Director, Institute for Disease Modeling

Job Posting Organization:
The Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Founded with the mission that every individual, regardless of their identity or circumstances, should have the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life, the foundation emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the global populations it serves. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The foundation is committed to fostering an environment that supports both personal and professional growth for its employees.

Job Overview:
As the Director of the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM), you will be responsible for providing scientific and technical vision, strategic leadership, and organizational direction to enhance IDM's impact on global health and development. This role involves setting the scientific agenda for IDM, shaping its capabilities, and ensuring that its expertise in infectious disease modeling, quantitative science, data science, and analytics is effectively applied to address the foundation's most pressing challenges. You will connect innovative scientific research with real-world decision-making, serving as a trusted partner to foundation leaders and ensuring that rigorous quantitative evidence informs strategies, investments, policies, and programmatic decisions. Your leadership will be crucial in identifying emerging opportunities, guiding scientific priorities, and fostering collaboration across various subject areas and geographies to maximize IDM's impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:
In this role, you will set IDM's scientific and technical direction, establishing the agenda, priorities, and standards for dynamical disease modeling, quantitative science, data science, software, and analytics. You will ensure that IDM maintains high standards for scientific rigor, innovation, relevance, and impact. You will apply deep scientific, programmatic, and technical judgment to prioritize IDM's portfolio, determining where to invest capabilities and capacity, and identifying work that should be deprioritized as foundation priorities evolve. You will integrate IDM's modeling and analytical capabilities into strategy and decision-making across the foundation, collaborating with foundation leaders and program teams to frame critical questions and evaluate emerging analytic technologies. Additionally, you will lead the development of partnerships with various teams and offices, connect evidence and insights across strategies and disease areas, and maintain a strong external scientific presence to build relationships with leading researchers and institutions. You will also be responsible for attracting and retaining exceptional scientific talent, anticipating developments in relevant fields, and fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture within IDM.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Ph.D. in mathematics, epidemiology, statistics, computational science, computer science, or a closely related quantitative or scientific discipline. They should have deep scientific expertise in mathematical and dynamical disease modeling, along with substantial knowledge of infectious disease epidemiology and transmission dynamics. Significant senior leadership experience in a scientific, technical, research, computational, or global health environment is required, with a proven ability to set scientific direction and lead through senior scientific and technical leaders. Candidates should have recognized scientific standing and credibility in relevant fields, along with a demonstrated record of contributions to the broader scientific community. Experience in translating modeling and quantitative evidence into strategic decisions is essential, as is the ability to work across organizational boundaries and influence senior leaders.

Educational Background:
A Ph.D. in a relevant field such as mathematics, epidemiology, statistics, computational science, or computer science is required for this position. This advanced degree should provide a strong foundation in quantitative analysis and scientific research methodologies, which are critical for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in senior leadership roles within scientific, technical, research, computational, or global health environments. This experience should include a demonstrated ability to set scientific direction and lead teams effectively, as well as a track record of contributions to the scientific community in relevant fields.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the global nature of the organization and the need for effective communication with diverse stakeholders. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The salary range for this position is between $375,200 and $581,600 USD, with higher ranges for positions located in Seattle and Washington D.C. The organization recognizes the high-wage market differences in these locations, with specific ranges set for these areas. New hire salaries typically fall between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range, depending on the candidate's skills, experience, and expertise. The hiring process includes a background check, and the organization is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates, offering accommodations as needed. The foundation values diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workplace and strives to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants.