Research Associate

Position description

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 shape 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 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, 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.

The North America Team (NAT) develops and executes policy, advocacy, communications, and government relations strategies to build political support and advance domestic and global programmatic priorities that are funded by, or executed within, the United States, Canada, and the United Nations.

Your Role

As a Research Associate, you will manage the planning and execution of projects and activities supporting improvements and change for business processes, teams, and functions. You provide research, analytics, project management, knowledge management, and other support essential to broader division business and offices. You also support cross-divisional strategic priorities and initiatives, as necessary.

*This is a 12-month limited-term position based in Washington, DC OR Seattle, WA. Relocation will not be provided.

Applications will be accepted through October 16, 2025 at 5pm PDT.

What You’ll Do

• Work with the Deputy Director, Advocacy and Engagement, as well as manage and evolve multiple projects for the North America Team.

• Work closely with program officers to support interrelated work efforts, partner relationship management opportunities and interconnected portfolios across the North America Team.

• Manage multiple projects and tight timelines with strong time-management and prioritization skills.

• Provide research and analysis to aid program officers in maximizing their investment and issue portfolio.

• Complete detailed analyses and ensure data integrity to support team’s decision-making.

• Coordinate complex projects, including sending out requests for inputs, driving key deadlines, tracking progress and deliverables, and monitoring progress.

• Conduct ongoing research, provide background data and information, and prepare analyses to support the North America Team.

• Collect portfolio data, identify trends and communicate issues to program team.

• Support inclusive culture through modeling behaviors and actions; raise issues in a timely fashion to appropriate stakeholders.

Your Experience

• A bachelor’s degree.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Advanced analytical, written, and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to synthesize and analyze data.
• Ability to act independently to determine methods and procedures on assignments.
• Proven experience in complex project management in a matrixed organization.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com