Senior Program Manager, Global Event Security

Overview

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
Global Security works hard to safeguard foundation personnel, information, facilities, assets, and reputation. We are comprised of about two dozen employees as well as the contingent employees in Reception, the Guard Force, and the Global Security Operations Center. Security spans across all affiliates and regional offices and organizationally reports into Business Operations.

Location This position is located in Seattle, WA or Washington, DC office and is a limited-term position (9 months). Relocation will not be provided. Please include a cover letter letting us know how you re uniquely qualified for this role and what motivates you to apply. We will be accepting applications until 5:00pm PDT on February 4, 2026.

Serve as the Global Security (GS) senior program manager for event security. Responsible for establishing event security program direction, identifying interdependence and communication requirements, tracking progress, identifying and mitigating risks and resolving conflicts and issues. Develops and executes security plans for high-profile international events, including managing vendor relationships and liaising with local police and other government entities. Build strong relationships with team, internal and external partners, and effectively interact with senior audiences.

Responsible for researching and analyzing data to produce comprehensive risk assessments for consumers regarding threats to foundation-hosted events worldwide. Responsible for identifying opportunities to enhance and improve team strategies and processes through various tasks. Establish and implement processes, policies and protocols for an effective event security management system in foundation locations.

• Responsible for event security program activities related to program definition and delivery. Includes project scheduling, budgeting and forecasting, resource planning, contracting, risk management, and change management. Working in consultation with GS management, help determine GS staffing requirements for high-profile foundation events.
• Collaborates with foundation leaders and operations and program team partners on event security program design. Ensures strategic alignment on event security requirements and procedures, identifying opportunities to improve event security while balancing programmatic requirements.
• Lead on-the-ground security support for high-profile foundation events, including development and execution of event security plans and interaction with external partners and vendors and internal foundation partners. For events where you are not the lead POC, provide strategic oversight, ensuring best practices and procedures are applied across foundation events.
• Working with partners across GS, identify and manage relationships with vendors worldwide who can provide event security services. Develop standard protocols for these vendors to follow when delivering event security services.
• Compare actual event security performance with planned performance, analyze variances, assess trends to effect process improvements, evaluate possible alternatives, and implement appropriate corrective action if needed to continuously improve programs.
• Oversee training program and contingency planning for GS members on event security.
• Establish strong network with event security professionals in other organizations. Leverage benchmarking to improve the Gates Foundation event security program.

• Master s or bachelor s degree with 8+ years of relevant security experience or an equivalent combination.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; including research, monitoring and information collection and reporting.
• Strong collaboration, communication and influencing skills, including with senior executives and leaders.
• Demonstrated capability for operational security support at high profile events. Previous corporate event security experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working closely with government security entities and close protection teams. Previous work in diplomatic, law enforcement and/or intelligence agencies preferred.
• Experience working internationally in multiple settings (office & field),…