Job Description:

As the Senior Program Officer, RISP, you will manage a portfolio of grants to strengthen RI in up to two of the foundation’s francophone West and Central Africa focus geographies. You identify as an outcome-focused, systems thinker that enjoys thinking creatively about challenging problems and is willing to test new ideas. You will use strong diplomacy and communication skills to forge trusting relationships with government technical staff and collaborators in the immunization sector. Reporting to the Deputy Director, RISP & RI Learning, Senior Program Officer will work with internal and external partners to develop strategy and analytics approaches that will help others in the sector learn about what works and what doesn’t to strengthen RI coverage and sustainability.

What You’ll Do

• Senior Program Officer shape and manage a portfolio of grants and contracts to support government immunization programs in select countries to improve immunization coverage; ensure ongoing strategic alignment between investments in the portfolio and strong coordination of grantees/contractors in support of government management.
• Cultivate relationships with all levels of government leadership, from elected officials to technical managers and health workers, and constantly work to deeply understand the context and drivers of government programs.
• With support from Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation colleagues and partners, rigorously monitor the progress of country-level investments against goals, using data and evidence for rapid strategic adjustment.
• Shape the development and adjustment of team strategy, ensuring alignment between country portfolios and team-wide goals.
• Develop strong relationships with country-level collaborators such as colleagues from donor organizations like Gavi, World Bank, and implementing partner staff; proactively craft and pursue opportunities for co-managed and co-financed collaborations with government and other donors, encouraging partnerships where credit is shared, and transparency is the norm.
• Seek opportunities to work in partnership with experts across foundation teams, such as Polio; Africa; Policy, Advocacy & Communications; Gender Equality; etc.
• Support foundation leadership engagements and advocacy, including writing briefing notes and guiding the coordination of senior leadership meetings and country travel.
• Embed diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into the implementation of day-to-day work, interactions with colleagues and investments.
• Travel up to 40% internationally.

Your Experience

• Advanced degree required with significant years of experience (10+ years).
• Experienced coalition builder with a track record of creating effective partnerships and establishing cross-sectoral linkages.
• Strong strategy skills with experience developing evidence-based strategic or operational plans as well as shaping and managing sustainable and scalable ventures.
• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, political, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally aware behavior with a diverse range of people.
• Creative solution seeker with the flexibility to adapt quickly based on new information, an appetite to do things differently, and a willingness to accept failure as an important step in learning.
• Bilingual in English and French.

Source:https://gatesfoundation.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Gates/details/SPO–Routine-Immunization-Strengthening_B017925-2?source=gatesfoundation.org