Program Officer, Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls

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 proven 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 and other infectious diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases and pneumonia. These strategies are supported by functional teams that focus on Discovery and Translational Sciences, Vaccine Development, and Integrated Development.

The goal of the Vaccine Development Team is to advance public goods for global health through technological innovation. We do this by accelerating the development and commercialization of novel vaccines and the sustainable manufacture of existing vaccines, developing platform technologies to reduce the barriers to immunization and reducing the threat of epidemics through the development and use of innovative tools.

Your Role
You are responsible for developing and implementing Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls (CMC) solutions in support of product development. You work with Gates Foundation program strategy teams, grantees, and partners to provide strategic and technical guidance on Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) issues. You focus on products incorporating polio and other vaccines to provide safe and effective options for delivery in support of polio eradication.

What You'll Do

• Contribute to the implementation, delivery, and impact measurement of Bioprocess Research & Development and CMC solutions toward approved strategic objectives.
• Contribute to a portfolio of high-impact product development grants to achieve cost, quality, safety, and therapeutic effectiveness targets.
• Assist in identifying innovative technologies and partners, developing strategic objectives and key results, guiding the development of coordinated project plans, key milestones, and timelines, and monitoring progress.
• Enable successful integration of product development plans across matrixed teams with multiple work streams and translate new knowledge into effective interventions and decisions.
• Work effectively with a wide range of product development partners to incorporate and integrate critical technical activities to achieve successful program progression.
• Build and partner with a network of subject matter experts in diverse areas of CMC product development to provide the full range of advice needed to progress each investment as quickly and effectively as possible.
• Communicate CMC strategies and decisions to internal and external partners.
• Play a strategic role in CMC issues relevant to regulatory interactions and submissions.
• Partner with Deputy Director (DD), Vaccine Development (VDev) CMC, as well as other CMC team members, members of the Program Strategy Teams for polio and other vaccines and experts across disciplines, to implement technical solutions that speed and de-risk the development of vaccine candidates that can meet global health needs.
• Partner with DD, VDev CMC to conceptualize, articulate, and implement effective and strategic CMC solutions, including looking for synergies across multiple vaccine programs and objectives and translating emerging research and knowledge into effective interventions and decisions.
• Synthesize commercial and technical information to help inform the team’s strategic decisions and clearly articulate value propositions for investments from both a business and technology perspective.
• Form and maintain key partnerships with individuals, industry organizations, and others to enhance the implementation of the program’s strategy and tactics.
• Plan, manage, and execute a wide range of activities in support of strategic planning, prospect and develop complex investment opportunities, grant management, and external relationship management.
• Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals; provide clear, concise, and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding, including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing grants for review by foundation leadership.
• Consult with grantees to achieve the desired impact of grants. Conduct site visits when appropriate, provide technical guidance, convene meetings, and apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives.
• Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, and reporting. Improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Prepare and write briefs and synthesize literature. Provide written analysis of key topics for foundation management. Fulfill data requests from leadership.
• Ensure coordination and collaboration with other internal and external stakeholders where required and timely communication of grantee progress and results.
• Support inclusive culture through modeling behaviors and actions; escalate issues in a timely fashion to appropriate stakeholders.

Your Experience

• A Ph.D. degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in biochemical engineering, biology, biochemistry or a related field with at least ten years of experience in the areas outlined below.
• Experience in implementing CMC solutions for a broad range of biologics, with an emphasis on vaccines.
• Experience across all phases of vaccine product development with significant late-stage experience, including developing and executing comprehensive and integrated product development plans.
• Experience with technology transfer, good manufacturing practices, or quality systems.
• Experience in product development for emerging markets.
• Working knowledge of a broad spectrum of critical CMC activities and requirements, including process development, analytical development, and dosage form development.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements for all phases of drug development and history of productive interactions with regulators.

Other Attributes

• Working knowledge of business and technical due diligence assessments of potential corporate, product, or technology investments.
• Knowledge related to working with non-US/non-EU-based manufacturers.
• Technical competence in the life sciences.

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

The salary range for this role is $ 186,400 to $ 288,800 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 $203,100 to $314,900 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.