Careers

Description:

Job Title: Senior Program Officer, Clinical Vaccine Development

Division: Global Health

Group: Pneumonia

Location: Seattle, WA

Travel: Up to 30%

At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation we believe that by creating an environment for our employees to personally and professionally thrive, we will have maximum impact toward our missions to achieve our vision.

To learn more about our vision and missions, please visit our website at www.gatesfoundation.org.

To learn more about career opportunities at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, please visit our Careers site at www.gatesfoundation.org/careers.

The Team

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 priorities in infectious diseases focus on strategies to fight and prevent HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases, and pneumonia. Our work in maternal, neonatal and child health focuses 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.

The goal of the Pneumonia Team is to accelerate the reduction in childhood deaths from pneumonia, meningitis, and neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries. We also aim to minimize mortality and prevent transmission during viral respiratory pandemics. Guided by burden of disease, we develop novel and/or lower-cost vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for delivery to our target populations.  Our prevention efforts target the following pathogens: pneumococcus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), group B streptococcus (GBS), meningococcus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as pandemic influenza and coronaviruses. Given that a growing portion of deaths in young children happen before a child can be vaccinated, we are developing vaccines that can be delivered safely during pregnancy (maternal immunization) to protect vulnerable infants during the first months of life through antibodies transferred from their mothers. We are also focused on antimicrobial resistance as an increasing global health threat that disproportionately contributes to neonatal sepsis deaths.

This person will report directly to the Deputy Director, Pneumococcal and Meningococcal Programs but also have a dotted line to the Pneumonia Director.

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.

Your Role

As a core member of the Pneumonia Strategy Team (PST), the Senior Program Officer, Clinical Vaccine Development will have primary responsibility for the development and management of a grant portfolio that supports clinical vaccine development and impact assessment, with an emphasis on vaccines for pneumococcus, respiratory syncytial virus, group B streptococcus, and meningococcus. Areas of focus may also include epidemiology, immunology, infectious disease surveillance as well as some other initiative areas (e.g., universal influenza and coronavirus).  This role will lead projects, which will require not only the willingness to dive into the details, but also the ability to see the "big picture". Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required to build strong, positive 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.

What You’ll Do

• Use of scientific and technical expertise to identify, develop, and manage a portfolio of strategic investments related to our PST strategy
• Develop and implement strategy under the leadership of the Director and Deputy Directors
• Manage and implement program strategies as well as negotiate, execute, and manage complex, performance-based contracts/grants
• Serve as an internal expert on clinical vaccine development and impact assessment, working independently and collaboratively to shape strategy and document progress against programmatic priorities
• Provide strategy updates to foundation leadership, as requested
• Contribute to development of annual investment plans and budgets
• 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
• Represent the foundation and influence global, regional, and country agendas in line with global objectives

Your Experience

• MD or PhD in life sciences with 10 years of experience, or equivalent experience
• Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries preferred
• In addition, MPH or public health experience desirable
• Proven understanding and experience in clinical vaccine development and/or vaccine impact evaluation
• Experience managing relationships with global partners, including academic, research, industry, government, other donors, grantees to build a common vision for effective solutions to complex problems
• 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
• Experience in working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds

Other Attributes

• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries preferred
• Understanding of the complexities of clinical research and regulatory requirements, as well as a proven ability to translate research findings into highly effective programs
• Proven track record