Senior Officer, Polio Eradication at Gates Foundation

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 Polio Team works with partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), as well as with country governments, donors and other collaborators, to build and implement the global strategy to eradicate Polio. We do this by developing relationships and uplifting each other through our journey together. We believe that energized people, working well together, motivated by great leadership in an inclusive environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal things.

The foundation’s Leadership Team is invested in our success, as we continue to provide updates, identify key risks, and build engagement opportunities.

Your Role

As a key member of the Polio Endemics team, the Senior Officer, Polio Eradication will be responsible for intensifying the engagement of the foundation with key partners (e.g. WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Rotary International and Gavi) and National Emergency Operations Center in Pakistan to interrupt wild poliovirus transmission.

The ideal candidate will be energized by using their exceptional analytical, operational and project management skills, to help others organize around and execute on a set of goals, have demonstrated interpersonal skills to manage stakeholders at all levels, and have impeccable attention to detail. You will directly engage with key stakeholders across multiple levels of the polio eradication program, to help drive outcomes that accelerate the elimination of all polioviruses, especially in endemic districts, to achieve certification of global polio eradication two years following cessation of circulation of the virus, by 2026. You will need to demonstrate an enthusiasm for public health programming in an emergency context, excel in managing complex partnerships, and have a track record in driving towards measurable, time-bound results.

The postholder will be based at the foundation’s office in London, and report to the Deputy Director, Polio Endemics.

What You’ll Do

a) Country Engagement (~80%)

• Engage with the Emergency Operations Center and GPEI implementing partners at the national and provincial levels in Pakistan to analyze current epidemiology, virology and vaccination coverage to identify risks to continued transmission of polioviruses.

• Support the development, design and assessment of vaccination strategies to address risk of continued transmission.

• Support annual and quarterly strategic and operational reviews to drive implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP).

• Facilitate and promote business practices that enhance program efficiency, accountability and transparency, and optimal use of program resources.

• Support ongoing workforce rationalization exercises, restructuring and resourcing strategies to maintain within approved funding and budgets while improving program outcomes.

• Support streamlining of program reporting, documentation and knowledge management systems to improve timely executive decision-making.

• Support in developing integrated monitoring, evaluation, surveillance and data systems to generate real-time insights for program leadership.

• Promote the use of innovation and operational research to enhance coverage and quality of polio vaccination campaigns.

b) Strategic Planning and Portfolio Management (~20%)

• Act as a strategic thought partner to the Deputy Director to shape strategic priorities and investment strategies in support of the Pakistan polio program. 

• Work with Senior Officers working at the provincial level to develop and articulate an investment portfolio with clear, measurable outcomes aligned with National Emergency Action Plan and priorities established by Provincial Emergency Operation Centers.

• Co-lead or manage select grants or contracts related to national-level program support end-to-end, including partner engagement, milestone and outcome tracking, etc.

• Provide analytical insights, synthesizing complex information, and helping prepare internal and external briefings.

• Coordinate with the Deputy Director and others on internal portfolio-level reviews and strategy review and annual planning deliverables. 

Your Experience

• Masters or other advanced degree in management, business administration, or public health. 

• Relevant senior level experience in program strategy, consulting, or operations in complex organizational settings in the private and/or public sector, preferably with a focus on public health, social program and change management.  

• Strong understanding of strategic planning, performance management, and cross-functional coordination. 

• Previous experience of leading and facilitating annual program/portfolio reviews, generating insights, developing strategic frameworks, and translating analysis into persuasive narratives, visualizations, and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Experience working in heavily matrixed environments, across multiple teams and divisions, and managing changing priorities. Skilled in navigating ambiguity and driving clarity in unstructured situations.

• A high-level of personal initiative and ability to be proactive, combined with the ability to stay focused on long-term vision.

• Expert in communication, facilitation and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively and forge strong partnerships with a diverse set of stakeholders.

• Experience with immunization and/or polio eradication in polio-endemic countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region is useful but not required.

• Experience working with global partners such as GPEI, Gavi, WHO, UNICEF and/or in developing country settings, with knowledge of government health systems and political structures.

• Proven track record of forging strong partnerships and relationships with Pakistan/developing country policy makers and development partners.

• A knack for building momentum and driving action in matrixed environments, helping others to move beyond ‘business as usual’ and generate / implement innovative analyses and solutions.

• Ability to identify new and opportunistic partnerships to achieve program goals.

• A high-level of personal initiative and ability to be proactive, combined with great partnership skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate with a wide range of partners and audiences, including with the foundation senior management.

Other Attributes

• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behaviour with a diverse range of people and a deep commitment to development issues and high standards of personal integrity.

• Ability to write and speak in one of Pakistan’s major languages is a requirement.

• Ability to travel up to 60% largely to Pakistan.

Application deadline: 29 September 2025

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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.

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