Mr Simons, who is also currently a TES columnist, will become director of policy and advocacy at the not-for-profit organisation in the new year.
The Varkey Foundation was established by Sunny Varkey, the founder of the Gems education company, to improve the standards of education for underprivileged children around the world.
It both funds education programmes and delivers them, including work for Department for International Development in sub-Saharan Africa. It also runs the Global Education and Skills Forum, the $1m Global Teacher Prize, and the Global Teacher Status Index.
TES understands the foundation is expanding its senior with a view to becoming one of the most influential education organisations globally.
Before joining Policy Exchange, Mr Simons was head of education in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit under Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
He will work in the senior leadership team at the Varkey Foundation, building its policy platform and advocating for the causes it supports, mainly focusing on the UK and developed world education systems.
Mr Simons told TES: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my three and a half years at Policy Exchange in the heart of UK education policymaking.
“The Varkey Foundation offers an incredible opportunity to build on this and to work on the cause of education reform not just in the UK but also globally.”
Vikas Pota, chief executive of the Varkey Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Jonathan Simons is joining the Varkey Foundation.
“His work on education at the heart of Government for two Prime Ministers - as well as his role as school governor - mean that few people know more about how to raise standards than Jonathan.”
A spokesman for Policy Exchange said Mr Simons had been “an integral part of the Policy Exchange team” who had made a “major impact on the policy debate”.
“We wish him all the best and are actively recruiting his replacement,” he added.
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