Guide strategic planning, investment strategy, and the learning agenda for the K–12 portfolio.
Anticipate and adapt to shifts in artificial intelligence, data science, workforce demands, and education policy that influence how students learn and teachers teach.
Ensure strong alignment across U.S.
Oversee a dual-track portfolio that balances scaling proven approaches with advancing innovative, product-driven solutions.
Lead R&D and innovation pipelines from concept to scaled adoption, incorporating user-centered design and iterative improvement.
Influence the direction of AI and learning technologies by articulating clear educational needs, values, and guardrails in collaboration with partners.
Align peer funders and cross-sector leaders around next-generation delivery models and co-investment opportunities.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, curiosity, and belonging.
Model inclusive leadership practices and ensure diverse perspectives inform strategy and decision-making.
Ensure disciplined fiscal and operational stewardship of people and budget resources Your
Track record of leading diverse, high-performing teams in matrixed environments.
Requirements
The Team Success in math is one of the most powerful ways students can take charge of their futures.
Within K-12 education, we focus on improving math instruction and outcomes, with a particular emphasis on increasing the number of Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds who are prepared for and complete Algebra I by 9th grade.
We aim to improve math education by supporting high-quality, engaging instructional materials and the tools and professional learning teachers need to use them effectively.
We envision inclusive classrooms where instruction is tailored to student needs, digital tools personalize learning, and students receive the practice and support needed to master key concepts.
This leader will serve as the visionary integrator for the next generation of K–12 learning, advancing a bold AI-enabled strategy to dramatically accelerate student outcomes, particularly in math, with the ambition of enabling up to 1.6 years of learning in a single year through high quality instructional materials, tutoring, and other solutions and supports that enable teachers and student learning.
They will oversee a dual-track portfolio that both: Strengthens and scales proven, high-impact approaches, and, Drives the frontier of AI-enabled, product-driven innovation capable of transforming instruction in and beyond schools.
Over time, the ambition is to bring these tracks together – ensuring that AI-enabled systems solve previously intractable challenges in equitable and responsible ways.
What You’ll Do: Strategic Leadership: Lead the foundation’s K–12 math strategy, driving measurable progress toward ambitious 2030 and 2045 goals with clarity, focus, and accountability.
Programs, including Postsecondary, Pathways, Enablers, AI Infrastructure and Data, and Charters.
Product & Portfolio Excellence Advance a bold AI-centered strategy anchored in clear teacher and student use cases to improve math instruction and learning outcomes at scale.
Balance investments across AI ecosystem development, product innovation, commercialization, and system implementation.
Experience Advanced degree with 15+ years of senior leadership
experience in K–12, postsecondary, education technology, or related systems. Proven success designing, scaling, or investing in digital or AI-enabled learning products or platforms.
Experience leading R&D or innovation pipelines from concept through scaled adoption.
Deep understanding of the K–12 ecosystem, including curriculum, instruction, assessment, instructional materials, data systems, and educator professional learning.
Demonstrated ability to embed inclusive design and equitable impact considerations into product development, partnerships, and investment strategies.
Experience applying a Targeted Universalism framework or similar approach to strategy and grantmaking. Strong
experience managing complex portfolios and making disciplined investment decisions that balance risk, scale, sustainability, and equity.
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and represent the organization externally with credibility and clarity.
Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located.
Benefits
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.
Our vision is that all students have access to educational opportunities – from Pre-K through postsecondary – that build the knowledge, skills, and agency needed to thrive as adults and contribute to their communities.
The Director must combine entrepreneurial curiosity with disciplined management, delivering measurable impact now while stewarding a 20-year vision aligned to the foundation’s 2030 and 2045 goals.
Set and evolve a long-term vision for AI-enabled instructional materials and tutoring grounded in evidence and equitable outcomes.
The salary range for this role is $335,000 to $519,200 USD.
The range for this role in these locations is $368,500 to $571,100 USD.
As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission.
New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint.
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.
Contact
Please contact HR@gatesfoundation.org with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs.
Additional details
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.
As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
Your Role The Director of Education, K–12 is a rare opportunity to shape the future of learning at a pivotal moment for education.
The Director will bridge research, product innovation, and real-world delivery at scale.
Represent the K–12 strategy internally and externally, articulating priorities, progress, and results with clarity and credibility.
Use disciplined portfolio governance, analytics, and impact accounting to evaluate tradeoffs across risk, scale, cost-effectiveness, and equitable impact.
Partner with data and impact teams to define predictive metrics and embed continuous measurement and learning into funding decisions.
Partnership & Systems Influence Cultivate deep relationships with educators, researchers, technologists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and funders to accelerate innovation and adoption.