Job Information
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer, Modeling and Analytics, Polio Technology, Research and Analytics Team (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
The Global Development Program (GD) includes a diverse range of program areas focused on finding creative ways to ensure solutions and products get into the hands of people in low-income countries. We focus on areas with the potential for high-impact, sustainable solutions that can reach millions of people. Our strategies include Emergency Response; Family Planning; Maternal Newborn & Child Health; Nutrition and Polio Eradication. A common theme across these programs is focus on innovative delivery, including an emphasis on strengthening primary health care systems. GD also encompasses our India Country Office and Africa Team. Our teams work in close partnership with these Country Office Teams to align the foundation’s health and development equity agenda with the government’s broader priorities.
The Role
As a key member of the Polio Technology, Research and Analytics (TRA) team, the Senior Program Officer (SPO), Modeling and Analytics, will support the team’s efforts to analyze and synthesize evidence to inform strategic decision making in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Additional information about GPEI can be found here - https://polioeradication.org/
As a team, Polio TRA is working towards the following goals:
Support development and rollout of polio vaccines (OPVs, IPVs)
Enable faster detection for improved outbreak response
Analyze, synthesize and disseminate data for policy and program action
Find opportunities for innovation and explore feasibility of program use
This is a 9-month Limited Term Employment role. Relocation will not be provided.
What You’ll Do
Provide technical support and leadership to the GPEI partnership, work groups, and grantees to identify and address key knowledge gaps with existing or prospectively collected data.
Provide analytic support and technical guidance to polio team members and GPEI working groups for priority issues such as risk assessment, outbreak response planning and evaluation of disease surveillance indicators, as and when necessary. Actively collaborate with external and internal groups in order to use analytical and modeling resources to inform critical program decisions.
Develop and manage a portfolio of investments to advance polio modeling and analytics, as well as the development and scaling of novel detection and surveillance technologies.
Work closely with national and provincial governments and partners to effectively use and visualize data to inform decisions.
Partner with Program Strategy Teams (PSTs), Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM), and foundation leadership to ensure strategies are supported by evidence.
Collaborate with grantees and partners to plan and implement field studies including serosurveys and clinical studies to shape policy for global eradication.
In coordination with key partners, identify research priorities, innovative technologies, and novel analytical methods including artificial intelligence/machine learning that could improve completeness of eradication. Work closely with the TRA team and other colleagues to formulate such research ideas and provide technical and managerial guidance to build grant relationships for rapid implementation.
Your Experience
7+ years of experience in applied statistics, biostatistics, global health or data science.
Experience related to immunization and/or polio eradication strongly preferred but not required.
A Ph.D. or an equivalent advanced degree or equivalent experience preferably in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, or similar quantitative field preferred.
Ability to travel up to 20%; largely internationally.
Deep knowledge of statistical methods, particularly for infectious disease mathematical modeling and geospatial data.
Proven ability to work creatively, rigorously, and collaboratively with public health and non-traditional data sources.
Deep knowledge of infectious disease epidemiology.
A high level of personal initiative and capability to be self-directed, combined with great teamwork skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; capability to clearly and effectively communicate with a wide range of partners and audiences, including with the foundation senior management.
Empathy and sense of humor.
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $229,100 to $355,200 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 $249,600 to $386,900 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
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.