Senior Program Officer, Maternal Immunization Product Development and Surveillance, Seattle, United States 40 views

Organization: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Country: United States
City: Seattle
Office: Gates Foundation HQ Seattle
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Application Deadline: May 15, 2022
Foundation Summary
Guided by the belief that all lives have equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pride ourselves on being “impatient optimists” whose purpose is to reduce inequity. Our vision is to ensure a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. We have four missions to:
Ensure more children and young people survive and thrive;
Empower the poorest, especially women and girls, to transform their lives;
Combat infectious diseases that particularly affect the poorest; and
Inspire people to take action to change the world.
Key to enabling these missions is our commitment to science and innovation, collaboration and partnership, measurement and rigor, as well as optimism and risk taking. Based in Seattle, the foundation has a worldwide staff of 1,500 people and is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. We have offices in the United States, Europe, India, China and Africa.
To learn more about job opportunities at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, please visit our Careers site at www.gatesfoundation.org/jobs.
Group Summary
Our Global Health Program (GHP) harnesses advances in science and technology to save lives in poor countries. We focus on the health problems that have a major impact in developing countries but get too little attention and funding. Where proven tools exist, we support sustainable ways to improve their delivery. Where they don’t, we invest in research and development of new interventions, such as vaccines, drugs, biologics, and diagnostics. Our work in infectious diseases focuses on strategies to fight and prevent HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases, and pneumonia. Our priorities in maternal, neonatal and child health focus on ensuring that women and newborns survive and remain healthy before, during and after childbirth, and ensuring optimal growth, neurodevelopment, and resistance to disease, by identifying and addressing underlying biological vulnerabilities. We also support innovative research in reproductive health. These strategies are supported by functional teams that focus on Discovery & Translational Sciences, Vaccine Development & Surveillance, Integrated Development, and Innovation Introduction.
Team Summary
The goal of the Pneumonia Team is to accelerate the reduction and diminish inequity in childhood deaths from pneumonia, meningitis, and neonatal sepsis. We also aim to prevent mortality due to AMR risk pathogens in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The strategy also seeks to minimize mortality and prevent transmission during viral respiratory pandemics. We do this by accelerating the development of novel and lower-cost vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for delivery to our target populations in low- and middle-income countries. Our prevention efforts are organized into the following initiatives: pneumococcus, respiratory syncytial virus, maternal immunization (group B streptococcus and pertussis), universal influenza and coronavirus, meningococcus, antimicrobial resistance (Klebsiella pneumoniae and infection prevention & control), and strategic information & risk factors.
Position Summary
As a core member of the Pneumonia Program Strategy Team (PST), the Senior Program Officer (SPO) will have primary responsibility for the development and management of a portfolio of investments in support of the Maternal Immunization initiative. The portfolio will focus on group B streptococcus with an emphasis on vaccine development, epidemiology, and infectious disease surveillance. Additional areas of focus for maternal immunization include safety surveillance, pre-implementation activities, and disease modeling. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required to build strong, trusting relationships across internal teams, external partners, and grantees.
We are looking for people who enjoy the challenge of working on complex problems and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for ground-breaking change in the lives of people around the world. The applicant must be prepared to work across a diverse set of subject areas, bridging a wide range of expertise all the while being a standout colleague, with a demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in a fast-paced, challenging environment.
This position will report to the Director, Pneumonia.
Responsibilities
Use of scientific/technical and strategic business expertise to lead an initiative team to identify, develop and handle a portfolio of strategic investments related to our Maternal Immunization portfolio.
Contribute to development of annual investment plans and budgets
Develop, modify, and implement strategy under the leadership of the Director and DDSPM.
Develop program strategies as well as negotiate, implement, and manage sophisticated performance-based contracts/grants.
Serve as an internal expert on maternal immunization, group b streptococcus, pertussis, working independently and collaboratively to shape strategy and document progress against programmatic priorities.
Provide strategy updates to foundation leadership, as requested.
Contribute to the design of new strategies, collaborations and implementation plans to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.
Collaborate with, provide guidance to and/or mentor other program officers and functional team members to develop and handle related investments and sub-initiatives.
Review submitted concept notes and grant proposals; provide clear, concise, and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding, including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing grants for review by foundation leadership.
Build and manage highly collaborative grantee and partner relationships to maximize impact of projects and ensure optional learning. This may include identifying and cultivating partner relationships; conducting site visits; providing technical expertise and guidance; and convening meetings of key partners.
Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting.
Represent the foundation and influence global, regional, and country agendas in line with global objectives.
Leadership and Culture
We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal things.
Qualifications
MD or PhD in life sciences with 15 years of experience, or equivalent experience.
In addition, MPH or public health experience desirable
Recognized internally and externally by the global professional community as an expert within a particular specialized field.
Technical experience in one or more of the following areas: clinical research & development, vaccine development, epidemiology (EIS expertise or equivalent national surveillance program), infectious diseases and/or immunology; background in maternal immunization strongly preferred
Understanding of the complexities of basic science, clinical research, and regulatory requirements, as well as a proven ability to translate research findings into highly effective programs.
Excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience synthesizing technical information toward strategic decision making.
Proven ability to think through a product development lens and/or collaborate effectively with clinical development partners.
Experience managing relationships with global partners, including academic, research, industry, government, other donors, grantees to build a common vision and visualize simple and effective but implementable solutions to complex problems.
Field experience, scientific collaborations, and network in target geographies (Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia) preferred.
Ability to communicate the complexities of the foundation’s strategies and goals to key programmatic partners both internally and externally.
Ability to collaborate effectively in a matrixed environment – manage, organize, and prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands.
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.
Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.
A sense of humor.
Commitment to the Foundation’s core values of Rigor, Innovation, Collaboration and Optimism.
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Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Depending upon your work location, we may require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and any recommended booster doses. All employees based in the United States are to provide proof of full vaccination upon hire and any recommended boosters, subject to applicable laws.
Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to hr@gatesfoundation.org.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of 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.