Program Assistant

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

The Gates Foundation’s Africa & India Offices (AIO) Division focuses on strengthening country and regional leadership to ensure local perspectives shape the foundation’s strategies, investments, and program delivery. The division works closely with governments, partners, and communities across Africa and India to advance priorities in global health, agricultural development, nutrition, financial inclusion, gender equality, and economic opportunity. AIO also strengthens coordination across country offices, deepens strategic partnerships, and supports locally driven solutions that improve impact and responsiveness to national priorities. Under this division, the Ethiopia Country Office works closely with the government, donors, and implementing partners to advance the Gates Foundation's three overarching goals: ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies; ensuring the next generation grows up free from deadly infectious diseases; and lifting millions of people out of poverty and onto a path to prosperity. We align our efforts with Ethiopia's national priorities and pursue these goals through investments and partnerships in areas such as maternal and child health, nutrition, disease prevention and control, agricultural development, financial inclusion, gender equality, and sanitation.

Your Role

The Program Assistant in Ethiopia is an important member of the Africa team. The focus of the Africa team is to enable collective impact for the foundation in Africa by influencing policy and finance towards key development priorities, strengthening capacity and enabling systems for delivery, and innovating and leveraging cross-cutting enablers for impact at scale.

The Program Assistant will provide a wide and varied range of organizational and administrative support to the leaders and staff in the Ethiopia office while assisting with project coordination and collaborating with a small team of additional program assistants to support the overall work and ensure the smooth operation of the Ethiopia Country Office in Addis Ababa.

The role will report to Deputy Director, Global Policy and Advocacy.

What You’ll Do

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to multiple principals, including complex calendar management, international travel coordination, visa processing, expense reporting, correspondence, and meeting preparation.
• Partner closely with principals to manage priorities, anticipate needs, track commitments, and support key engagements, ensuring timely follow-up and execution of deliverables.
• Coordinate events, leadership meetings, retreats, delegations, field visits, and presentations, managing logistics, communications, materials, and stakeholder engagement.
• Serve as a liaison with internal and external partners, including government officials, grantees, consultants, and community leaders, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring effective communication.
• Manage records, task-tracking systems, meeting documentation, and knowledge management processes to support operational efficiency and team effectiveness.
• Proactively resolve issues, manage competing priorities under tight deadlines, and provide guidance on administrative processes and best practices.
• Leverage technology, AI, automation, and digital tools to streamline workflows and enhance the quality, efficiency, and accuracy of administrative support.
• Support Program Strategy Teams and leadership during in-country engagements by coordinating logistics, facilitating external partnerships, and adapting quickly to evolving priorities and schedules.

Your Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years of experience providing executive or administrative support to senior leaders, preferably in a global, matrixed, or development-focused environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting, demonstrating strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills in English and Amharic, with the ability to engage effectively and diplomatically with diverse stakeholders, including senior executives, government officials, grantees, and partners.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion, navigate ambiguity, adapt to changing priorities, and work effectively across cultures and time zones.
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team; experience supervising or guiding others is an advantage.
• Experience designing and improving systems and processes to enhance operational efficiency in dynamic environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint) and a strong aptitude for learning new technologies. Experience with AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of the Ethiopian business environment is required; familiarity with the Gates Foundation’s priorities and operating context is an advantage.
• Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

Other Attributes

• Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
• Willingness to travel up to 15% of the time.

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

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support we’re happy to help.

Skills Required:

• Customer / Service / Secretarial