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 that are endemic across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The team drives its responsibility through direct country engagement to deploy interventions and delivery models and building the partner architecture to replicate successful interventions and models across multiple countries.

The Role

Application deadline: 2/18/2025

As the Senior Program Officer, Mortality Surveillance & Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), you will support surveillance for the Resilience through Azithromycin for Children (REACH) program, within the Africa Team. REACH is a country-led, time-bound program that aims to save the lives of young children (1-59 months) through biennial mass drug administration of Azithromycin- an intervention, that has previously been demonstrated in peer-reviewed clinical trials to reduce child mortality by ~14% in high mortality settings.

You will be responsible for developing and handling a portfolio of investments (grants and contracts) that support the design and conduct of high-quality mortality surveillance and AMR in implementing geographies and provide evidence-based analyses to drive country-led decision-making. You will nurture the REACH Network across several countries in West & Central Africa.

You will work from Africa in constant collaboration with Africa Team colleagues and various Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) across the foundation. We are looking for someone who is innovative, thoughtful, and curious, with a strong ability to identify and solve problems. We are looking for people who enjoy the challenge of working on complex and impactful programs and collaboratively crafting solutions that have the potential for ground-breaking change in the lives of people around the world. The applicant will have the ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in a fast-paced, ambitious environment.

This position reports to the Director, Health, Africa team.

What you will do

Translate Strategy into Country-Specific Engagement

Ensure implementation of a tailored approach for Mortality surveillance, and for AMR surveillance incorporating a clear technical vision, overarching goals, and detailed country-specific investment plans. These plans should align with REACH priorities and drive impactful, measurable outcomes.

Support Innovation adoption.

Identify opportunities for innovation adoption – tools and approaches -  in the program implementation that will bring step change to achieving better health outcomes.  This includes identifying and nurturing non-traditional partnerships and networks for surveillance.

Engage with Diverse Stakeholders

Build and maintain collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Provide strategic and technical support through joint efforts, participation in technical forums, and by complementing and aligning resources and interventions.

Drive Impactful Investments Aligned with Strategic Objectives

Collaborate with global and national stakeholders to conceptualize, develop, and manage high-impact investments that address the surveillance needs and opportunities.

Ensure Quality Surveillance and Data Management

In line with the agreed program protocol, you will ensure that the program collects high quality, accurate and timely data, you will ensure quality analytics and systems.

Optimize Project Impact and Promote Learning

Partner with the IDS/ surveillance program, grantees and stakeholders to maximize project impact and promote evidence generation and knowledge sharing. Activities include establishing a learning agenda, a learning and sharing platform and partnerships, translating learning into operational guidance.

Leverage Cross-Sector Opportunities

Work with stakeholders to identify and pursue cross-sector grant-making opportunities that drive the REACH program. These may include collaborations in related program areas such as Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH), Routine Immunization, Primary Health Care, Malaria and Polio.

Your Experience

Medical Doctorate (MD) and/or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with at least 10 years of experience in epidemiology or public health, or equivalent experience. Masters in public health (MPH) desirable.

Proven understanding and technical experience in microbiology, infectious disease surveillance, mortality surveillance, and disease modeling, and proven track record in translating research findings into highly effective programs.

Significant experience working in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with academic institutions, local governments, and NGOs.

Experience brokering relationships with global partners, including academic, research, industry, government, other donors, and grantees, to build a common vision for effective solutions to complex problems.

Ability to collaborate effectively in a matrixed environment - manage, coordinate, and prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple and ambitious demands.

Experience in working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

Excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience synthesizing technical information toward strategic decision-making.

Other Attributes

This role will require the ability to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally.

Nigeria is the preferred location for this role. However, Senegal is an option for consideration.

Fluency in English is required, with strong proficiency in French highly preferred. 

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.