Job Information
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Head of HIV Drugs in Seattle, Washington
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) division 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 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 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 maternal, newborn and child health.
Within Global Health, our TB and HIV work is combined under a joint TB/HIV Program Strategy Team (PST) which focuses on research, development and delivery of new products and tools. We focus our HIV efforts on some of the countries hardest hit by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in populations at greatest risk of infection, including adolescent girls and young women. While treatment scale-up has led to significant declines in mortality and new infections, the rate is not rapid enough to reach globally agreed targets and there remains a persistently high incidence. The HIV team’s strategic vision is to accelerate the reduction in the incidence of HIV infection in high-burden geographies and populations, with a focus on the development of new prevention and treatment interventions, including long-acting drugs, vaccines and biologics, and to enable their effective use.
The foundation’s Tuberculosis (TB) team aims to address key gaps along the TB care pathway through new approaches to protecting against infection, preventing progression from infection to disease, and improving diagnosis and treatment. Our efforts are diversified based on the understanding that vaccines, diagnostics, drugs, and improved care delivery are all essential to addressing the TB epidemic.
Your Role
The Head of HIV Drugs is a new position within the GH division that will lead a portfolio of projects aimed at developing both existing and novel long acting antiretrovirals (ARVs) for prevention and treatment of HIV infection. You will work with academia, industry, and non-profit organizations to support and advance several classes of ARVs and a variety of drug delivery systems including long-acting oral, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections, and implants. This role works closely with our Integrated Development (IDev) functional team to lead a portfolio of investments evaluating long-acting platforms and novel compounds. It also collaborates closely with colleagues to advance opportunities for long acting ARVs for treatment in high burden countries, evaluate opportunities for long acting broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV prevention, and consider novel multipurpose prevention technologies that can prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy.
The operational complexity of delivering this category of prevention products within the existing health systems is an additional challenge. Taking stock of what we have learned about barriers to delivery, this role will also collaborate closely with our New Product Planning and Introduction (NPPI) and broader delivery team to inform effective approaches to uptake and optimal use of new interventions. If you are a highly experienced and motivated CMC leader with a passion for global health, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
What You’ll Do
Apply comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated expertise in product development to advise internal teams and work with external partners around the world on strategy and execution of development plans for preventive HIV interventions.
Conceptualize and lead an overarching strategy for the development of long acting antiretrovirals for HIV prevention in high burden countries.
Partner with industry on late-stage development of promising long acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) compounds, including clinical trial design and implementation.
Partner with the New Product Planning and Introduction team on planning for product launch, including implementation studies, market development and demand generation.
Partner with the Integrated Development team to manage a portfolio of early-stage platform investments aimed at development of next generation long-acting products.
In partnership with the HIV delivery team, conceptualize a strategy for the development and introduction of long acting antiretrovirals for treatment in high burden countries, including issues pertaining to access and affordability.
Effectively manage relationships with key internal partners within the matrixed organization.
Communicate HIV prevention strategies and decisions to internal and external partners; represent the foundation at external meetings with grantees, partners and stakeholders.
Reports to Director of TB/HIV Research and Development.
Your Experience
Significant years of professional experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries with demonstrated history of success with other drug development programs.
PhD and/or MD required or proven experience/advanced degree.
Broad understanding of HIV prevention, including issues related to API and drug substance; formulation and drug product; clinical trials; GMP manufacturing; and regulatory submission and approval requirements.
Experience in developing small molecule therapeutics is a requirement; experience with development of sterile products, proteins and peptides, and monoclonal antibodies are significant assets.
Prior experience in development of therapeutics for infectious diseases and women’s health conditions that primarily affect patients in low and low-middle income countries is a plus.
Expertise with innovative technology solutions such as long-acting drug delivery technologies, low-cost manufacturing, improved formulations to enhance bioavailability and/or reduce manufacturing costs, and/or drug delivery devices is an added advantage.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a wide variety of critical partners, both internal and external to the Foundation
Energetic and energizing leadership style
Clinical trial design (including statistics and data analysis)
Portfolio management Experience (in pharma/biotech context)
Solid understanding and/or specific knowledge of elements of product and/or service development and launch (e.g., discovery, development, commercial launch)
Strong oral and written communications, as well as effective meeting and relationship facilitation skills
Ability and comfort working within a highly matrixed organization
Strong negotiating skills
The salary range for this role is $322,000 to $499,100 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 $350,700 to $543,600 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.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (http://www.gatesfoundation.org/) 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, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.