, international collaboration and foreign affairs.
• Experience in project execution involving multiple partners from the public and private sectors is desirable.
• Significant experience in strategic planning and strategy implementation, including the ability to identify opportunities for alignment and resource mobilisation that advance both the foundation’s mission and health goals.
• Knowledge of international development policy and key issues at global and national levels.
• Proven ability to lead and influence others. Demonstrated ability to work with efficiency, diplomacy, and flexibility, particularly as part of a team.
• Demonstrated excellence in effective written and oral communication skills in Chinese and English languages and working with a broad and diverse audience.
• Experience working with teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Experience in a role requiring collaboration in a complex organization and working with external organizations.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed environment.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain composure in high-pressure or fast-paced situation.
• As a people manager, be available in the Beijing office to provide ongoing support and guidance to the team.

Other Attributes

• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people and a deep commitment to development issues and high standards of personal integrity.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.

Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

Application deadline: 21 April 2025

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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

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.