Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Senior Program Officer, TB/HIV Diagnostics Research & Development

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation$234K — $362K *
Healthcare
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Advanced degree (PhD/MD with 10+ years, or MSc with 15+ years) in life sciences, biomedical engineering, or public health.
  • Extensive expertise in TB, HIV, and infectious disease diagnostics, including end-to-end product development.
  • Proven track record in leading diagnostic product development from concept to regulatory approval.
  • In-depth understanding of regulatory requirements for diagnostics development.
  • Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging technologies for biomedical applications.
  • Experience in managing cross-functional product development plans with diverse partners.
  • Experience working with organizations in low- and middle-income countries.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage a strategic diagnostics R&D investment portfolio.
  • Provide strategic and technical leadership in diagnostics and device product development.
  • Drive the creation and refinement of target product profiles and value propositions for TB/HIV diagnostics.
  • Shape and implement program strategy within the cross-functional TB/HIV Diagnostics R&D Initiative.
  • Review and recommend funding opportunities, preparing concise analyses for stakeholders.
  • Monitor and evaluate investment performance, ensuring progress toward milestones.
  • Cultivate and manage partnerships across the TB/HIV ecosystem to accelerate innovation.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a mission-driven organization focused on global health equity.
  • Collaborative work environment with teams dedicated to innovation in diagnostics.
  • Exposure to a diverse ecosystem of global health stakeholders and partners.
  • Potential for domestic and international travel to support initiatives.
  • Engagement with cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and research.
Full Job Description
Your Role

You will be primarily responsible for refining, informing and advancing the TB Diagnostics R&D strategy through the shaping and management of a portfolio of high-impact investments aimed at accelerating the development, and validation of novel TB diagnostics and diagnostic devices for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). You will work in close partnership with the EDGE (Enterics, Diagnostics, Genomics & Surveillance) and TB Delivery teams to guide scientific, technical, and partnership aspects of the diagnostics development pipeline and ensure alignment with the foundation's TB diagnostics introduction goals.

You will also collaborate with the HIV team to refine the HIV Diagnostics strategy and define potential high value HIV diagnostics investments designed to advance the foundation's HIV product introduction priorities. Together the role includes contributing to strategy formulation, managing complex grants and contracts, engaging with a diverse set of partners, and staying at the forefront of innovation and trends in diagnostics technologies. You will report to the Deputy Director of TB Drugs & Diagnostics R&D.

What You'll Do
  • Lead and manage a strategic diagnostics R&D investment portfolio, applying scientific, technical, and business expertise to identify, assess, fund, and oversee grants and contracts across discovery, technology validation, clinical evaluation, and implementation readiness.
  • Provide strategic and technical leadership in diagnostics and device product development, including risk-based decision-making, iterative milestone planning, and expert guidance to product developers, PDPs, academic groups, and implementing partners.
  • Drive the creation and refinement of target product profiles (TPPs), use cases, and value propositions for TB/HIV diagnostics across diverse settings and populations, ensuring alignment with broader TB and HIV treatment and prevention strategies.
  • Shape and implement program strategy by partnering with team leadership and contributing to the cross-functional TB/HIV Diagnostics R&D Initiative, including goal setting, investment planning, and execution.
  • Review and recommend funding opportunities, including evaluation of letters of inquiry and proposals, and prepare clear, concise analyses and funding recommendations for internal stakeholders.
  • Monitor and evaluate investment performance, conducting site visits, convening stakeholders, supporting grantees, and ensuring progress toward defined milestones and outcomes.
  • Cultivate and manage partnerships across the TB/HIV ecosystem, including PDPs, diagnostics developers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, global experts, and implementing agencies; proactively identify and establish new collaborations to accelerate innovation.
  • Stay current with scientific, technological, and market trends relevant to diagnostics development-especially for low- and middle-income country settings-and surface innovative approaches to accelerate cost-effective, geographically diverse product development.
  • Collaborate closely with internal teams (e.g., TB/HIV R&D, TB/HIV Delivery, EDGE) to ensure diagnostic innovations integrate effectively with treatment and prevention R&D and delivery strategies.
  • Manage portfolio information and decision processes, documenting key activities, contributing to business processes and performance measurement tools, and preparing materials for communication with foundation leadership.
  • Represent the foundation externally, engaging in global development networks and contributing to thought leadership in TB/HIV diagnostics.
  • Travel up to 30%, domestically and internationally, to support partners and investments.


Your Experience
  • Advanced degree (PhD/MD with 10+ years, or MSc with 15+ years) in life sciences, biomedical engineering, public health, or related field, with substantial diagnostics product development or infectious disease R&D experience. Immunology expertise is a plus.
  • Deep expertise in TB, HIV and/or infectious disease diagnostics, including end-to-end product development for point-of-care assays (e.g., protein-based, antigen/serology, and familiarity with molecular platforms such as PCR and sequencing).
  • Proven experience leading diagnostic product development in industry, from early-stage concept through regulatory licensure.
  • Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and pathways across phases of diagnostic development.
  • Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging technologies and align them with biomedical or public health applications.
  • Experience developing, managing, and executing cross-functional product development plans and coordinating across scientific, clinical, operational, and external partners.
  • Successfully managed complex partnerships, including with PDPs, biotech/industry, academic groups, and global health stakeholders.
  • Experience working in or with partners in low- and middle-income countries, with sensitivity to local implementation contexts.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with experience conveying complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Demonstrated scientific writing and data analysis skills.
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity, simplify complex problems, and maintain flexibility, efficiency, and enthusiasm in fast-paced, matrixed environments.
  • Strong judgment, discretion, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and confidential information.
  • Intellectual curiosity, resourcefulness, resilience-and a sense of humor.
  • Deep commitment to global health equity and the Foundation's mission, with strong results orientation.


#LI-PA1

The salary range for this role is $212,800 to $329,800 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 $234,000 to $362,800 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 candidate's job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The foundation was launched in 2000 and is based in Seattle, Washington. The primary goals of the foundation are to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. The foundation is one of the largest charitable organizations in the world, with an endowment of over $50 billion. The foundation has made significant contributions to global health, including the eradication of polio in India and the development of new vaccines for malaria and tuberculosis. The foundation also supports a variety of educational initiatives, including the development of new technologies for teaching and learning.
Learn more about Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Size
1,600 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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