Portfolio and Platform Lead

Job Posting Organization:
The Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Established with the fundamental belief that every individual, regardless of their identity or circumstances, deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life, the Foundation is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of the populations it serves. The organization offers an exceptional benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, a foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The Foundation is dedicated to fostering an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in its workforce.

Job Overview:
The Portfolio and Platform Lead will be instrumental in managing the lifecycle of AI projects within the Foundation, overseeing initiatives from their initial proof-of-concept stages to their scaling at regional or national levels. This role requires a strategic mindset to bridge the gap between product development and operational implementation, ensuring that AI initiatives are not only technically sound but also scalable and impactful. The individual will provide centralized oversight of the AI Taskforce’s portfolio, ensuring that projects progress efficiently through various phases of development, adoption, and scale-up. The role involves coordinating with both internal and external stakeholders to optimize resources and maximize the impact of AI initiatives, which are crucial for addressing health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Portfolio and Platform Lead will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of AI projects, ensuring seamless transitions from concept to scale. This includes developing and implementing portfolio management frameworks to track project timelines, budgets, and milestones, as well as supporting the assessment of each project's readiness to advance to future development phases. The Lead will identify and address product bottlenecks and ensure that the entire portfolio of products aligns with the comprehensive AI strategy. Additionally, the role involves collaborating with AI teams, technical experts, grant managers, and external partners to align product strategies with organizational goals. Building strong relationships with governments, funders, and implementation partners is essential for facilitating AI adoption. The Lead will also identify high-potential AI initiatives and guide them through the maturity pipeline, addressing barriers to scale and ensuring that products are linked with relevant technical and non-technical enablers. The position requires recommending resource allocation strategies to maximize impact and efficiency, as well as streamlining investment decisions by providing data-driven insights on AI project performance. Key deliverables include creating an AI Project Roadmap, Annual Portfolio Performance Reports, a Scaling Readiness Framework, and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in biotech, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or a related field, along with a minimum of 8 years of experience managing AI, digital, or technology product portfolios, ideally within a commercial setting. A strong understanding of AI product development, evaluation, and adoption is essential, as is experience in structuring and managing AI projects, tracking deliverables, and leading cross-functional teams. The ability to engage effectively with governments, donors, and implementing partners to drive AI adoption is crucial, as is familiarity with the challenges associated with scaling AI solutions in LMIC contexts. Strong analytical skills are necessary to assess project performance and resource allocation.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced degree in a relevant field such as biotech, pharmaceuticals, or life sciences. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of AI product development and the specific challenges faced in low- and middle-income countries.

Experience:
The position requires at least 8 years of relevant experience in managing AI, digital, or technology product portfolios. Candidates should have a proven track record of successfully leading AI projects, managing cross-functional teams, and engaging with various stakeholders, including governments and tech firms. Experience in a commercial setting is preferred, as it provides valuable insights into product development and market dynamics.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international scope of the organization. Additional languages relevant to the regions served by the Foundation may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This position is a limited-term role for 24 months, and relocation assistance will be provided for the successful candidate. The salary range for this role is between $233,600.00 and $362,200.00 USD, with specific adjustments for high-wage markets such as Seattle and Washington D.C., where the salary range is between $254,700.00 and $394,700.00 USD. The organization emphasizes a mission-driven approach to compensation, balancing competitive pay with its overarching mission. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, and the Foundation is committed to providing accommodations for candidates with disabilities during the application and recruitment process.