Senior Program Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the principle that everyone deserves the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the foundation emphasizes diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. It offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage without premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employee engagement in various communities. The foundation is committed to fostering a supportive work environment that promotes both personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
The Senior Program Officer will manage a portfolio of investments aimed at enhancing mortality surveillance in low- and middle-income countries. This role involves close collaboration with the foundation’s Africa Regional Office and various internal teams to support public health decision-making. The officer will engage with key partners in global health surveillance, coordinate with other donors, and seek co-funding opportunities. The position requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships across teams and with external partners. The officer will report to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director of Surveillance & Epidemiology within the Pneumonia & Pandemic Preparedness team. This role is a limited-term position for 12 months, and relocation will not be provided.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Program Officer will be responsible for managing and advancing a portfolio of grants focused on improving mortality surveillance and cause of death determination. Key responsibilities include contributing to the foundation’s public health surveillance strategy, building collaborative relationships with grantees and partners, innovating in mortality surveillance using advanced technologies, serving as an internal expert on portfolio issues, providing strategy updates to leadership, developing annual investment plans and budgets, leading the design of new strategies and collaborations, negotiating and managing grants, reviewing proposals, and securing new funding for surveillance work in Africa and South Asia.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a doctoral degree in epidemiology, public health informatics, or a related data-centric field, along with at least 10 years of public health practice experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. MDs with relevant experience are also encouraged to apply. Knowledge of mortality surveillance approaches in settings with limited civil registration systems is essential, particularly in Africa and South Asia. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively in a matrixed environment, manage multiple projects, and build productive relationships with various stakeholders.

Educational Background:
A doctoral degree in epidemiology, public health informatics, or a related field is required. Candidates with an MD and relevant surveillance and data experience are also encouraged to apply. The educational background should reflect a strong foundation in public health principles and practices, particularly in relation to mortality surveillance and cause-of-death determination.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of public health practice experience, with a strong preference for those who have worked in low- and middle-income countries. Experience with information technology for surveillance and AI-based technology is highly desirable. Proven ability to assess high-impact concepts and approaches is essential, along with experience in scientific writing, data analysis, and synthesizing technical information for strategic decision-making.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of the role. Additional languages relevant to the regions of focus (Africa and South Asia) may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This is a limited-term position for 12 months, and relocation assistance will not be provided. The salary range for this role is between $233,600 to $366,200 USD, with specific adjustments for high-wage markets like Seattle and Washington D.C., where the range is $254,700 to $394,700 USD. The foundation emphasizes a balance between competitive pay and its mission, with new hire salaries typically falling between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, and the organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring practices.