Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer—Discovery & Drug Development

OpenDoorHub; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work option in the UK

Part-time (20 hours/week)

Job summary

The Gates Foundation in the United Kingdom is seeking a part‑time Senior Program Officer to advance discovery and development of interventions for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes. Based in the UK with remote work options, the role focuses on leading a portfolio across research, product development, and grantmaking.

The position requires advanced degrees and strong expertise in obstetrics or related fields, with a record of strategic leadership and collaboration

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD, DrPH, MD, or equivalent) in a relevant clinical or scientific discipline.
• Specialized expertise in obstetrics, maternal‑fetal medicine, endocrinology, or related field preferred.
• Extensive experience in research, drug or product development, clinical practice, or grantmaking.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine investment strategy within the disease area, identifying gaps and priorities.
• Provide scientific and clinical leadership on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes.
• Partner with grantees and investigators to design and oversee high‑quality research and investments.
• Contribute to budgeting, risk management, and sequencing of portfolio investments.

Skills

Leadership

Grantmaking

Budgeting

Risk management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

PhD/DrPH/MD or equivalent

Tools

None

Job description

Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer—Discovery & Drug Development

The Gates Foundation is hiring a Senior Program Officer to advance the discovery and development of products and interventions for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes. The role is part-time, located in the UK, with remote work possible. The Senior Program Officer will lead a

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer to join their Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCNH) team, focusing on the Discovery & Drug Development portfolio. This part-time role, expected to require 20 hours per week, will be based in the UK, with the option for remote work. The Senior Program Officer will serve as a technical and strategic lead, advancing the discovery, development, and introduction of high-impact products and interventions targeting hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes.

Overview

The Senior Program Officer will be responsible for leading and managing a portfolio of grants and investments focused on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes.

• Developing and refining investment strategy in the disease area, identifying gaps, priorities, and high-potential opportunities
• Providing scientific and clinical leadership on the biology, risk stratification, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of preeclampsia, other hypertensive disorders, and gestational diabetes
• Partnering with grantees and external investigators to design and oversee research, ensuring scientific rigor, ethical standards, and alignment with foundation and country priorities
• Contributing to budgeting, risk management, and sequencing of investments within the portfolio, ensuring effective stewardship of foundation resources

Candidates must have an advanced degree (PhD, DrPH, MD, OB/GYN or equivalent) in a relevant clinical or scientific discipline, with specialized expertise in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, endocrinology, or a related field strongly preferred.

• Deep subject-matter expertise in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and/or gestational diabetes, spanning underlying biology, clinical management, and product or intervention development
• Extensive relevant experience in research, drug or product development, clinical practice, or grantmaking, preferably with exposure to low- and middle-income country settings
• Part-time role with compensation and benefits, located in London, UK, with the option for remote work in the UK
• Opportunity to work with a leading global health organization, advancing the discovery and development of high-impact products and interventions
• Collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders, including grantees, investigators, country partners, and internal teams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the expected duration of this role?

This is a part-time role, expected to require 20 hours per week, with a duration of 2 years.

What type of experience is required for this role?

Candidates must have extensive relevant experience in research, drug or product development, clinical practice, or grantmaking, preferably with exposure to low- and middle-income country settings.

What is the location of this role?

The role is located in the UK, with the option for remote work in the UK.

What is the compensation and benefits package for this role?

The role offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, but the details are not specified.

What is the application process for this role?

Candidates must submit an application through the Gates Foundation's job portal, including a resume and cover letter.

What are the key responsibilities of this role?

The Senior Program Officer will lead and manage a portfolio of grants and investments, develop investment strategy, and provide scientific and clinical leadership.