Program Officer Global Health Innovations Advocacy Communications

Job Description

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 Program Advocacy and Communications (PAC) team works in partnership with program teams and other teams in the Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) division to achieve their policy and finance goals by:

Developing and coordinating the execution of advocacy and communications strategies.
Using leadership and foundation voice to implement advocacy strategies.
Developing policy recommendations or proposals in partnership with programmatic and regional offices.
Developing and managing a grant portfolio dedicated to achieving advocacy and policy (AP) outcomes.
Directly advocating with sector leaders, influencers, media, and government officials in order to achieve advocacy and policy outcomes.
Leading issue-specific communications in service of advocacy goals.

Within the PAC team, the Global Health Innovations (GHI) cluster supports efforts to accelerate development of, access to, and initial uptake of innovations with the highest potential global health impact by. We address cross-cutting health R&D policy and funding challenges, while supporting innovation systems that respond to the needs of low and lower-middle income countries. We also advance innovative platform interventions and functions – such as collaborative disease surveillance and AI for health – that support across all of the foundation’s specific global health goals.

Your Role:

The Program Officer (PO), GHI Advocacy Communications, will partner with team Senior Program Officers to lead discrete special projects across the GHI PAC portfolio, and also provide research/analysis and project implementation support across a range of team grant-making, strategy development, coordination, and advocacy communications. While the PO’s portfolio will include a range of initiatives that touch policy, advocacy campaign work, and strategic communications, particular focus is expected on cross-cutting global health R&D communications. The role is expected to split approximately 50/50 between direct communications activities and work on special initiatives. There is also the potential to flex across other program communications efforts as needed.

This role will report to the Deputy Director, Global Health Innovations, in PAC. The PO will work closely with the team’s Senior Officer for Advocacy Communications, the full GHI PAC team, other PAC Communications professionals, and teams across foundation divisions and geographies.

What You’ll Do:

Special Initiatives:

Lead and manage a suite of special projects within the foundation’s overall GHI policy, advocacy, and communications strategy, and as part of a dynamic and collaborative team. As examples, these projects may range from:
Managing the external engagement strategies for major global health R&D events (such as those related to the foundation-supported Grand Challenges program);
Leading GHI PAC support for discrete convenings and campaigns in international markets (primarily Europe and E. Asia);
Coordinating joint initiatives with other critical global partners (including other major philanthropies active in health R&D).

Portfolio Communications:

Work in coordination with Program Strategy Teams, functional teams and PAC colleagues to translate programmatic goals into effective communications plans.
Develop communications strategies and materials in support of GHI PAC’s portfolio, including fact sheets, statements, Q&As, speeches and submitted articles.
Collaborate with Communications-focused PAC team members and the foundation’s Communications Division teams to lead communications for a discrete program portfolio.

Cross-Cutting:

Plan, run and execute a wide range of activities in support of strategic planning, develop investment opportunities, provide grant management and external relationship management.
Collaborate with grantees to achieve desired impact of grants; conduct site visits when appropriate, provide guidance, convene meetings and apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives.
Manage internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, budgeting, and reporting. Improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Collaborate with grantees to build capacity and advance common objectives.
Produce high-quality and informative written briefs, reports, and other materials for foundation leadership on key Global Health R&D topics, health innovation challenges, and other relevant issues.

Your Experience:

Solid understanding across global health, with a focus on upstream research and development, health innovation systems, and other relevant technical expertise.
Leadership abilities to work with multiple partners, including researchers, government, other donors, and grantees to build a common vision and visualize simple and effective but implementable solutions to complex problems.
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.
Experience interpreting scientific literature and data for a lay audience.
Experience with research methodologies and utilizing output to inform communications and strategies.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively synthesize information to reach diverse audiences and build consensus.
Familiarity with clinical trials processes, product development, product manufacturing, product introduction, AI utilization, regulatory systems, and other key health innovation policy issues.
Experience interacting with senior level policy makers, civil society organizations, coalitions, and governments.
Experience working with media to develop in-depth stories on complex health topics.
Effective as a collaborator in complex internal and external organizations.
Extensive project contribution and management experience.
Works with efficiency and diplomacy.