Senior Research Manager, Elimination & Eradication

About the role

The Senior Research Manager will support the Elimination & Eradication (E&E) malaria team within the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM), an embedded research institute of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The role involves collaborating with the Deputy Director for E&E, IDM leadership, and other senior research managers to develop a malaria modeling strategy. This includes managing the IDM malaria team project portfolio to deliver impactful and timely analytical products that guide strategic priorities for malaria control, elimination, and eradication to key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Work with the E&E Deputy Director and IDM leadership, as well as the malaria program leadership team, to develop a malaria modeling strategy to support the needs of the Foundation and the goal of eradicating malaria globally.
• Develop a malaria modeling portfolio aligned with this strategy, remaining responsive to new scientific advances, new products in the malaria program pipeline, and global changes relevant to the elimination and eradication goals.
• Manage the IDM malaria team project portfolio to deliver impactful and timely analytical products that guide strategic priorities for malaria control, elimination, and eradication to key stakeholders.
• Develop modeling approaches that can effectively assess how new tools and interventions could be implemented to reduce transmission of malaria in endemic settings.
• Cook up across IDM research pillars and other Foundation teams to maximize impact through collaboration, and manage teams to build interdisciplinary approaches to deliver actionable, Foundation-wide analytic insights.
• Develop and implement a modeling strategy to support and grow regional country office priorities for malaria.
• Lead planning and coordination of malaria projects for quarterly IDM Research Reviews.
• Performance manage direct reports and work with other senior research managers across E&E to establish a productive and collaborative working environment.

Requirements

• A PhD degree in modeling of infectious disease, infectious disease epidemiology, malaria epidemiology, or similar.
• Demonstrated track record of success in complex, multi-disciplinary environments—ideally within a large research institute or similarly structured organization.
• Demonstrated track record translating modeling results to public health policy impact, including working with public health partners to deliver timely analytical results that lead to improved decision making.
• Advanced knowledge of mathematical modeling approaches including dynamical models, particularly in vector borne diseases like malaria, as well as statistical techniques, spatial analytics, and advanced coding and AI capabilities.
• Track record of managing analytical workflows and teams to deliver modeling results in the context of public health.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to identify and communicate the strategic importance of modeling results to external and internal partners.
• Ability to work effectively with non-technical stakeholders in different cultural contexts.
• Experience in project management and leading or managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Qualifications

• Ability to work in a self-guided manner, in highly unstructured and changing situations, and can multitask across priorities; self-starter with a bias for action, thought partnership, efficiency, humility, intellectual curiosity, and investing in relationships.
• Ability to question and challenge colleagues including managers, senior leaders, and partners in constructive manner.
• Ability to work effectively and with sensitivity across barriers such as language, culture, and distance.
• Excellent listening skills and empathy.
• Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.

Skills

• Modeling of infectious disease, infectious disease epidemiology, malaria epidemiology, or similar.
• Mathematical modeling approaches including dynamical models, particularly in vector borne diseases like malaria, as well as statistical techniques, spatial analytics, and advanced coding and AI capabilities.
• Project management and leading or managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaboration and teamwork.

Benefits

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation offers 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.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $238,400 to $369,400 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $262,200 to $406,400 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

Schedule

The Senior Research Manager role is based out of Seattle, WA and may involve international and domestic travel 20% of the time.