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 Growth & Opportunity division works to catalyze sustainable transformative change in the face of inequities and market failures, to realize the potential of untapped markets, and to see the economic and social benefits of including everyone. We focus on the areas of Agricultural Development; Inclusive Financial Systems; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; Nutrition; Global Education; and Digital Public Infrastructure. We seek solutions that are sustainable, ground-breaking, and inclusive with an eye toward applying technology innovations as well as data evidence to lead change in the world’s developing countries.

Within the GGO division, the Nutrition program strategy team (PST) is focused on addressing micronutrient deficiencies at the population level through the development, implementation, and scaling of large-scale food fortification (LSFF). The team’s portfolio includes investments to produce actionable data & insights to inform our strategy and support countries in the design, monitoring & evaluation of LSFF to achieve population impact; delivers high-quality technical assistance to millers and food producers; advances new innovations in micronutrients and food vehicles; supports quality assurance data in mills to empower industry self-monitoring; and strengthens public sector standards and regulations for LSFF programs. We work with partners across public and private sectors to support the attainment of SDG 2: A global commitment to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition.

Your Role
As a Senior Program Officer (SPO) on our agile and impact-first Nutrition team, you’ll manage and grow a portfolio of investments focused on advancing technology and product innovations for food fortification programs in low and middle-income countries (LMIC’s). The SPO will also collaborate with technical experts across the Nutrition team, Global Development Division and the broader Foundation to advance our LSFF strategic goals. This role will report to the Deputy Director, Nutrition, Research and Development.

*Applicants for this role will only be considered if they are able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

*This role is based in Seattle, WA. Domestic or international relocation support is available for the hired candidate.

What You'll Do

• Makes and manages investments that are focused on improving large scale food fortification programs through technology and product focused innovation.

• Develops frameworks to help prioritize investment in various technology domains. Identifies, pursues diligence, and prioritizes nutrition innovations that have the most transformative potential in low and middle income countries (LMICs).

• Builds relationships with the scientific community within universities, the private sector, and NGO communities with the goal of advancing our R&D agenda and the agenda of our grantees.

• Contributes perspective on the external LSFF product innovation ecosystem through participation in conferences, innovation hubs and convenings.

• Stay abreast of the latest nutritional science and provide scientific input and review of documents that are developed for our Nutrition team, Leadership, and our strategic grantees.

• Consults with grantees to achieve desired impact of grants; conducts site visits when appropriate, provides technical guidance, convenes meetings and applies and evaluates milestone-based performance objectives. Brings strong governance to track progress on portfolio of investments across partners.

• Manages complex projects and consortiums of partners along the product development continuum, from early-stage research to technology development, formulation optimization, product development, shelf life and stability, clinical trials, and regulatory approval.

• Provides critical input into the overall strategic direction of the R&D portfolio to the Nutrition Leadership Team.

• Prospects and develops complex investment opportunities; manages grants and relationships with grantee partners.

• Reviews letters of inquiry and grant proposals; provides clear, concise and insightful written recommendations for funding, including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing grants for review by foundation leadership.

• Manages internal processes and monitors portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, grant budgeting and reporting, with a focus on operational efficiency and effectiveness for maximizing impact.

• Prepares briefs and synthesizes existing literature.

• Partners closely with multiple foundation teams who contribute to the “whole of foundation” approach to nutrition including those focused on maternal and newborn health, food systems, and our country offices – ensuring a coordinated and collaborative effort towards achieving the foundation-wide nutrition sector north star of ‘reductions in morbidity, mortality, and improvements in neurodevelopment status’.

• Plans, manages, and carries out a wide range of activities in support of internal strategic planning.

• Serves as a touchpoint, catalyst, and support in questions of technology innovations for LSFF across the Nutrition team, Global Development Division and the broader Foundation.

Your Experience

• A Master’s degree or equivalent demonstrated experience, preferably in food science & nutrition, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or related field.

• Minimum of 10+ years of R&D and product development experience in the life sciences arena, preferably in nutrition.

• Experience working with organizations in LMICs preferred.

• Demonstrated experience in managing a complex portfolio of research and development products for human health, ideally in the nutritional sciences domain. Private sector product development experience is desired.

• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple partner interests, with proven ability to lead and influence others in a constructive manner within multi-stakeholder partnerships.

• Recognized internally and externally through publications and/or presentations as a strong technical contributor to the professional community. Strong research and product development network with scientists in universities, private sector, and NGOs and other relevant entities.

• Demonstrated understanding of the latest nutritional science and its application to LMIC (Nigeria, Ethiopia and India are our priority countries) and LSFF contexts.

• Experience in managing across other product development domains, such as clinical, regulatory, manufacturing scale-up, a strong plus.

• Strong analytic skills for interpreting research progress and outputs and guiding projects towards maximum impact.

• Effective collaborator with experience working in a highly matrix environment.

• Ability to effectively synthesize dense technical information to reach diverse audiences and build consensus.

*Applicants for this role will only be considered if they are able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $233,600 to $362,200 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle, WA and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $254,700 to $394,700 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.

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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

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.