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, weโre committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The TeamOur 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 receive too little attention and funding. Where proven tools and interventions exist, we support sustainable ways to improve their delivery and implementation in populations. Where they do not, 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 (TB), neglected tropical diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases, pneumonia and polio. These strategies are supported by functional & cross cutting teams that focus on Discovery & Translational Sciences, Integrated Development, and Vaccine Development.
The mission of Discovery & Translational Sciences (DTS) is to catalyze innovation for the discovery and translation of transformative solutions to global health and development inequity. As such, the primary role of DTS is to enable the foundation to achieve its ambitious global health equity goals as articulated in the objectives of the program strategies in Global Health and the Womenโs Health Innovations program in Gender Equality. For this, we exploit a unique advantage of the foundation in general and DTS in particular: the ability to invest in high-risk and/or long-timeline initiatives with potential for truly disruptive change. We channel resources into creating more practical (affordable, scalable, deliverable) versions of existing tools, develop transformative new tools where none exist, and speed the translation of scientific discovery into implementable solutions, seeking better ways to evaluate and refine potential interventions before they enter costly and time-consuming late-stage clinical trials. Key functions in support of this R&D mission include identifying and filling gaps in scientific knowledge, creating or implementing new technology platforms that can accelerate research in support of our goals, investing in potentially transformative ideas, continuous surveying of an ever-changing scientific and technological innovation space, and the fostering of an effective ecosystem of global health innovation, funding, and partnership to advance the foundationโs mission. Our areas of focus include vaccines, biologics, drugs, microbiome interventions, and reproductive and sexual health.
Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Your Role
The Deputy Director, Biologics Discovery is a critical leadership position focused on shaping and executing the Biologics Discovery strategy to drive innovation and impact in global health. Reporting to the Director, Discovery & Translational Sciences, the successful candidate will bring deep scientific expertise in immunology and biologics discovery, paired with a proven ability to lead strategic planning, manage complex research portfolios, and develop catalytic initiatives that influence both policy and program implementation.
What Youโll Do
Define and execute the Biologics Discovery strategy in a creative, rigorous, data-driven, analytical manner, and in close partnership with the DD for Vaccine Discovery (Vaccines & Biologics Domain, DTS).
Facilitate development of annual investment plans and budgets, develop, modify and implement strategy under the leadership of the Director. Work with foundation leadership as requested to address cross-cutting issues and improve functions and performance.
Provide strategic guidance in crafting grants and contracts that require complex research or analytics. Oversee global measurement and modeling activities.
Guide team members in the management of portfolios of foundation investments (grants and contracts), and work with external partners to drive progress.
Manage relationships with grantees, contractors and key partners to achieve the foundation's desired impact, provide project briefings and updates to foundation leadership, and represent the foundation in meetings with external stakeholders, as well as at scientific conferences and workshops.
Be accountable for the identification and assessment of key portfolio risks, and the development and management of mitigation/contingency plans at the portfolio level.
Advise, mentor, and support colleagues within the foundation and their grantees in the design, enhancement, and execution of project, initiatives and engagements.
Manage partnerships and grantee relationships to achieve impact, for example, by conducting site visits, convening meetings of key stakeholders, monitoring and evaluating components of grants.
Serve as a foundation global spokesperson on industry engagement priorities and related issues internally to foundation Co-chairs and leadership and externally to industry and global health stakeholders.
Manage people, with responsibility for hiring the talent needed to achieve our goals, ensuring successful employee onboarding, communicating performance expectations, creating goal alignment, integrating project and change management, giving and seeking feedback, providing coaching, measuring progress and holding people accountable, supporting employee development, and recognizing achievement and lessons learned.
Your Experience
M.D., PhD, or other relevant terminal degree
15+ years of experience in Immunology and/or Biologics Discovery & Translation
Strong record of scientific achievement
Experience in strategic planning and strategy implementation
Experience in designing research initiatives that are scientifically rigorous and catalytic to policy and program change
Experience and evidence of innovation in the conception, design, review and management of strategies, initiatives and programs
Experience in a role requiring collaboration in a complex organization and working with external organizations
Global health experience highly desired
A highly experienced professional with deep technical background in immunology and biologics discovery and translation
Ability to ask critical questions and forge new directions. A willingness to explore data that question the prevailing wisdom is a must. Ability to identify priority areas for funding and to shape strategies, ideas and proposals into successful programs
A fundamental attitude of thriving on the challenge of working on complex projects and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for transformational change. Strong mission focus
Proven ability to lead and influence others. Demonstrated ability to work with efficiency, diplomacy, and flexibility particularly as part of a team. Experience working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Experience in a role requiring collaboration as well as a demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort; ability to work in a cooperative and collegial fashion
Demonstrated excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience
Strong research, analytical, critical thinking skills as well as the ability to organize and synthesize information are required. Proactive and flexible nature with reliable follow-through and great attention to detail
The capacity to identify and activate interconnections with related areas in public health, product development, regulatory frameworks and policy
Demonstrated ability to work effectively across traditional disciplinary boundaries in a highly collaborative manner
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior leadership and senior policy makers
Experience working in global settings and in networking and collaborating with global partners is a plus
#LI-PA1
The salary range for this role is $328,400.00 to $509,000.00 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 $358,000.00 to $554,800.00 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 candidateโs job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.
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 โ of voices, ideas, and approaches โ 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.