Senior Program Officer, TB/HIV Diagnostics Research & Development

Gates Foundation•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Foundation is the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. This role is within the Global Health division, specifically focusing on infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB). The TB/HIV Program Strategy Team (PST) aims to reduce TB incidence globally through innovative R&D of new tools and approaches, including vaccines, diagnostics, and drugs. The HIV team focuses on reducing HIV incidence through new prevention and treatment interventions. Accessible, low-cost, high-quality diagnostics are crucial for TB detection and treatment success, as well as for the effective introduction of novel HIV prevention and treatment regimens. This position will work closely with other teams to define and manage a research and development portfolio of TB diagnostics and devices.

Requirements

Advanced degree (PhD/MD with 10+ years, or MSc with 15+ years) in life sciences, biomedical engineering, public health, or related field, with substantial diagnostics product development or infectious disease R&D experience.
Deep expertise in TB, HIV and/or infectious disease diagnostics, including end-to-end product development for point-of-care assays (e.g., protein-based, antigen/serology, and familiarity with molecular platforms such as PCR and sequencing).
Proven experience leading diagnostic product development in industry, from early-stage concept through regulatory licensure.
Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and pathways across phases of diagnostic development.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging technologies and align them with biomedical or public health applications.
Experience developing, managing, and executing cross-functional product development plans and coordinating across scientific, clinical, operational, and external partners.
Successfully managed complex partnerships, including with PDPs, biotech/industry, academic groups, and global health stakeholders.
Experience working in or with partners in low- and middle-income countries, with sensitivity to local implementation contexts.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with experience conveying complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated scientific writing and data analysis skills.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, simplify complex problems, and maintain flexibility, efficiency, and enthusiasm in fast-paced, matrixed environments.
Strong judgment, discretion, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and confidential information.
Intellectual curiosity, resourcefulness, resilience—and a sense of humor.
Deep commitment to global health equity and the Foundation’s mission, with strong results orientation.
Successful completion of a background check.

Nice To Haves

Immunology expertise is a plus.

Responsibilities

Refining, informing, and advancing the TB Diagnostics R&D strategy through the shaping and management of a portfolio of high-impact investments aimed at accelerating the development and validation of novel TB diagnostics and diagnostic devices for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Working in close partnership with the EDGE and TB Delivery teams to guide scientific, technical, and partnership aspects of the diagnostics development pipeline and ensure alignment with the foundation’s TB diagnostics introduction goals.
Collaborating with the HIV team to refine the HIV Diagnostics strategy and define potential high value HIV diagnostics investments designed to advance the foundation’s HIV product introduction priorities.
Contributing to strategy formulation, managing complex grants and contracts, engaging with a diverse set of partners, and staying at the forefront of innovation and trends in diagnostics technologies.
Leading and managing a strategic diagnostics R&D investment portfolio, applying scientific, technical, and business expertise to identify, assess, fund, and oversee grants and contracts across discovery, technology validation, clinical evaluation, and implementation readiness.
Providing strategic and technical leadership in diagnostics and device product development, including risk-based decision-making, iterative milestone planning, and expert guidance to product developers, PDPs, academic groups, and implementing partners.
Driving the creation and refinement of target product profiles (TPPs), use cases, and value propositions for TB/HIV diagnostics across diverse settings and populations, ensuring alignment with broader TB and HIV treatment and prevention strategies.
Shaping and implementing program strategy by partnering with team leadership and contributing to the cross-functional TB/HIV Diagnostics R&D Initiative, including goal setting, investment planning, and execution.
Reviewing and recommending funding opportunities, including evaluation of letters of inquiry and proposals, and preparing clear, concise analyses and funding recommendations for internal stakeholders.
Monitoring and evaluating investment performance, conducting site visits, convening stakeholders, supporting grantees, and ensuring progress toward defined milestones and outcomes.
Cultivating and managing partnerships across the TB/HIV ecosystem, including PDPs, diagnostics developers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, global experts, and implementing agencies; proactively identifying and establishing new collaborations to accelerate innovation.
Staying current with scientific, technological, and market trends relevant to diagnostics development—especially for low- and middle-income country settings—and surfacing innovative approaches to accelerate cost-effective, geographically diverse product development.
Collaborating closely with internal teams (e.g., TB/HIV R&D, TB/HIV Delivery, EDGE) to ensure diagnostic innovations integrate effectively with treatment and prevention R&D and delivery strategies.
Managing portfolio information and decision processes, documenting key activities, contributing to business processes and performance measurement tools, and preparing materials for communication with foundation leadership.
Representing the foundation externally, engaging in global development networks and contributing to thought leadership in TB/HIV diagnostics.
Traveling up to 30%, domestically and internationally, to support partners and investments.