Job Information
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer, Country Engagement – Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria
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
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 validated 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, and diagnostics. Our work in infectious diseases focuses on strategies to fight and prevent HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected and other infectious diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases and pneumonia. These strategies are supported by functional teams that focus on Discovery and Translational Sciences, Vaccine Development, and Integrated Development.
The Foundation’s Malaria Program Strategy Team aims to improve existing tools and discover and develop new ones to reduce and prevent malaria transmission, and in the long term, eradicate malaria worldwide. Our strategy is based on our assumption that the preventive and curative tools that are currently available are not sufficient to achieve eradication everywhere, especially in areas of high transmission, and that emerging resistance to drugs and insecticides present additional challenges.
With eradication as the aim, our strategy focuses both on improving current approaches and on intensive research and development toward the creation of new drugs, vaccines, vector-control tools, and diagnostics to prevent and interrupt transmission of the two major species infecting humans - P. falciparum and P. vivax. The foundation works with bilateral and multilateral partners to drive the discovery, development, and delivery of improved and new tools; demonstrate and document impact, especially of integrated interventions; and improve surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation needed to achieve and document eradication. We also engage in modeling to better understand the potential impact of new tools and the optimal combination of such tools to achieve eradication in different settings. Underlying these efforts is our ongoing analysis of financial needs and advocacy for sustained commitment, funding and supportive policies that are needed in the long-term fight against malaria.
Your Role
Application Deadline: June 26, 2024.
The Africa Regional Office and the Malaria Program Strategy Team (PST) are recruiting a Senior Program Officer (SPO), for Strategic Partnerships and Country Engagement to support the Director and team in achieving its impact goals by:
Leading a portfolio of foundation investments in Nigeria and providing the M alaria PST and Africa Regional office with regular updates on progress against our strategic goals.
Identifying new opportunities and partner organizations for the foundation to invest in high-burden areas in Nigeria to drive down morbidity and mortality.
Defining and evaluating, in close collaboration with our implementing partners, operational research projects that address questions on the technical, operational, and financial feasibility of new implementation strategies and tools.
Provide technical guidance for malaria investments in close collaboration with our Nigeria country office and Africa regional office and the Malaria PST.
This position is currently Abuja-based but will be Dakar-based (once the office is operational) and will report to the Deputy Director for Health of the Africa Team and the Deputy Director for Strategic Partnerships and Country Engagement of the malaria PST .
What You'll Do
Develop, lead, and implement malaria implementation strategies, and negotiate and run complex, performance-based investments.
Review letters of inquiry, grant, and contract proposals; provide clear, concise, and insightful written analyses and recommendations for the foundation including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing investments for review by foundation leadership.
Lead internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation , budgeting, and reporting.
Give to the design of new strategies, collaborations, and implementation plans to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.
Collaborate with foundation colleagues in related program areas to take advantage of cross-sector grant-making opportunities.
Conduct high-quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with partners in the field.
Cultivate a sense of urgency for the fight against malaria amongst the implementing partners and an innovation adoption approach to problem-solving.
Consult with grantees and other partners to enhance the impact of projects and ensure optimal learning. This may include conducting site visits, providing operational guidance, and convening meetings of key stakeholders.
Represent the foundation with stakeholders who may include public and private entities, partner organizations, other funders, universities, think tanks, and government agencies. May serve on external boards and working groups.
Your Experience
The foundation is seeking an expert in malaria program implementation.
The ideal candidate should have:
A Ph.D., MD or equivalent in a related field is required .
A proven experience of 10 years + of working on malaria program implementation.
Regional multi-country experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is essential. Having worked with or for a national malaria control program will be a strong asset .
Detailed and up-to-date technical knowledge of malaria epidemiology, WHO policies, and implementation guidance.
Experience working with global institutions including malaria donors like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the US Presidents Malaria Initiative.
Proven track record of leading and influencing others.
Experience in strategic planning and strategy implementation.
High detail orientation and affinity for data, with the ability to artfully manage tactical execution while remaining objective when absorbing and presenting information.
Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgement in developing methods, techniques and evaluating criteria for obtaining results.
Demonstrated excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience.
Demonstrated capacity and initiative to solve problems with energy and a positive attitude.
Experience in a role requiring collaboration (both internally and externally), prioritization, and results-orientation in a fast-paced, complex organization.
Intellectual quickness, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness, and resilience.
Demonstrated ability to work with efficiency, tact, and flexibility, particularly as part of a team. Experience working in teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Other Attributes
Fluency in English and proficiency in other languages is an asset.
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.
Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Candidate Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all 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.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (http://www.gatesfoundation.org/) works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.