Gates Foundation
Senior Program Officer, Toxicology, Global Health
Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Overview
Senior Program Officer, Toxicology, Global Health at Gates 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 mission of Discovery & Translational Sciences (DTS) is to catalyze innovation for the discovery and translation of transformative solutions to global health and development inequity. DTS enables the foundation to achieve its global health equity goals by investing in high-risk and/or long-timeline initiatives with potential for disruptive change. Focus areas include vaccines, biologics, drugs, microbiome interventions, and reproductive and sexual health.
Your Role
We are seeking a Senior Program Officer (SPO), Toxicology, to join the Translation Sciences (TS) team within DTS. This role will contribute to a collaborative innovative culture and help accelerate the translation of research into practical health solutions, especially in resource-constrained environments. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in toxicology and nonclinical safety assessment, paired with a passion for global health impact. This SPO will work cross-functionally with discovery scientists, pharmacologists, and product developers to apply modern translational toxicology thinking to global health R&D. They will support safe and efficient progression of candidate therapeutics, vaccines, and other biologics from preclinical models into human and patients’ clinical studies, ensuring robust understanding of safety, tolerability, and pharmacologic liabilities. The successful candidate will also guide investment strategies, conduct technical due diligence, and cultivate partnerships with academic, not-for-profit, biotech, and pharmaceutical organizations.
What You’ll Do
Partner with the Deputy Director to shape strategies for nonclinical development of global health products. Promote early integration of investigative toxicology into discovery programs and ensure alignment with clinical development plans. Champion application of state-of-the-art safety and toxicology sciences approaches and regulatory strategy for innovative modalities.
Investment Management
Manage a substantial portfolio of sophisticated investments (grants, contracts, equity investments) focused on toxicology, safety assessment, and preclinical development, including milestone-based performance objectives and go/no-go decisions on specific projects and product candidates. Identify and select partner institutions and develop the scope and strategy for grants, investments, MoUs and contracts. Serve as a thought partner and resource to grantees and partners to facilitate accomplishment of strategic objectives. Contribute to review of proposals and write proposal summaries. Keep Foundation colleagues advised of progress on grants and investments that may constitute solution sets for global health problems. Source and evaluate potential new investments; lead due diligence and investment framing.
Provide Subject Matter Expertise
Provide toxicological expertise and guidance to internal teams and external partners. Evaluate preclinical data packages and risk assessments across small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and gene-based therapeutics. Track innovations in predictive and mechanistic toxicology, in vitro/in silico modeling, and safety biomarker development. Contribute to scientific learning and publications and represent the foundation externally. Contribute to foundation knowledge capture, evaluation, learning, and dissemination, including reviews, summaries, and informative reports. Monitor technology trends, innovations, and policy issues relevant to initiatives/portfolios. Represent the Foundation externally and be recognized as a thought leader through public events, meetings, and publications.
Partnerships
Build and maintain strategic relationships with external partners including CROs, academic centers, biotech firms, and regulatory bodies. Facilitate alignment of partner activities with foundation goals and ensure scientific and operational excellence. Contribute to global scientific and regulatory discussions relevant to toxicology and safety science in global health.
Your Experience
PhD, DVM, or equivalent in Toxicology, Pharmacology, or related discipline with 15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech sectors. Extensive experience leading toxicology programs and advancing therapeutics from preclinical to clinical development and to the market. Proven expertise in GLP-compliant toxicology study design, interpretation, and regulatory documentation (e.g., IND/CTA/NDA/BLA). Familiarity with emerging safety science platforms (e.g., organ-on-chip, computational toxicology, high-content in vitro assays, AI). Experience with small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and/or gene therapies preferred. Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills; global mindset with a commitment to health equity. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and scientific curiosity. Experience advocating and communicating with diverse audiences.
Other Attributes
Experience working with diverse teams and cultures. Scientific curiosity with a high appetite for risk and innovation. Experience collaborating in a complex organization and with external partners. Commitment to the foundation’s core values and ethical standards. Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $261,700 to $405,700 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C. The range for these locations is $285,300 to $442,100 USD. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the midpoint, depending on skills and experience.
Hiring and Inclusion
Hiring Requirements: 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, please submit a request here. Inclusion Statement: We are dedicated to equal value of all lives and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in employment practices. All applicants and employees 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, or prior protected activity.
