Senior Program Officer, Vaccine Forecasting & Financing

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Seattle, Washington (WA, District of Columbia); On-site; USD 173,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off and family leave

Relocation assistance not available

Job summary

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer for Vaccine Forecasting & Financing in Seattle or Washington, DC. This 9-month role focuses on improving forecasting, budgeting, and innovative financing to strengthen immunization programs globally.

You will coordinate with Gavi, UNICEF, and country offices to increase domestic resources for vaccines and optimize procurement and pre-financing mechanisms. Requires leadership, policy influence, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in global health/development.
• Deep expertise in immunization program design/operations, health financing, vaccine procurement, or development finance.
• Strong analytical skills in forecasting, budgeting, and financial modeling.
• Experience with governments, donors and global health institutions.
• Ability to influence policy and drive cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Improve Global Vaccine Forecasting and Planning Systems with partners.
• Strengthen forecasting, budgeting, and funding source identification.
• Lead financing solutions for campaigns, cold chain, and immunization investments.
• Advance innovative financing for immunization, including debt swaps and vaccine bonds.

Skills

Global health

Health financing

Vaccine procurement

Financial modeling

Forecasting

Budgeting

Policy influence

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder engagement

Development finance

Job description

Senior Program Officer, Vaccine Forecasting & Financing### Senior Program Officer, Vaccine Forecasting & FinancingApply: Seattle, WA: Washington, DC: Full time: Posted Today: B021812**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 Global Development (GD) Division includes a diverse range of programming areas focused on finding creative ways to ensure solutions and products get into the hands of people in low-income countries. We focus on areas with the potential for high-impact, sustainable solutions that can reach millions of people. Our strategies include Emergency Response, Immunization, and Polio Eradication. A common theme across these programs is focus on innovative delivery, including an emphasis on strengthening primary health care systems. Our teams work in close partnership with our Country Office Teams to align the foundation’s health and development equity agenda with the government’s broader priorities. Vaccines are a core priority of the Gates Foundation and can save millions of lives a year when delivered effectively. The mission of our Immunization Program Strategy Team (PST) is to urgently reach children, adolescents, and adults -- no matter where they live -- with the vaccines they need. Our goal is a world free of vaccine-preventable diseases, and we do this by working with countries, development partners, and civil society organizations, to make sure that vaccines and immunization are effectively prioritized and delivered. Robust and resilient immunization programs are critical to achieving the promise of vaccination and are a cornerstone of primary health care, and we work to ensure that there are sufficient, affordable supplies to meet demand. We seek to bring new perspectives to challenging problems as we focus on results that can be delivered at scale. All our work on vaccines and immunization contributes to IA2030, which is a vision and commitment by the global community to extend the full benefits of immunization to all by 2030.**Application Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026** **Your Role** As the Senior Program Officer, Vaccine Forecasting & Financing, you will lead the design, implementation, and improvement of vaccine forecasting processes and systems, and financing approaches that strengthen immunization sustainability in low- and middle-income countries. The role will support countries, Gavi, UNICEF, and other partners to strengthen forecasting and budgeting processes, improve vaccine prefinancing and co-financing mechanisms, increase domestic financing for immunization, and develop innovative financing approaches that accelerate equitable vaccine access. You will serve as connection between the team’s wider access-oriented efforts across an important continuum of topics (upstream market shaping efforts, procurement system strengthening, and downstream supply chain performance optimization). You’ll work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders including the Gavi Alliance partners, vaccine financiers and country immunization programs. ***\\*This is a 9-month limited-term opportunity with Foundation benefits. Please note that relocation assistance is not available for this Seattle-based position.*** **What You'll Do***Improve Global Vaccine Forecasting and Planning Systems* * Collaborating with Gavi and UNICEF to drive continued improvements in forecasting, supply planning, and allocation processes.* Strengthen global and country-level demand forecasting, budgeting, and funding source identification.* Work across partners to improve forecasting accuracy, transparency, and decision-making.* Lead analysis and process improvements to address systemic forecasting challenges affecting vaccine availability and financing. *Optimize Financing Solutions to unlock Vaccine Procurement* * Support efficient utilization of vaccine procurement and pre-financing mechanisms.* Monitor and strengthen Gavi co-financing performance and tracking systems.* Design and evaluate financing solutions for campaigns, cold chain equipment, and other immunization investments.* Explore financing mechanisms for novel vaccines and other priority immunization products. *Strengthen Domestic Financing for Immunization* * Collaborate across country offices, regional (ARO) and global teams (DPAF, PAC, SIF) to maintain and increase financing for immunization.* Coordinate efforts with Gavi and UNICEF as well as other Domestic Financing for Immunization (DFI) partners.* Influence and inform Gavi co-financing policies and implementation.* Supply efforts to strengthen national forecasting, supply planning, and budgeting processes for vaccine-related commodities.* Support priority countries to increase and sustain domestic resources for vaccines and immunization programs. *Advance Innovative Financing for Immunization* * Collaborate with country offices, regional and global teams, and partners to explore and implement innovative financing mechanisms where appropriate.* Assess opportunities for innovative financing approaches, including debt swaps, vaccine bonds, MDB multiplier mechanisms, and blended finance models.* Collaborate with financing specialists and partners to identify scalable mechanisms that can increase resources for immunization.* Up to 25% international and domestic travel to Europe and, potentially, low resource, fragile or conflict settings in sub-Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia. **Your Experience** The ideal candidate will have: * A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in global health/development.* Deep expertise in global immunization program design/operations, health financing, vaccine procurement, or development finance.* Strong analytical skills in forecasting, budgeting, and financial modeling.* Experience working with governments, global health institutions, and donor-funded programs.* A proven ability to influence policy and drive cross-functional collaboration across technical and financing partners.* Demonstrated ability to translate complex financing challenges into practical solutions that improve immunization outcomes.* Strong strategic problem solver using evidence based strategic or operational plans as well as shaping and leading sustainable and scalable ventures.* French language proficiency is desired but not required.* Strong personal initiative with the ability to work independently, while also being a collaborative team member.* Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly and simply, and to listen attentively. *\\*\\*Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. This includes direct company sponsorship and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (eg: H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).* #LI-TL1The salary range for this role is $173,000 to $259,600 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 $190,300 to $285,500 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. **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**We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact [e-mail] with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.