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 Exemplars in Global Health (EGH) team is a global initiative that helps public health decision-makers learn from successful ‘positive outliers.’ In our work, we identify countries that have achieved exceptional progress in health outcomes, analyze the complex drivers behind their success, and share these insights to inform strategic decisions, policymaking, and funding allocation.

The EGH program operates through two primary verticals:
1. Research & Content (R&C) – Focused on conducting in-depth research across global health topics.
2. Partnerships & Insights (P&I) – A function dedicated to translating research into policy impact by engaging stakeholders, strengthening partnerships, and disseminating findings.

Through a network of global research partners, EGH's work spans several key research and content areas, including:

Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH)
Epidemic Preparedness & Response (EPR)
Health Systems Strengthening (HSS)
Women’s Health, Health Equity & Nutrition
Climate Resilient Health Systems

Originally incubated at Gates Ventures, the EGH team will transition to the Gates Foundation in 2025. We seek a strategic leader to drive research excellence, stakeholder engagement, and global impact as a member of the foundation.

**Please note that this search is being supported by

SRI Executive Search and Consulting

Your Role

As the Director of Exemplars in Global Health, you will lead a dynamic, cross-functional team responsible for producing high-impact research and engaging decision-makers worldwide to drive policy decisions. This includes:

Set the Vision for Research Strategies & Knowledge Development – Leading academic partnerships, ensuring methodological rigor, and translating research into actionable insights.
Lead the Expansion of Partnerships & Policy Influence – Engaging governments, funders, and multilateral organizations to integrate EGH findings into strategic decision-making.
Strengthening Dissemination & Audience Engagement – Enhancing EGH’s digital platforms, publications, and outreach to ensure research reaches key audiences.

You will also collaborate closely with in-country research teams, advisory groups, and cross-sector partners to drive the adoption of evidence-based policies.

What You’ll Do

Research & Content Development
- Lead the multi-disciplinary teams of researchers, analysts, and product designers in conducting and synthesizing studies across global health topics.
- Set the vision for and facilitate the development of cross-country research, thematic deep-dives, and tailored analytical tools to elevate insights into action
- Ensure research outputs are rigorous, actionable, and scalable, responding to country-specific needs.
- Manage and mentor vertical topic leads, ensuring high-quality execution and strategic alignment to EGH’s research vision, partnerships and sphere of influence
- Facilitate the development of new topic areas and guide the prioritization of team resources, including headcount and budget
Partnerships & Policy Influence
- Develop and strengthen relationships with Gates Foundation program strategy teams (PSTs), as well as regional country offices (RCOs), as well as government partners, ministries of health, multilateral institutions and philanthropic partner organizations
- Drive strategies in close collaboration with governments and our advocacy teams to integrate EGH findings into national policies (e.g., maternal health, vaccine confidence, health system strengthening).
- Lead technical assistance efforts to ensure research uptake, influencing policy frameworks at country and global levels for increased impact
- Oversee the expansion of EGH’s learning platforms and country partnership
Strategic Communications & Dissemination
- Lead global outreach efforts, ensuring EGH’s findings are widely accessible via publications, digital tools, and strategic convenings.
- Develop innovative dissemination strategies, including the use of AI-powered tools and policy briefs tailored for decision-makers.
- Partner with leading media outlets, advocacy groups, and multilateral organizations to elevate EGH’s impact.

Critical Leadership Capabilities

Strategic Thinking
- Lead the EGH team, including setting strategic priorities and vision for the team and management of resources, as well as navigating trade-offs and setting priorities in alignment with EGH’s strategic vision
- Demonstrates strong strategic agility and analytical, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, with an ability to balance disciplined execution against strategic priorities with the flexibility to pursue opportunities that emerge as the related sector evolves.
- Prioritizes and manages large amounts of information to achieve results in a fast-paced environment, including exploring cross-program priorities
- Synthesizes and extracts meaning from complex bodies of work and effectively communicates key takeaways for diverse audiences, including in collaboration with internal and external partners
- Strong leadership presence and ability to engage with the Foundation Board Chair and ensure alignment with Gates Foundation program priorities, as well as continued buy-in to the value delivered by the Exemplars in Global Health team
Collaborating and Influencing
- Capably works with a variety of local, state, and federal/national entities and public and private sector partners across cultural contexts with an ability to adapt style and norms to ensure effective partnership.
- Leveraging and building professional network in global health, development and research circles in order to effectively engage with key stakeholders, research colleagues, advisory groups, and internal Gates Foundation leaders
- Negotiates and mediates complex relationships in a matrixed environment, including an ability to reconcile multiple diverse viewpoints and often to negotiate across internal and external partners.
- Effectively uses informal influence and non-positional leadership to accomplish work, demonstrating the ability to build trust and serve as a team player who motivates and educates other team members and understands the value of interpersonal relationship-building.
- Facilitates, manages, and summarizes divergent points of view to advance the thinking of the group and catalyze innovation
Leading People
- Brings together and inspires team members with diverse backgrounds, approaches, and beliefs to pursue a coherent long-term direction and collaborates with the team on how to achieve it.
- Delegates objectives with clear and explicit intent to a team with high technical acumen, allowing the freedom to be creative in devising strategies.
- Demonstrates commitment to and the ability to implement best practices around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Sets up practices to reinforce independent and open communication among team members and other groups within the foundation that contribute to the work of the team.
- Holds people accountable for their commitments, providing clarity and assisting when barriers arise; maintains the team’s focus on results, integrity, and impact.
Personal Characteristics
- A healthy balance of self-confidence and humility, along with a keen desire to learn
- Drives results with tenacity; is resilient and ready to lead as EGH enters this next chapter of impact
- Intellectual curiosity and honesty; attentive, empathetic, and responsive listener
- Resilience in the face of difficulties; handles setbacks without losing confidence or drive
- Genuine passion and commitment to the foundation’s core values and mission
- Integrity and ethical rigor

Your Experience

20+ years of experience in global health research, policy, development strategy, or consulting.
Advanced degree (MPH, PhD, MD, or equivalent) preferred.
Proven expertise in research leadership, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications.
Deep knowledge of health financing, health systems strengthening, and global development funding mechanisms.
Track record of driving policy impact, securing partnerships, and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
Strong data analysis, writing, and presentation skills, with experience engaging high-level decision-makers.
Ability to travel up to 30% internationally.

The salary range for this role is $293,200 to $454,400 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 $319,500 to $495,300 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.

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

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.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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Director, Exemplars in Global Health