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 Health (GH) Division harnesses advances in science and technology to save lives in low- and middle-income 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.

Application Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026

Your Role

As a key member of the Vaccine Development team, Senior Program Officer, Viral Vaccine Development, is accountable for a portfolio of investments and partnerships on priority product development efforts. These will consist of several “next generation”, innovative vaccines and approaches to vaccine development expected to deliver high impact on lives saved and DALYs in the near term, including leveraging correlates of protection to accelerate clinical development, novel clinical trial designs, and AI in clinical development.

You will provide clinical leadership, program management, strategy development and leadership communications on Vaccine Development priorities, Product Development Partners, and other foundation partners. You will also partner closely with the Deputy Director (DD), Chemicals, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) and Deputy Director, Integrated Clinical Development 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.

*This is a 12-month limited-term position. Relocation will not be provided.

What You’ll Do

• Advise the foundation and manage investments in cross-cutting development technologies for viral vaccines that can support multiple programs based on deep knowledge of the field and current developments.

• Provide detailed technical input to our internal teams and external partners for viral vaccine development strategies and project plans.

• Review data as it becomes available to assist investment teams and partners in adjusting development plans as needed.

• Assess probability of technical and regulatory success and make recommendations for development progression or timely termination.

• Act as foundation “Project Lead” for priority vaccine development programs

• Negotiate, implement, and manage a portfolio of grants or performance-based contracts. This includes 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.

• Consult, provide thought partnership, and support to grantees and other partners to maximize the impact of projects and the creation of well-integrated vaccine development plans, clinical study designs, statistical analysis plans, and clinical assays for vaccine clinical studies

• Serve as an advisor on clinical vaccine study design, including the review of protocols, analysis plans, and clinical sections of regulatory dossiers.

• Bring forward innovative ideas for enabling more rapid, cost-effective and geographically diverse clinical development of vaccines and biologics

• Provide senior-level technical clinical vaccine development expertise for internal Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) and partners.

• Provide technical guidance and support on the foundation process for Integrated Product Development Plans (IPDPs) and the development process including definition of critical milestones and stage gates. Support product development process as defined by the foundation for our internal and external partners.

• Represent the foundation and program to the external world as relates to position responsibilities:

• Forge collaborations with key global experts in vaccine development.

• Work with external advisors to maintain cutting edge approaches to vaccine development.

• Represent foundation interests in developing networks for the program.

• Play a strategic role on clinical vaccine development 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 Vaccine Development as well as being a representative of the foundation at external meetings.

• Active search for and create opportunities to develop new partnerships and between external partners that will advance GH programs.

• This role will require the ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.

Your Experience

We are looking for people who enjoy the challenge of working on complex problems and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for transformational change in the lives of people around the world. 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. Solid team player with a demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in a fast-paced, challenging environment. Experienced professional with a demonstrated record of success in developing viral vaccine products, preferably with more than one product that has advanced through all stages of development.

We are looking for individuals with:

• Ph.D. in virology and/or the biological sciences/engineering with a minimum of 15 years of experience in one or more of the following areas: clinical research & development, vaccine development, infectious diseases and/or immunology

• Industry experience as a project lead for a vaccine or biologics product

• Experience developing and managing cross-functional product development plans

• Extensive knowledge of clinical vaccine research from phase 1 through phase 4 including excellent statistical knowledge

• A track record of significant accomplishments in viral vaccine development, including end-to-end product development with experience proceeding through all stages

• An understanding of regulatory requirements necessary for all phases of vaccine and biologics development

• Experience with business and technical due diligence assessments of potential corporate, product or technology investments

• Ability to synthesize technical and commercial information for strategic decision making and executive briefings

• Commitment to innovation and advancing new technologies in vaccine development

• Comfortable working in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally-sensitive behavior

• Experience with a diverse range of partners, including those located in low and middle income countries

• Excellent relationship management skills to develop trusting and productive relationships with a wide range of colleagues, dignitaries, leaders, grantees, consultants and other partners.

• Experience in a role requiring collaboration in a complex internal and external organization, including a solid understanding of how to successfully navigate matrix-based organizations

• Demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and enthusiasm in a fast-paced and complex internal and external environment

• Tolerance for ambiguity and ability to apply structure to simplify complex problems

• Strong judgment with a demonstrated ability to handle complex issues, confidential information, and competing priorities

• Strong skills for scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication, and advocating with broad and diverse audiences

• Commitment to transparency and real-time information sharing

• Demonstrated passion for the Foundation’s values and commitment to deliver results against the Foundation’s mission

• Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally

** Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

#LI-PA1

The salary range for this role is $238,400 to $369,400 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences where our offices are located, in Seattle and Washington D.C. The range for this role in these locations is $262,200 to $406,400 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.

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

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact HR@gatesfoundation.org with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.

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.