Research Program Manager (LTE)

Gates Foundation•Seattle, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) at the Gates Foundation supports global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health. We develop, use, and share computational modeling tools, and promote quantitative decision-making. The IDM team is comprised of research scientists, software engineers, and strategic planning professionals. As a Research Program Manager, you will play a pivotal role in maximizing the impact of research teams at IDM. Your responsibilities will include working with leadership and research managers to define, prioritize, and manage research projects within one or more portfolios. You will understand and effectively communicate the direction of research portfolios and projects to diverse audiences to drive progress toward Foundation goals. You will build partnerships with stakeholders and partners, understand their goals and work, and synthesize across these engagements to support and inform the portfolios you manage. You will engage in cross-cutting projects, quickly learning about the research area, support defining the direction and scope, and ensuring successful execution. You have a passion for our mission and commitment to driving it forward. This is a 24-month Limited Term Employment position, relocation to Seattle will be provided.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree at minimum, graduate degree preferred, with experience in complex or multi-disciplinary research management, ideally in the global health & development.
Five or more years of program management experience, with a proven track record leading complex initiatives and driving results across multiple projects in parallel.
Demonstrated understanding of research processes and best practices, with experience applying these to complex programs to achieve research objectives.
Familiarity with software product or tool development workflows, with the ability to engage productively with engineering teams and contribute to requirements and roadmap discussions.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate scientific insights into programmatic implications and engage stakeholders at multiple levels.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to synthesize complex information, make data-driven decisions, and navigate ambiguity.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment; skilled at assessing gaps and finding practical solutions.
Commitment to the foundation's mission, values, and ethical standards.
Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.
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 (e.g.: H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).

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 organizational 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, assess progress, and anticipate risks.
Synthesize findings and emerging insights to inform portfolio-level decisions and surface options for leadership consideration.
Design and implement right-sized program processes and frameworks that keep work moving efficiently across teams and organizational scales.
Maintain workplans with clear milestones and deliverables; proactively communicate timeline changes and risks.
Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring effectiveness of complex programs & partnerships.
Develop cross-functional communication patterns that create visibility and coordination across research teams, software, and leadership.
Represent portfolio priorities clearly, tuning messaging for diverse forums spanning researchers, engineers, and partners.