The Program Officer will have primary responsibility for managing a grant portfolio that supports product development, with an emphasis on universal influenza vaccines and maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The candidate will have familiarity with pre-clinical and clinical vaccine development processes for viral vaccines. Additional area of focus may include surveillance projects to assess vaccine impact or disease burden. This role will lead complex partnerships, 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, trusting relationships and bring ownership and oversight to the grant management work which engages with internal and external partners. This work is likely to result in transformative changes in life-saving vaccines for children, and thus is very high priority/high visibility within the foundation.
- Design, plan, and manage a portfolio of grants to develop universal influenza vaccines and RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, primarily for use in low- and middle-income countries.
- Identify and cultivate partners to build coalitions and achieve programmatic objectives.
- 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.
- Consult and co-develop ideas with grantees to achieve desired impact of grants; conduct site visits, provide technical guidance, convene meetings, and apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives.
- Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting.
- Prepare and write briefs and synthesize existing literature. Provide written analysis of key topics as strategically relevant to the Pneumonia team.
- Identify promising areas of research and programming to fill key gaps in our knowledge related to pneumonia, and develop or guide development of related requests for proposals
- This role is responsible for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field.
- Industry experience in RSV and/or influenza vaccine development required.
- Strong analytical, writing and verbal skills for communicating with a broad and diverse audience.
- Strong knowledge across relevant technical area/expertise.
- Demonstrated effectiveness as a collaborator in complex internal and external partnerships.
- Ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy as part of a team effort. Experience in working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Extensive field experience in target geographies (Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia) preferred
- Excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience.