Senior Program Officer – Country Engagement, Malaria at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 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, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Program Officer – Country Engagement, Malaria

Ref Id: B013895
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Job Type: Full time

Program Summary
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 vector control, 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.

Our Malaria Program Strategy Team (PST) 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. The strategy is based on our assumption that preventive and curative tools which 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.

Position Summary & Responsibilities

• The Africa Regional Office and the Malaria PST are recruiting a Senior Program Officer (SPO), for Strategic Partnerships and Country Engagement to support the Malaria PST and Africa Director in achieving its impact goals by: Managing a portfolio of foundation investments in West-Africa (with an initial focus on Benin and Burkina Faso) and provide the malaria PST 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 West and Central Africa to drive down morbidity and mortality.
• Defining and evaluating, in close collaboration with our implementing partners, operational research projects that address questions on technical, operational and financial feasibility of new implementation strategies and tools.
• Provide technical guidance for malaria investments in close collaboration with our country offices in Nigeria/Ethiopia and the Malaria PST.

Specifically, the SPO will be expected to:

• Develop, manage and implement malaria implementation strategies, and negotiate and manage complex, performance-based investments.
• Review letters of inquiry, grant and contract proposals; provide clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for foundation including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing investments for review by foundation leadership.
• Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, budgeting and reporting.
• Contribute 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.
• Consult with grantees and other partners to maximize 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.

This position is based out of Africa and will report to the Africa Director and the Deputy Director for Strategic Partnerships and Country Engagement of the malaria PST. The position is categorized as a limited term engagement and is 18 months in duration.

Qualifications

• Applicants should be ECOWAS country citizens and/or passport holders.
• A PhD, MD or equivalent in a related field is required.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience working on malaria program implementation. Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa working with or for a national malaria control program, will be a strong asset.
• Thorough 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 ability to lead and influence 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, diplomacy, and flexibility particularly as part of a team. Experience working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Strong language skills (including written) in both French and English
• Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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