The foundation’s move to put women and girls at the center of development has underscored the critical need for transformational innovation in reproductive health technologies in order for the foundation to achieve its equity goals. Improved reproductive health is closely linked to other critical global health equity outcomes and is a bedrock for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
We are recruiting a Deputy Director to lead a new team within D&TS focused on Reproductive Health Technologies. The team will accelerate existing initiatives including vaginal microbiome interventions for the prevention of HIV acquisition and adverse birth outcomes, and the discovery of novel non-hormonal contraceptives. The Deputy Director will be expected to define other areas for the foundation to pursue in reproductive health, matching key equity needs with the competitive advantages and overall goals of the foundation. The position will report to the Director of D&TS and is based in Seattle.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Define and execute the reproductive health technologies strategy in a creative, rigorous, data-driven, analytical manner.
- Lead Reproductive Health Biology for the Non-Hormonal Contraceptive Initiative, working in close partnership with the Deputy Director of Drug Discovery.
- Lead the Vaginal Microbiome Interventions Initiative.
- Define other key areas for the foundation to pursue in Reproductive Health, matching key equity needs with the competitive advantages and overall goals of the foundation--in partnership with relevant stakeholders and experts across the foundation, including Family Planning, MNCH, MNCH—D&T, HIV, Gender Equality, and Delivery.
- Guide team members in the management of portfolios of foundation investments (grants and contracts), and work with external partners to drive progress.
- Manage relationships with grantees, contractors and key partners to achieve the foundation's desired impact, provide project briefings and updates to foundation leadership, and represent the foundation in meetings with external stakeholders, as well as at scientific conferences and workshops.
- Facilitate development of annual investment plans and budgets, develop, modify and implement strategy under the leadership of the Director. Work with foundation leadership as requested to address cross-cutting issues and improve functions and performance.
- Provide strategic guidance in crafting grants and contracts that require complex research or analytics. Oversee global measurement and modeling activities.
- Be accountable for the identification and assessment of key portfolio risks, and the development and management of mitigation/contingency plans at the portfolio level.
- Advise, mentor, and support colleagues within the foundation and their grantees in the design, enhancement, and execution of project, initiatives and engagements. Manage partnerships and grantee relationships to achieve impact, for example, by conducting site visits, convening meetings of key stakeholders, monitoring and evaluating components of grants.
- Serve as a foundation global spokesperson on reproductive health priorities and related issues internally to foundation Co-chairs and leadership and externally to industry and global health stakeholders.
- Manage people, with responsibility for hiring the talent needed to achieve our goals, ensuring successful employee onboarding, communicating performance expectations, creating goal alignment, integrating project and change management, giving and seeking feedback, providing coaching, measuring progress and holding people accountable, supporting employee development, and recognizing achievement and lessons learned.
Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should have an M.D., PhD, or other relevant terminal degree with deep knowledge, expertise and experience in Reproductive Biology or Reproductive Physiology.
Skills/Experience:
- A highly experienced professional with deep technical research background in reproductive biology/physiology, with a focus on the vaginal microbiome, contraception, infection pathogenesis and/or immunology.
- A fundamental attitude of thriving on the challenge of working on complex projects and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for transformational change. Strong mission focus.
- Experience in strategic planning and strategy implementation. An ability to design research initiatives that are scientifically rigorous and catalytic to policy and program change.
- Ability to ask critical questions and forge new directions in the field of reproductive health. A willingness to explore data that question the prevailing wisdom is a must. Ability to identify priority areas for funding and to shape strategies, ideas and proposals into successful programs.
- Proven ability to lead and influence others. Experience in a role requiring collaboration as well as a demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort; ability to work in a cooperative and collegial fashion.
- Experience working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Demonstrated excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience.
- Strong research, analytical, critical thinking skills as well as the ability to organize and synthesize information are required. Proactive and flexible nature with reliable follow-through and great attention to detail.
- The capacity to identify and activate interconnections with related areas in public health, product development, regulatory frameworks and policy.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across traditional disciplinary boundaries in a highly collaborative manner.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior leadership and senior policy makers.
- Experience working in global settings and in networking and collaborating with global partners is a plus.
- Minimum 15 years of basic/translational research experience in this field.
- Strong record of scientific achievement as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Experience and evidence of innovation in the conception, design, review and management of strategies, initiatives and programs.
- Experience in establishing and leading collaborative programs of fundamental scientific research linked to reproductive biology in the academic, Pharma or Biotech sector
- Experience in product development, preferably gained in the Pharma or Biotech sector, is a strong plus.
- Global health experience is highly desired.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jul 10 2019
Active Until:
Aug 10 2019
Hiring Organization:
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
industry:
Nonprofit