Job Information
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer, Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls, Vaccine Development (8-Month LTE) 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) 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 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, neglected tropical diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, and maternal, newborn and child health. These strategies are supported by functional & cross cutting teams that focus on Discovery and Translational Sciences, Vaccine Development, Innovation Introduction, and Integrated Development. The Vaccine Development (VDev) team’s vision is to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of consistently high quality, appropriately priced vaccines that are efficiently delivered to meet the needs of global health populations – whether through our direct product development efforts, functional support to program strategy teams, investments in technology development or technical advocacy in the vaccine development ecosystem.
Your Role
The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will utilize their senior-level technical and strategic knowledge of vaccines and biologics bio-processing, bio-analytics, and formulation research and development, as well their knowledge of quality systems and formal CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls), to develop and implement innovative and sustainable technical solutions for Global Health (GH) related vaccine development projects. The SPO – CMC shapes and guides these CMC solutions for foundation program strategy teams and partners. You will be a member of the VD&S CMC Domain and report to the Deputy Director of CMC.
The application deadline is Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
What You’ll Do
CMC Strategies and Solutions
Partner with Deputy Director (DD), Vaccine Development (VDev) CMC, as well as other CMC team members and expert across disciplines, to implement technical solutions that speed and de-risk the development of appropriate vaccine candidates for global health needs.
Shape and guide implementation delivery and impact measurement of Bioprocess R&D and CMC solutions toward approved GH strategy objectives.
Partner with DD, VDev CMC to conceptualize, articulate and implement effective and strategic CMC solutions. This will include looking for synergies across multiple vaccine programs and objectives and translating new knowledge into effective interventions and decisions
Oversee shaping and implementation of CMC related grant portfolio aspects, create robust systems that ensure quality grantee interactions, balance in the portfolio, and effective annual planning.
Negotiate, implement, and manage a portfolio of grants or performance-based contracts; including alignment of internal and external stakeholders, review of letters of inquiry and grant proposals as well as providing clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding.
Provide senior-level technical CMC expertise for internal Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) and partners.
Synthesize commercial and technical information toward strategic decisions; clearly articulate value propositions from both a business and technology perspective.
Form key partnerships with individuals, industry organizations and others to enhance implementation of the program’s strategy and tactics.
Provide rigorous reviews of GH programs that incorporate contributions from both internal and external stakeholders and anticipate mid-course corrections, project impact and propose appropriate changes.
Support the Vaccine Development (VxDev) team’s goal achievement, create systems to track progress and ensure accountability and link VxDev CMC efforts to GH and foundation missions.
Contribute to integration of strategies and execution of plans across VxDev and other GH teams
Provide consistently superb leadership and exceptional management of CMC related internal and external partners
Management for Impact
Guide the CMC efforts in optimizing the level of engagement required for specific team and grantee support.
Provide strategic guidance in crafting grants or contracts such that GH resources are efficiently and expertly utilized
Contribute to the integration of strategies and execute plans across VxDev, GH and other Foundation teams (e.g. Global Development)
Engagement with External Partners
Play a strategic role on CMC related issues relevant to regulatory interactions and submissions
Identify and cultivate partners to build coalitions and achieve objectives; manage partnerships to achieve impact
Serve as a leadership partner and technical resource to grantees to achieve strategic objectives
Attend internal meetings to represent CMC and VxDev as well as being a representative of the foundation at external meetings
Actively search for and create opportunities for partners and solutions to leverage available resources
Active search for and create opportunities to develop new partnerships and between external partners that will advance GH programs
This role is accountable for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field
This role will require the ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.
Your Experience
We are looking for people who enjoy the opportunity of working on complex projects and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for transformational change. We seek a self-starter who can integrate a diverse set of perspectives to build consensus, structure and drive forward progress on complex topics, and provide both strategic and operational capacity to the Vaccine Development team.
We are looking for individuals with:
Tolerance for ambiguity and ability to apply structure to simplify complex problems
An understanding of regulatory requirements necessary for various phases of drug development
Commitment to innovation and advancing new technologies in vaccine manufacturing
Intellectual quickness, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness and resilience
Demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and enthusiasm in a fast-paced and complex internal and external environment
Experience with business and technical due diligence assessments of potential corporate, product or technology investments; ability to synthesize technical and commercial information towards strategic decision making
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
Exceptional listening, verbal, and written communication skills, able to effectively calibrate input and synthesize information to connect with diverse audiences
Demonstrated experience in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience
Solid understanding of the realities and complexities of matrix-based organizations
Experience in working on teams with diverse culture and professional backgrounds
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally-sensitive behavior
Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
Excellent relationship management skills to develop trusting and productive relationships with a wide range of colleagues, dignitaries, leaders, grantees, consultants and other partners.
A sense of humor
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
Education and Experience
PhD in Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry or a related field and 10 plus years related experience in the design and implementation of CMC development and/or manufacturing solutions for a broad range of vaccines and biologics. Knowledge and experience working with non-US/non-EU based manufacturers.
Target experience with recombinant protein vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, highly desirable
Experience with complex drug-delivery technologies also a plus.
Knowledge of CMC capabilities in non-US/non-EU based manufacturers, including CMOs
Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a team effort
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $204,600 to $317,100 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 $229,500 to $345,500 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission and new hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary range between the minimum and the midpoint salary range. 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
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
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.