Deputy Director, Agriculture, China… at Gatesfoundation · Beijing

Deputy Director, Agriculture, China Country Office Location: Beijing, China 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 opening 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. Today, China is a key strategic partner on our global health and development goals. 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. We create broad new partnerships to ensure these innovations reach vulnerable populations at scale as quickly as possible, particularly in low- and middle-countries (LMICs). 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 to build the environment in which all people have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives. The newly created Agriculture team in the China Office is responsible for advancing the foundation’s programmatic goals in agricultural and related development. The team aims to build alliances and partnerships leveraging China’s scientific expertise, technology, and investment resources to help Africa and other LMICs achieve sustainable agricultural development transformation and accelerate innovation to improve small-scale producer resilience. We work in close partnership with grantees and our colleagues in the Global Growth & Opportunity division. Your Role The Deputy Director, Agriculture, China Country Office, will lead strategy development and execution for the foundation’s agriculture portfolio including crops, livestock and aquaculture, in China. This role will be responsible for developing and leading a portfolio of foundation investments in agriculture to ensure measurable progress; and for coordinating all aspects of relationships with grantees, contractors, government ministries, academic institutions, China-based offices of international NGOs, and other key partners to achieve the foundation's desired impact in a clear and measurable way. Daily responsibilities include, but not limited to, providing strategic oversight and implementation guidance. This role also provides strategy briefings, progress updates, and recommendations to foundation leadership in Seattle, USA. You will be a member of the China Leadership Team, reporting to the Director, China Country Office, with a dotted line to Director, Agriculture Development (AgDev). You will be able to work in a hybrid work arrangement from our office in Beijing. What You’ll Do Lead the development of the foundation’s agriculture strategy in China, aligned with the global agriculture development team’s priorities. Analyze the macro and policy environment in China, bring that understanding to relevant foundation teams, and identify core policy and advocacy needs and pathways for the agriculture strategy. Manage investment plans and budgets, develop, modify and implement strategy. Work with foundation leadership as necessary to address cross-cutting issues and improve functions and performance. Engage with China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and other government agencies and ministries on joint-funding and research opportunities. Provide strategic guidance in crafting grants and contracts that require complex research or analytics. Handle evaluation activities to ensure good investment decisions and portfolio trade-offs. Accountable for the identification and assessment of key risks, and the development and management of mitigation/contingency plans at the portfolio level. Advise, mentor, and support colleagues within the foundation and our grantees in the design, improvement, and execution of projects, initiatives, and grants or contracts. Manage partnerships and grantee relationships to achieve impact, for example, by conducting site visits, convening meetings of key partners, monitoring and evaluating components of grants. Serve as a highly experienced foundation spokesperson about industry as well as government engagement priorities and related issues internally to foundation Co-chairs and leadership and externally to industry and government partners This role manages a team and is responsible for hiring talent needed to achieve our goals, ensuring successful employee onboarding, communicating performance expectations, creating goal alignment, integrating project and change management, giving and seeking feedback, providing mentorship, measuring progress and holding people accountable, supporting employee development, and recognizing achievement and lessons learned. Your Experience Advanced degree in agriculture or related field. 10+ years of senior-level experience designing and leading large-scale agricultural programs, combined with strong technical expertise, including in agriculture R&D. MBA or experience in a top-tier management consulting organization is a plus. Experience sourcing and negotiating deals in the agriculture space - either in the private sector or at an NGO. Experience sourcing partners and investment or grantmaking opportunities in the agriculture space (e.g. research institutes, private sector), ideally with an emphasis on biotechnology and exposure to AI. Intimate understanding of the policy landscape and government partners in the agriculture sector in China, and ability to communicate that to foundation partners to advance the work jointly. Deep understanding of the Chinese agriculture innovation ecosystem and ability to identify and access novel innovations that could be applied to needs in the foundation strategy. Extensive experience building effective strategy, prioritization, and construction of viable theories of action to deliver impact in a complex environment with multiple objectives. Excellent relationship builder and communicator who has experience with cross cultural communication who can build relationships of deep trust and unity around a strategy with both the Seattle HQ team and the Africa regional office - the site of the intended impact of the work. Demonstrated ability to lead and influence others. Demonstrated ability to work with efficiency, diplomacy, and flexibility particularly as part of a team in a global organization. Experience leading and partnering with multidisciplinary teams. Knowledge of international development policy and key issues at a global level, especially in Africa. Exceptional results orientation, combined with innovative and open-minded approach to all aspects of work. Proven ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain composure in high-pressure or fast-paced situations. Experience working in a highly matrixed environment is desirable. Demonstrated excellence in writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience. Proficiency in both English and Chinese (written and spoken) is required. 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: 3 June 2026 #LI-RT1 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. Please contact HR@gatesfoundation.org with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially. 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.