Senior Program Officer, Drug Discovery

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 (GH) program 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 receive too little attention and funding. Where proven tools and interventions exist, we support sustainable ways to improve their delivery and implementation in populations. Where they do not, 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 (TB), neglected tropical diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases, pneumonia and polio. These strategies are supported by functional & cross cutting teams that focus on Discovery & Translational Sciences, Integrated Development, and Vaccine Development.

The mission of Discovery & Translational Sciences (D&TS) is to catalyze innovation for the discovery and translation of transformative solutions to global health and development inequity. As such, the primary role of D&TS is to enable the foundation to achieve its ambitious global health equity goals as articulated in the objectives of the program strategies in Global Health and the Women’s Health Innovations program in Gender Equality. For this, we exploit a unique advantage of the foundation in general and D&TS in particular: the ability to invest in high-risk and/or long-timeline initiatives with potential for truly disruptive change. We channel resources into creating more practical (affordable, scalable, deliverable) versions of existing tools, develop transformative new tools where none exist, and speed the translation of scientific discovery into implementable solutions, seeking better ways to evaluate and refine potential interventions before they enter costly and time-consuming late-stage clinical trials. Key functions in support of this R&D mission include identifying and filling gaps in scientific knowledge, creating or implementing new technology platforms that can accelerate research in support of our goals, investing in potentially transformative ideas, continuous surveying of an ever-changing scientific and technological innovation space, and the fostering of an effective ecosystem of global health innovation, funding, and partnership to advance the foundation’s mission. Our areas of focus include vaccines, biologics, drugs, microbiome interventions, and reproductive and sexual health.

Your Role

As a member of the Drug Discovery team, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) is accountable for leading a portfolio of investments and partnerships in support of Global Health priorities. This will consist of building out a new portfolio focused on innovative approaches for discovery of new small-molecule antibiotics active against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, in partnership with Wellcome and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The portfolio will form an integrated program aimed at developing novel and emerging biological, chemical, and AI tools, and their application to generate chemical starting points for drug discovery.

You will provide leadership, program management, strategy development and communications on drug discovery team priorities, grantees and partners. You will also partner closely with the Deputy Director, Drug Discovery, to contribute to the continued development of the team’s strategic vision including participating in the setting of the overall strategy and goals for the group.

What You’ll Do

• Apply scientific, technical, and strategic business expertise to identify, develop, and lead a portfolio of strategic, performance-based grants and contracts; this includes alignment of internal and external collaborators, review of letters of inquiry and grant proposals as well as providing clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding.
• Partner closely with team leadership, including the Director and Deputy Director Drug Discovery, to communicate and implement the overall D&TS strategy.
• Act as foundation “Project Lead” for Gram-negative antibiotic drug discovery.
• Monitor and track science and technology trends relevant to drug discovery. Bring forward innovative ideas for enabling more rapid, cost-effective and geographically diverse approaches to discover new drugs. Work with external advisors to maintain innovative approaches.
• Provide senior-level technical drug discovery expertise for internal Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) and partners.
• Actively search for and create opportunities to develop new partnerships and between external partners that will advance GH programs.
• Provide information related to grant portfolio, such as documenting key activities and decisions; inputting into business processes and performance measurement tools; preparing materials for communication with foundation leadership. 
• Consult, provide thought partnership and support to grantees and other partners to enhance the impact of projects, including the design of suitable studies.
• Represent the foundation and program to the external world as relates to position.

Your Experience

• PhD and/or MD with 15+ years of experience working in one or more of the following areas of drug discovery: infectious disease biology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology
• Experience in antibacterial drug discovery, and/or working with other infectious pathogens
• Industry experience as a project lead for small molecule drug discovery
• Demonstrated ability to influence collaborators across a complex integrated work environment
• Commitment to innovation and advancing new technologies in drug discovery
• Experience working with partners in low- and middle-income countries a plus
• Demonstrated experience in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience
• Tolerance for ambiguity and ability to apply structure to simplify complex problems 
• Intellectual quickness, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness and resilience
• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior  
• Strong judgment with a demonstrated ability to handle complex issues, multiple tasks, confidential information, and competing priorities with skill, discretion, a strong attention to detail, flexibility and diplomacy
• Excellent relationship management skills to develop trusting and productive relationships with a wide range of colleagues, dignitaries, leaders, grantees, consultants and other partners

Other Attributes

• Commitment to transparency and real-time information sharing
• Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a team effort 
• Demonstrated passion for the Foundation’s values and commitment to deliver results against the Foundation’s mission 
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 30%

The salary range for this role is $261,700 to $405,700 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $285,300 to $442,100 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

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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

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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.