Senior Program Officer, Modernized High School Math

About the role

You will lead the foundation’s investments to build and scale modern mathematics curriculum for high‑school students, ensuring equitable access and adoption across the United States. The work includes developing and scaling advanced math courses such as data science, statistics, and quantitative reasoning, and stewarding a multi‑phase initiative to modernize the core high‑school math sequence for more than one million students annually by 2035. The position coordinates closely with other Gates teams, manages a complex portfolio of partnerships, coalitions, and investments, and requires deep expertise in high‑school math content, standards, grantmaking, and the political dynamics of systemic education reform.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with potential and current grantees in grant making and managing.
• Lead execution of an initiative to modernize high‑school math, including publisher and field engagement for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II; establish milestones, track measurable outcomes, and surface risks early.
• Manage investments with standards and assessment partners to develop a field‑endorsed set of prioritized high‑school math expectations and build consensus among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
• Execute a tiered engagement strategy with external partners of national reach to advance state standards modernization and create conditions for curriculum reform at scale.
• Design and lead a publisher‑engagement strategy, influencing business models, incentive structures, and product roadmaps toward alignment with modernized math expectations.
• Develop a campaign approach and expand a co‑funder coalition, cultivating relationships with philanthropic, public, and private partners to amplify field consensus and resource the initiative toward its 2035 student‑reach goal.
• Synthesize complex field intelligence—covering content standards, state policy, publisher dynamics, and co‑funder landscapes—into clear, structured insights for initiative strategy and division leadership.
• Build and sustain senior‑level relationships with state education leaders, national standards organizations, publishers, researchers, and co‑funders, maintaining trust‑based partnerships without direct authority.
• Communicate initiative strategy, progress, and risks clearly to diverse audiences, tailoring messaging to support alignment and informed decision‑making.
• Collaborate across the K‑12 team and with Advocacy and System Improvement, Data and AI, and other program strategy teams, operating with a one‑team attitude and flexing priorities as needed.
• Support an inclusive culture by modeling appropriate behaviors, raising issues promptly, and partnering with relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• Significant experience in K‑12 education policy, standards development, or curriculum strategy, with deep expertise in the high‑school math landscape and its reform dynamics.
• Experience with grantmaking as a grantee or program officer, including proposal development and budget understanding.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi‑workstream initiatives with multiple external partners, influencing without direct authority.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing campaign or field‑building strategies in K‑12 education reform, including coalition development and political risk management.
• Knowledge of the K‑12 publisher ecosystem and experience influencing publishers toward evidence‑based instructional approaches.
• Excellence in written and oral communication, with the ability to synthesize complex policy, content, and market dynamics into clear, decision‑relevant insights.
• Unrestricted work authorization in the United States; the Foundation does not provide immigration‑related sponsorship.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.
• Generous paid time off.
• Paid family leave.
• Foundation‑paid retirement contribution.
• Regional holidays.
• Opportunities to engage in several employee communities.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $190,100 – $294,700 USD. For positions based in Seattle or Washington, DC, the range is $209,100 – $324,100 USD. New hires typically receive a salary between the range minimum and the midpoint, based on skills, experience, and expertise.

Additional Information

Applications are accepted until 12 PM Pacific Time on Friday, October 2, 2026. Relocation assistance is offered for candidates not within commuting distance of the Seattle or Washington, DC office, and remote work may be considered for U.S.‑based employees.