This is an interim backfill role to cover for an employee who will be out on parental leave. The duration of the assignment is targeted for 18 months starting in October. However, the start and end dates may change.
The Neglected Tropical Diseases program strategy team (NTD PST) plays a lead role in advancing the Global Health Division’s goal of addressing a diverse set of diseases that have a devastating human, economic and social burden impact on over 1.5 billion people living in impoverished communities throughout the developing world but get little attention and funding. Where proven public health interventions exist, we support sustainable ways to improve their delivery. Where they don’t, we invest in research, development, and deployment of new interventions, such as vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and vector control. We also support efforts to accelerate disease control and elimination efforts through coordinated mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns, screen and treat programs, integrated vector control programs, and public-health surveillance systems.
This role will be responsible for supporting the Elimination Portfolio, including Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), and Guinea Worm (GW). This portfolio includes NTDs that are closest to eradication or elimination and are facing similar end-game challenges. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the portfolio lead and team, the broader disease communities, key partners, and grantees. You will partner, develop, and manage a portfolio of grants and contracts to accomplish the global goals for these diseases under the supervision of the portfolio lead. This position requires expertise in infectious disease (expertise in NTDs is preferable, but not a requirement) grant-making and management skills, as well as expertise in program and project monitoring and evaluation.
- Support investment making and investment management for the Elimination Portfolio (HAT, LF, VL, and GW) and/or for medical product development (e.g., clinical trials for promising drug candidates). Depending on the candidate’s expertise, the role will be focused on specific aspects of this portfolio.
- Work in close collaboration with internal and external partners to design, negotiate, execute, and manage a complex portfolio of investments including performance-based grants and contracts against specific and measurable strategic goals related to improving delivery and implementation of NTD programs in-country.
- Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals and provide clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding. S/he will also draft and edit proposal summaries and progress reports for existing grants for review by foundation leadership and grantees.
- Consult with grantees and partners in public and private sectors to maximize the impact of projects and investments and to ensure optimal learning. This may include participating in site visits, providing operational guidance, working with companies, and convening meetings of key stakeholders.
- Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting. Improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Prepare and write briefs and synthesize existing literature. Provide written analysis and prepare presentations of key topics for foundation management. Fulfill data requests from leadership.
- Represent the foundation to key program-related external constituencies, as appropriate, on committees related to area of expertise and responsibilities of the position.
- Contribute to initiatives, cross-program, and cross-foundation strategies, including collaborating and/or implementing plans to ensure long-term sustainability and increased impact.
We believe that energized people working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment, will thrive and accomplish phenomenal things.
We are looking for an individual who enjoys the challenge of working on complex projects and who can work collaboratively to create and execute solutions that have the potential for transformational change. We seek a professional with deep knowledge and experience in public health and familiarity with the development and deployment of various products/interventions to achieve impact on the burden of NTDs.
The ideal candidate should have:
- At least 10 years of relevant work experience required. For candidates with less years of experience, but at least 5 or more years of relevant work experience, we may consider them at the Program Officer level.
- Successfully worked in public health and/or health product development; with demonstrated experience in areas such as infectious disease program design and implementation, investment portfolio strategy, grant making and management, disease modeling, medical product development, clinical trials, and/or health surveillance. Preference for experience in the Sub-Saharan Africa region and/or India.
- In-depth knowledge of infectious diseases; preference for NTDs. Ability to quickly learn, synthesize, and generate insights in areas related infectious diseases.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a wide variety of partners (e.g. government, development, etc.) from a diverse range of geographies, cultures, across sectors and expertise.
- Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.
- Experience with research methodologies and deployment of data strategies.
- Strong understanding of shaping and managing sustainable and scalable ventures.
- Program and/or project management experience; from work plan concept development to implementation.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively synthesize information to reach diverse audiences, build consensus and represent the foundation.
- Comfortable dealing with ambiguity, and with turning ambiguity into clarity and impact.
- Effective as a collaborator in complex internal and external organizations.
- Strong quantitative analytical skills.
- Works with efficiency and diplomacy.
- Sense of humor.
- Flexibility to travel domestically or internationally up to 25% time.