Job Information
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer, Program Advocacy & Communications - Health in New Delhi, India
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 mission of the Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division is to understand and shape the public policy debates affecting the foundation’s work, build support for its major program and policy objectives, and develop partnerships and alliances that can advance the foundation’s objectives nationally and globally. Because the foundation’s resources alone are insufficient to solve the challenges ahead, GPA also supports advocacy efforts to engage diverse stakeholders and promote innovative solutions that advance our program goals. We work in close partnership with grantees, our colleagues in the Global Health, Global Development, Global Growth & Opportunity, U.S., Global Education, Gender Equality programs, and Foundation Communications to build an environment where all people can lead healthy and productive lives.
Application Deadline: 9/27/2024
Your Role
The Senior Program Officer, Health, Program Advocacy and Communications will be a key member of the program advocacy communications, external communications, and philanthropic partnerships team cluster within the India Country Office (ICO). The SPO will lead, build, and implement the foundation’s health program advocacy and communication strategy, anchor key relationships, and build an investment portfolio focused on demonstrating a range of tactics such as policy analysis, partnerships, financing, resource mobilization, champion-building, communications etc. in partnership with the health cluster in the India Country Office comprising primarily of family health (maternal and neonatal child health and nutrition and family planning), infectious diseases (Tuberculosis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Malaria etc.), Immunization, Health Systems Strengthening, with a focus on primary health care, and Digital Health & Innovation teams. The SPO will also work in close partnership with the global health program advocacy and communications team.
This role will report to the Deputy Director, Program Advocacy and Communications, External Communications, and Philanthropic Partnerships, India Country Office.
What You'll Do
Strategy Development and Execution: Responsible for identification, development, and successful implementation of the Health Program Advocacy and Communications (PAC) strategies and priorities by demonstrating a range of foundation tactics and approaches (for example, undertaking policy analysis, developing policy briefs, building partnerships, generating evidence, building champions and coalitions, mobilizing resources, communications, strengthening domestic institutions and other tactics or approaches), in partnership with the health cluster and global PAC teams to optimally deliver on ICO’s health goals.
Relationship and Collaborator Management: Lead relationships with key government departments, institutions, quasi-government bodies, industry associations, institutions, media, and other critical partners at the national and state level and supervise progress on priority policy issues related to the foundation’s health cluster’s strategy.
Grantmaking: Build/lead health advocacy, communication, and policy portfolio of partners/grantees to support the health cluster’s goals of the foundation. This includes management of existing investments and identifying new investments in partnership with country and global teams to advance the goals.
Diffusion and Evidence Generation: Develop policy briefs, creatively gather and share insights and innovations, leverage media, and generate evidence in partnership with the measurement learning and evaluation (MLE) team to diffuse and accelerate impactful interventions at the national level and state level that benefit the health teams and other collaborators and policymakers. Also, lead evidence generation and insights to determine the performance of the portfolio.
Cross-Team Engagement and Collaboration: Work closely with the health cluster in India, in other geographies, and the global health PAC team to identify relevant policy opportunities and needs and to get evidence ‘off the shelf’ by making it widely accessible, and applicable to local contexts. Actively provide technical leadership to help key internal and external collaborators understand the context and country perspective.
Leadership Voice: Support the Deputy Director and leadership on high-level leadership visits and/or other critical advocacy/voice initiatives requiring in-country inputs and engagement. Focus on getting evidence off the shelf by making it widely accessible, and applicable to local contexts, helping key partners adapt and adopt findings while exploring local barriers to scale-up of successful programs.
Partner Engagement: Lead communications with grantees, partners, and collaborators (e.g. government, donors, implementation partners), represent the foundation’s perspective, and work on health and nutrition in external meetings and committees, as appropriate and related to the area of expertise and responsibilities of the position. This role is responsible for high-quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field.
Your Experience
Advanced degree in public policy, public health, or a related field (e.g. economics, business, development studies, etc.)
A minimum of 8 years of experience working on healthcare in government, public affairs, multilateral institutions, civil society organizations, and/or corporate roles with experience in program design, public policy, public health, communications, and strategy execution
Technical expertise and proficiency in government relations and partnership management, specifically in health with deep work experience and knowledge of the political economy of India
Strong advocacy and influencing ability concerning policy analysis, policy implementation, communications, resource mobilization, coalition building, and partnership development.
Has a deep understanding of policies that directly and indirectly impact the priority areas in health and in co-designing technical and program advocacy needs.
The breadth of knowledge and experience working with a range of key partners working to advance health in India on key policy issues.
Should also be cognizant of various data sets and publications at national and global levels to advise and develop advocacy and communication material at national and state levels.
Experience developing and implementing campaigns and sophisticated advocacy strategies in support of policy, partnerships, champion and coalition building, institutional strengthening, and financing goals
Strategy development and execution expertise with the ability to guide implementation, delivery, and impact measurement.
Ability to navigate a multiplex network of partners both internally and externally
Ability to communicate and translate data and evidence to a variety of audiences and team members.
Excellent written, facilitation, and oral communication skills to produce and share evidence-based materials and recommendations clearly and quickly.
Ability to combine a strategic vision with day-to-day management using an evidence-based approach to substantiate progress
Experience in a role requiring collaboration within an organization, as well as a proven ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy, particularly as part of a team effort.
Proven track record in achieving results and driving multiplex work to conclusion, including getting results through others
Ability to build bridges among and trust with many different partners, including internally at the foundation
Other Attributes
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
Calm under pressure with the capability to lead and inspire confidence through ambiguity or change.
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, and demonstrate culturally sensitive behavior.
Ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.
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.
