Global Health Research Program Lead — 2-Year Term

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 236,000; Full time

Job summary

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Institute for Disease Modeling in Seattle seeks a Research Program Manager to define, prioritize, and manage research projects across portfolios, building partnerships with stakeholders and guiding cross-functional teams toward IDM and Foundation goals.

You will work with leadership to align portfolio priorities, translate scientific insights into program plans, and ensure timely delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree at minimum; graduate degree preferred.
• Five+ years of program management experience in complex or multi-disciplinary settings.
• Experience understanding research processes and applying best practices to complex programs.
• Familiarity with software product or tool development workflows and collaborating with engineering teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to translate science into programmatic implications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with data-driven decision making.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple research portfolios in partnership with research managers and deputy directors, driving outcomes through resource allocation, risk tracking, and progress oversight.
• Connect portfolio work to IDM’s priorities, ensuring alignment and flagging trade-offs as the landscape evolves.
• Engage with software teams and TPMs to maintain continuity between research portfolio needs and modeling tool development.
• Develop working depth in relevant research areas and current modeling technologies to guide planning and assess progress.
• Synthesize findings to inform portfolio-level decisions and surface options for leadership.
• Design and implement program processes and frameworks to keep work moving efficiently across teams.
• Maintain workplans with milestones and deliverables; communicate timeline changes and risks.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effectiveness of complex programs.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Communication

Travel flexibility

Cross-functional collaboration

Requirements gathering

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree

Tools

Modeling tools

Software development workflows

Job description

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Institute for Disease Modeling in Seattle seeks a Research Program Manager to define, prioritize, and manage research projects across portfolios, building partnerships with stakeholders and guiding cross-functional teams toward IDM and Foundation goals.

You will work with leadership to align portfolio priorities, translate scientific insights into program plans, and ensure timely delivery.