Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Hiring for Program Officer, Strengthening Institutional Capacity (ico) at New Delhi, Delhi, India Full Time

Job Description

Group Summary The Global Development Program includes a diverse range of program areas aimed at finding creative ways to ensure solutions and products get into the hands of people in low-income countries who need them most. We focus on areas with the potential for high-impact, sustainable solutions that can reach millions of people. Our program strategies include: Emergency Response; Family Planning; Maternal Newborn & Child Health; Nutrition; Polio Eradication. A common theme across these programs is focus on innovative delivery, including an emphasis on strengthening primary health care systems. The Global Development Program also encompasses our India Country Office and Africa Team, with physical offices in Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, and Abuja. Our Program Strategy Teams work in close partnership with these Country Office Teams to align the foundation’s health and development equity agenda with the government’s broader priorities. Leadership and Culture Our culture shapes our choices about what we do and how we do it. We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment can do extraordinary things. We expect foundation employees to intentionally and consistently embody our values of optimism, collaboration, rigor, innovation and inclusion. Division Summary Our efforts are aligned with India’s objectives of improving the lives of its people – working closely with India’s Central and State governments, we partner with community groups, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and development organizations, to achieve our shared goals. Our strong networks and ability to convene intellectual resources from many every sectors and every regions of the globe allows us to address complex challenges as they emerge or evolve. Our efforts in India focus on key issues that will affect the future of India’s most vulnerable communities: reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition; urban sanitation; agricultural development; gender equality, and digital financial inclusion. With a particular focus on Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, we work with partners to develop impactful and sustainable solutions to improve the quality and coverage of key services for the poor and vulnerable. We also work in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra to support programs in urban sanitation, agricultural development, gender equality, and digital financial inclusion. Position Summary The PO – Strengthening Institutional Capacity is primarily responsible for ensuring that local institutions (government, quasi-government, NGOs and academia) in the states of UP and Bihar are well-capacitated to provide ongoing advice and support in design and implementation of health programs. Programming in this area is aimed at sustaining and growing the impact of health programs in UP and Bihar, even after the foundation’s exit from these states. Under the leadership of the Deputy Director- State HSS, this position will support and nurture relevant government engagement in UP. Core Responsibilities Contribute to conceptualizing articulating and shaping priorities in the foundation’s Institution Building portfolio in UP and Bihar

• Work with the broader UP and Bihar Investment Teams, Family Health Team and Seattle-based Program Strategy Teams in designing and implementing the Institution Building portfolio of investments in UP and Bihar;
• Jointly accountable, with the Bihar/UP Investment Teams, for ensuring the foundation’s goals related to health are met in a time-bound and sustainable manner in both states
• Manage the following workstreams in the state in close collaboration with the Bihar/UP Deal/Investment Team:
  • Strengthen local institutional structures in UP
  • Strengthen local institutional structures in Bihar

These workstreams would include identifying a set of local academic/research/management institutions in both states to build their internal capacities in select thematic areas within health, and building the capacity of government health system institutes (vision and mission development, organizational structures, HR capacities) to take on key functions traditionally supported by external agencies (SIHFW, SHSRC-like institutes for capacity building initiatives in the areas of RMNCHA and HSS , Medical Supplies corporation for procurement and budgeting etc etc ).

• Contribute as a Team Member in additional streams/bodies of work pertaining to building implementation capacity of the state and strategic partnerships with Indian philanthropies, among others.
• Define and implement all workstreams highlighted above in a creative, rigorous, data-centric, and analytical manner.
• Monitor and track the latest literature in Institution Building. Adapt the UP and Bihar portfolios of Institution Building grants based on the latest and most innovative thinking in the field.

Develop and manage a portfolio of grants and contracts to meet strategic objectives in strengthening Institutional Capacities in consultation with the Bihar/UP Deal/Investment Teams:

• Identify and select partner institutions and shape scope and strategy for Institution Building grants and contracts to meet strategic objectives.
• Manage relationships with grantees, contractors and key partners to achieve the foundation’s desired impact, provide project briefings and updates to foundation leadership, and represent the foundation in meetings with external partners, as well as at scientific conferences and workshops.
• Review grant proposals and write proposal summaries; review interim and final reports; write final evaluation.
• Apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives to make go/no-go decisions about specific projects and product candidates.

