Update on the job search...

So, yeah, TOTALLY found my ideal job...anyone know anyone that works at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation? :) I don't necessarily have the experience, but, hey, it's all about who you know, not what you know, right? And I'm a fast learner! ;)

Position Title	Special Assistant to the President - Travel
Division	Global Health Program
Department	Administration
Location	Seattle

Responsibilities

The Special Assistant to the President, Global Health Program staffs the President’s international and domestic trips and events with other global health leaders. This position is responsible for planning, trip logistics, and follow-up for external meetings, speeches and public events.

The Special Assistant acts as liaison between the office of the President and the program areas in Global Health, working closely with directors and program officers to ensure appropriate, consistent follow-through after external meetings and events.

Reports to: Senior Project Officer to the President, Global Health

Responsibilities:
• Travel with the President of Global Health, attending meetings, speeches, and other events, tracking commitments made and opportunities for follow-up. Debrief with the President and other foundation staff in attendance as appropriate.
• Prepare and issue trip reports that succinctly capture salient elements from discussions and clearly identify follow-up actions. Disseminate within global health and maintain a trip report archive.
• Manage follow up activities that result from external meetings. Assign to foundation staff as appropriate, assemble ad hoc teams when necessary; ensure that each activity is completed in a reasonable manner and timeframe after the completion of the trip. Provide regular progress updates to the Senior Project Officer to the President.
• Contribute to the development of an annual travel strategy for the President that maximizes the achievement of foundation objectives and manages grantee relationships.
• Manage all travel logistics during travel with the President, trouble-shooting and resolving conflicts as they arise, interacting with logistics and security personnel and other members of the delegation traveling with the President.
• Monitor key relationships between President of GH with government, the philanthropic sector, and other key foundation partners and allies and leverage trips/events to schedule meetings and conversations to further develop these relations.
• Maintain positive, productive working relationships with staff in the office of the President, Global Health Policy & Advocacy staff, other Global Health Program staff, security and logistics personnel, and external contacts.
• Negotiate consultant contracts and coordinate work as it relates to trip planning and execution from time to time.
• Travel up to 50% both domestically and internationally, including travel to the developing world.