Senior Program Officer, Vaccine Forecasting & Financing

About the role

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on the premise that people everywhere should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives, the foundation believes its employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations it serves. The Global Development Division focuses on creative ways to ensure solutions and products reach people in low-income countries, with strategies including Emergency Response, Immunization, and Polio Eradication. The Immunization Program Strategy Team works to urgently reach children, adolescents, and adults with the vaccines they need, aiming for a world free of vaccine-preventable diseases by 2030 (IA2030).

As the Senior Program Officer, Vaccine Forecasting & Financing, you will lead the design, implementation, and improvement of vaccine forecasting processes and systems, and financing approaches that strengthen immunization sustainability in low- and middle-income countries. The role supports countries, Gavi, UNICEF, and other partners to strengthen forecasting and budgeting processes, improve vaccine prefinancing and co-financing mechanisms, increase domestic financing for immunization, and develop innovative financing approaches that accelerate equitable vaccine access. You will serve as a connection between the team’s wider access-oriented efforts across upstream market shaping, procurement system strengthening, and downstream supply chain performance optimization. This is a 9-month limited-term opportunity with Foundation benefits, based in Seattle (relocation assistance not available). Application deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Improve Global Vaccine Forecasting and Planning Systems: Collaborate with Gavi and UNICEF to drive continued improvements in forecasting, supply planning, and allocation processes; strengthen global and country-level demand forecasting, budgeting, and funding source identification; work across partners to improve forecasting accuracy, transparency, and decision-making; lead analysis and process improvements to address systemic forecasting challenges affecting vaccine availability and financing.
• Optimize Financing Solutions to unlock Vaccine Procurement: Support efficient utilization of vaccine procurement and pre-financing mechanisms; monitor and strengthen Gavi co-financing performance and tracking systems; design and evaluate financing solutions for campaigns, cold chain equipment, and other immunization investments; explore financing mechanisms for novel vaccines and other priority immunization products.
• Strengthen Domestic Financing for Immunization: Collaborate across country offices, regional (ARO) and global teams (DPAF, PAC, SIF) to maintain and increase financing for immunization; coordinate efforts with Gavi and UNICEF as well as other Domestic Financing for Immunization (DFI) partners; influence and inform Gavi co-financing policies and implementation; support efforts to strengthen national forecasting, supply planning, and budgeting processes for vaccine-related commodities; support priority countries to increase and sustain domestic resources for vaccines and immunization programs.
• Advance Innovative Financing for Immunization: Collaborate with country offices, regional and global teams, and partners to explore and implement innovative financing mechanisms where appropriate; assess opportunities for innovative financing approaches, including debt swaps, vaccine bonds, MDB multiplier mechanisms, and blended finance models; collaborate with financing specialists and partners to identify scalable mechanisms that can increase resources for immunization.
• Up to 25% international and domestic travel to Europe and, potentially, low-resource, fragile or conflict settings in sub-Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in global health/development.
• Deep expertise in global immunization program design/operations, health financing, vaccine procurement, or development finance.
• Strong analytical skills in forecasting, budgeting, and financial modeling.
• Experience working with governments, global health institutions, and donor-funded programs.
• Proven ability to influence policy and drive cross-functional collaboration across technical and financing partners.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex financing challenges into practical solutions that improve immunization outcomes.
• Strong strategic problem solver using evidence-based strategic or operational plans as well as shaping and leading sustainable and scalable ventures.
• French language proficiency desired but not required.
• Strong personal initiative with the ability to work independently while being a collaborative team member.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly and simply, and to listen attentively.
• Must have unrestricted work authorization in the United States; the Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role (including H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums
• Generous paid time off
• Paid family leave
• Foundation-paid retirement contribution
• Regional holidays
• Opportunities to engage in several employee communities

Pay

Salary range: $173,000 to $259,600 USD. For Seattle and Washington D.C. (high-wage market locations): $190,300 to $285,500 USD. New hire salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint; actual placement depends on job-related skills, experience, and expertise evaluated during the interview process.

Schedule

• 9-month limited-term position
• Seattle-based (no relocation assistance)
• Up to 25% international and domestic travel