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Senior Program Officer, Toxicology, Global Health at Gates 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 mission of Discovery & Translational Sciences (DTS) is to catalyze innovation for the discovery and translation of transformative solutions to global health and development inequity. DTS enables the foundation to achieve its global health equity goals by investing in high-risk and/or long-timeline initiatives with potential for disruptive change. Focus areas include vaccines, biologics, drugs, microbiome interventions, and reproductive and sexual health.
Your Role
We are seeking a Senior Program Officer (SPO), Toxicology, to join the Translation Sciences (TS) team within DTS. This role will contribute to a collaborative innovative culture and help accelerate the translation of research into practical health solutions, especially in resource-constrained environments. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in toxicology and nonclinical safety assessment, paired with a passion for global health impact. This SPO will work cross-functionally with discovery scientists, pharmacologists, and product developers to apply modern translational toxicology thinking to global health R&D. They will support safe and efficient progression of candidate therapeutics, vaccines, and other biologics from preclinical models into human and patients’ clinical studies, ensuring robust understanding of safety, tolerability, and pharmacologic liabilities. The successful candidate will also guide investment strategies, conduct technical due diligence, and cultivate partnerships with academic, not-for-profit, biotech, and pharmaceutical organizations.
What You’ll Do
Partner with the Deputy Director to shape strategies for nonclinical development of global health products. Promote early integration of investigative toxicology into discovery programs and ensure alignment with clinical development plans. Champion application of state-of-the-art safety and toxicology sciences approaches and regulatory strategy for innovative modalities.
Investment Management
Manage a substantial portfolio of sophisticated investments (grants, contracts, equity investments) focused on toxicology, safety assessment, and preclinical development, including milestone-based performance objectives and go/no-go decisions on specific projects and product candidates. Identify and select partner institutions and develop the scope and strategy for grants, investments, MoUs and contracts. Serve as a thought partner and resource to grantees and partners to facilitate accomplishment of strategic objectives. Contribute to review of proposals and write proposal summaries. Keep Foundation colleagues advised of progress on grants and investments that may constitute solution sets for global health problems. Source and evaluate potential new investments; lead due diligence and investment framing.
Provide Subject Matter Expertise
Provide toxicological expertise and guidance to internal teams and external partners. Evaluate preclinical data packages and risk assessments across small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and gene-based therapeutics. Track innovations in predictive and mechanistic toxicology, in vitro/in silico modeling, and safety biomarker development. Contribute to scientific learning and publications and represent the foundation externally. Contribute to foundation knowledge capture, evaluation, learning, and dissemination, including reviews, summaries, and informative reports. Monitor technology trends, innovations, and policy issues relevant to initiatives/portfolios. Represent the Foundation externally and be recognized as a thought leader through public events, meetings, and publications.
Partnerships
Build and maintain strategic relationships with external partners including CROs, academic centers, biotech firms, and regulatory bodies. Facilitate alignment of partner activities with foundation goals and ensure scientific and operational excellence. Contribute to global scientific and regulatory discussions relevant to toxicology and safety science in global health.
Your Experience
PhD, DVM, or equivalent in Toxicology, Pharmacology, or related discipline with 15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech sectors. Extensive experience leading toxicology programs and advancing therapeutics from preclinical to clinical development and to the market. Proven expertise in GLP-compliant toxicology study design, interpretation, and regulatory documentation (e.g., IND/CTA/NDA/BLA). Familiarity with emerging safety science platforms (e.g., organ-on-chip, computational toxicology, high-content in vitro assays, AI). Experience with small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and/or gene therapies preferred. Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills; global mindset with a commitment to health equity. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and scientific curiosity. Experience advocating and communicating with diverse audiences.
Other Attributes
Experience working with diverse teams and cultures. Scientific curiosity with a high appetite for risk and innovation. Experience collaborating in a complex organization and with external partners. Commitment to the foundation’s core values and ethical standards. Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $261,700 to $405,700 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C. The range for these locations is $285,300 to $442,100 USD. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the midpoint, depending on skills and experience.
Hiring and Inclusion
Hiring Requirements: 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, please submit a request here. Inclusion Statement: We are dedicated to equal value of all lives and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in employment practices. All applicants and employees 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, or prior protected activity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr