Senior Officer, Drug Discovery

About 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.

The Team

Our Global Health (GH) program harnesses advances in science and technology to save lives in low and middle income countries. We focus on the health problems that have a major impact in developing countries but get too little attention and funding. Where proven tools exist, we support sustainable ways to improve their delivery. Where they don’t, we invest in research and development of new interventions, such as vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics.

The Accelerator funds the creation of novel technology capabilities that enable the achievement of the foundation’s mission by fostering the conception, design, and testing of fundamentally new biotech platforms that have the potential to change current best practices or business models and show proof of concept for these platforms.

Responsibilities

As a key member of the Accelerator team, the Senior Officer, Drug Discovery, is accountable for a portfolio of investments and partnerships as the primary technical partner to the program lead and the principal drug development authority across the HIV Frontiers portfolio.

• Partner closely with team leadership to develop, communicate, and implement the overall strategy for the HIV Frontiers program.
• Manage and coordinate a portfolio of multiple active grantee companies and institutions, spanning large pharmaceutical companies, emerging biotechs, academic medical centers, and CDMOs.
• Serve as the Foundation's primary technical interface to each grantee, building deep working relationships and providing substantive, actionable scientific and development guidance.
• Lead and participate in portfolio reviews, grantee governance meetings, Joint Steering Committees, and site visits; assess program progress against milestones and make funding recommendations accordingly.
• Evaluate letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and investment opportunities; provide rigorous written analyses and recommendations for Foundation leadership.
• Represent the Foundation's interests in scope of work negotiations and contractual milestone setting.
• Provide expert guidance to grantee companies on chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) for biologics and gene therapy candidates.
• Oversee and advise on IND-enabling preclinical studies, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, biodistribution, and GLP toxicology.
• Advise grantees in developing integrated product development plans spanning from lead candidate selection through pre-IND meeting strategy, IND filing, and first-in-human trial design.
• Engage with regulatory strategy for novel advanced therapy medicinal products, including FDA, EMA, and relevant LMIC regulatory authorities.

Qualifications

We are looking for people who enjoy the opportunity of working on complex projects and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for transformational change.

• PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical engineering, immunology, chemistry, or a closely related field; MD/PhD or equivalent clinical-scientific training welcome.
• Minimum 12–15 years of experience in preclinical drug development in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CDMO industry, with a demonstrated track record of advancing biological or advanced therapy products toward IND and first-in-human studies.
• Substantive hands-on or closely supervisory experience in CMC for biologics — including process development, analytical development, formulation, and regulatory CMC filing strategy.
• Direct experience with IND-enabling study design and execution: GLP toxicology, PK/PD, biodistribution, and integration of preclinical safety and pharmacology packages.
• Familiarity with FDA regulatory strategy for biologics and advanced therapy medicinal products, including IND, BLA, and pre-submission meeting experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex external partnerships simultaneously, exercising scientific judgment, strategic thinking, and clear written and oral communication.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills; comfortable engaging with counterparts ranging from NewCo founders to VP-level development leaders at major pharmaceutical companies.
• Deep commitment to the Foundation's mission of equitable global health impact; genuine motivation for working in a philanthropic, mission-driven environment.

Skills

• Tolerance for ambiguity and ability to apply structure to simplify complex problems.
• An understanding of regulatory requirements necessary for various phases of vaccine and biologics development.
• Commitment to innovation and advancing new technologies in cell and gene therapy.
• Intellectual quickness, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness, and resilience.
• Demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and enthusiasm in a fast-paced and complex internal and external environment.

Benefits

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.