Serve as an effective backup to SPOs – Health Systems Strengthening (HSS)

• Partner with SPO – Health Systems Strengthening in UP and Bihar on a regular weekly cadence to keep abreast of the latest development in the Health Systems Strengthening portfolio
• Ensure awareness of the quality of our external relationships in the HSS space
• Be prepared to step in on short notice – should need arise – on HSS grants, either in case of SPO – Health Systems Strengthening absence or in case the team needs additional support on specific workstreams within HSS

Relationship management

• Ensure adherence to a cadence of engagement with key external partners – government, grantees and other partners
• Help ensure opportunities such as Program Coordination Committee meetings are efficiently used and are productive for the health of the Institution Building portfolio
• Jointly accountable with the state Deal/Investment Teams for effective engagement with all relevant internal Program Strategy Teams
• Identify and use emerging opportunities for increased external or internal engagement that could catalyze impact in UP and Bihar

Contribute to foundation knowledge capture, evaluation, learning, and dissemination:

• Keep both the ICO and Seattle leadership informed of progress of both individual grants and sets of grants that aim to solve state team goals on institution building
• Partner closely with MLE and other members of the State Deal/Investment Teams to implement a cross-state learning agenda
• Synthesize and document lessons learned across all related grants and contracts; develop review
• materials, summaries and informative reports for team, program and foundation leadership (e.g. President, Co-Chairs and other foundation leadership) that summarize key activities, progress and issues around priority programs
• Partner with other foundation teams as required to share lessons learned and expertise

Represent the foundation and program to the external world related to position responsibilities:

• Speak and participate in public events, forums and meetings.
• Bring to bear opportunities to disseminate the knowledge and products developed by grantees in order to extend their impact

Key Partners A non-exhaustive list of the most critical internal and external partners for this role is given below: Internal partners:

• Core team: Deputy Director – State HSS, SPO – UP Health Systems Strengthening, SPO – Bihar Health Systems Strengthening, PO – Strengthening Service Delivery, DD – State Systems and Partnerships, SPO – Philanthropic Partnerships, SPO MLE
• Other critical partners: Country Director, Director – Health, Deputy Director – Family Health, SPO – MNCH, SPO – Nutrition, SPO – Family Health, SPO – Family Planning Private Sector, other DD/SPOs/POs in MLE & Strategy Planning and Management, Infectious Diseases, Digital and Health Innovation, State Systems and Partnerships, Advocacy Communications and Behavioral Insights, Gender Equality, Agriculture, Financial Services for the Poor, Water Sanitation & Hygiene.

External partners:

• Heads/critical team members of the organizations in both UP and Bihar we develop institutional partnerships with

Reports to: Deputy Director – State HSS, India Country Office Core Knowledge and Skills We are looking for people who enjoy solving complex problems, using hypothesis- and data-driven approach and working through matrixed teaming to deliver break-through solutions.

• Knowledge of nature of institutions required to support various aspects of health systems and systems
• Skills of institutional landscaping and appraisals
• Experience in coordinating processes for institutional strengthening including partnerships, and collaborations with clear and defined outcomes.
• Ability to travel locally and internationally, up to 50% of the timPrior experience in program strategy, design, and implementation in public health
• Demonstrated experience building and leading strategic partnerships with key partners from diverse sectors including NGOs, government, and the private sector.
• Proven success using evidence and data to inform policy, programming, and management decisions
• Strong ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy, particularly as part of a multi-disciplinary team effort. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse teams including scientists, business analysts, program implementers, and developing country partners, from various cultures, over multiple time zones. Experience working in a matrix environment preferred
• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to lead teams through a complex and ambiguous task with energy and optimism; ability to influence people without formal authority
• Demonstrated curiosity and comfort in areas beyond current areas of expertise with proven ability to rapidly acquire knowledge and exercise good judgment in a variety of scientific and political areas.
• Ability to organize/prioritize work and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands.
• Excellent oral, facilitation, and written communication skills.
• Excellent software skills with Microsoft Office applications. Ability to quickly learn new software
• Role model for foundation values of rigor, innovation, collaboration, optimism and inclusion
• Commitment to the foundation’s core values, mission, and programs with an approach that is consistent with the foundation’s guiding principles and holding self to the highest ethical standards.
• A sense of humor

Education and Experience

• 5+ years of professional experience in management/ strategy, public health program delivery in similar contexts to Bihar and UP
• Masters degree is preferred. Specialization in management/ strategy/ Public Policy/ Public Administration/ Health required.

• Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

#LI-MB1 Hiring Requirements As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Depending upon your work location, we may require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and any recommended booster doses. All employees based in the United States are to provide proof of full vaccination upon hire and any recommended boosters, subject to applicable laws. Accommodations If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to hr@gatesfoundation.org. Inclusion Statement We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of 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.