Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation : Deputy Director, Health Programs & Innovation Adoption – West & Central Africa – Dakar

JOB DESCRIPTION

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

The Africa Team works to enable the foundation’s ambitious goals of scaling evidence-based interventions that target a range of diseases and socio-economic conditions which are endemic across Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, the focus of the Africa Team is to enable collective impact for the foundation in Africa by influencing policy and finance towards key development priorities, strengthening capacity, and enabling systems for delivery, and innovating and using cross-cutting enablers for impact at scale. The team performs its responsibility through direct country engagement to deploy interventions and delivery models, and by building the partner architecture to replicate successful interventions and models across multiple countries.

The Global Health team harnesses technological advancements to tackle health challenges in low- and middle-income countries. We aim to address significant issues that lack adequate attention and resources. Our approach involves enhancing existing tool delivery and investing in innovative solutions.

Application Deadline: 3/3/2025

Your Role

The Deputy Director, HealthPrograms and Innovation adoption – West & Central Africa (WCA) will provide strategic leadership, operational execution, and oversight for health programs across Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the broader ECOWAS region. This role is instrumental in scaling health innovations, strengthening primary healthcare (PHC) systems, and ensuring that regional health strategies align with the Foundation’s Program Strategic Teams Strategies (PSTs) and countries. The Deputy Director will work closely with governments, multilateral agencies, private sector partners, and NGOs to accelerate progress in maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and health systems strengthening.

Below is what success in this role looks like:

Transformational Health Impact: Delivery of measurable health outcomes across multiple countries in WCA.

Regional Innovation Ecosystem: Establishment of robust networks, platforms, and policies.

Strategic Partnerships & Policy Influence: Strengthened collaborations with governments, regional bodies, and donors.

Operational Excellence: A high-performing regional health team with effective grant management and execution.

Global Thought Leadership: Recognition as a leading voice in health innovation and program implementation.

This role will be based in Senegal, Dakar and the Deputy Director, Health Programs and Innovation adoption – West & Central Africa will report to the Director, Health, Africa

What You’ll Do

1. Strategic Leadership & Innovation Adoption

Lead the development/ adaptation and execution of a cohesive country and regional health strategy for WCA, ensuring alignment with foundation global program strategic teams (PSTs) strategies.

Drive innovation adoption across health systems, bringing to bear digital health, AI, and data-driven approaches.

Provide strategic guidance and support to programs teams, grantees, and partners to strengthen health outcomes across the region.

In partnership with the foundation Regional lead, represent the Foundation at high-level forums in priorities countries and at regional level.

2. Program Development & Execution for Scale

Advise on the designing, funding, and implementation of high-impact, cost-effective health interventions in priority countries.

Lead cross-cutting regional programs focused on maternal and child health (MCH), nutrition, infectious diseases (including malaria), surveillance, and outbreak response, ensuring timely detection, prevention, and control of public health threats.

Strengthen regional health financing mechanisms and collaborate with the Policy team to develop and implement funding strategies that advocate for increased domestic resources.

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Influence : In partnership with the Regional Representative

Regional Representation & Advocacy: Serve as the Foundation’s primary health representative across WCA; working in collaboration with the Regional Representative.

Further collaboration with in-country health donors, ensuring harmonized investments and alignment with national health priorities.

Strengthen partnerships with ECOWAS, AU, WHO-Afro, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and local implementing partners.

4. Team Leadership & Organizational Management

Lead in collaboration with other DDs based in Seattle) a high-performing regional Health team (from different PSTs), ensuring strong execution, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing.

Lead all aspects of grant-making processes, including investment planning, budget oversight, and impact assessment.

Ensure compliance with the Foundation’s financial and operational policies while improving efficiency and accountability.

Mentor and develop staff, fostering a culture of learning, inclusion, innovation, and excellence.

Foster Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with other Deputy Directors and Program Strategy Teams (PSTs).

5. Impact Measurement & Risk Management

Monitor & Evaluate Program Success: Establish robust monitoring & evaluation (M&E) frameworks.

Risk Mitigation & Crisis Response: Identify and manage program risks.

Ensure Sustainable Impact: Design programs that deliver long-term, sustainable improvements.

Your Experience

15+ years of leadership experience in public health, global health, health systems strengthening, or innovation adoption.

Proven track record in health program design, implementation, and impact measurement in low- and middle-income countries, preferably in West and Central Africa.

Advanced degree in medicine, public health, health economics, or a related field (MPH, MHA, MD, PhD).

Strong expertise in multi-country health program execution, policy influence, and partner engagement.

Strong understanding of regional health priorities, including maternal and child health, nutrition, and infectious disease control.

Excellent critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills, with the ability to navigate complex political and operational environments.

Proficiency in English and French is required. Additional regional languages are a plus.

Other Attributes

Strategic Vision & Innovation: Ability to set a bold health agenda and scale transformative solutions.

Knowledge and experience in philanthropy

High-Impact Leadership: Proven capacity to manage teams and mobilize partnerships.

Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Influence: Ability to navigate political and operational landscapes.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: Passion for using evidence and digital health solutions.

Cross-Cultural & Regional Expertise: Deep understanding of WCA health challenges and investment landscape.

Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to work in fast-paced, complex environments.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements

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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation : Deputy Director, Health Programs & Innovation Adoption – West & Central Africa – Dakar

JOB DESCRIPTION

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