Jobs at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Your Role

The Nigeria Country Office (NCO) is hiring a Program Officer (PO) for Health Financing to support the Government of Nigeria in achieving sustainable financing for primary health care (PHC). The PO will lead the implementation of NCO's health financing strategy, focusing on improving health outcomes in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, and 5. The role involves managing a portfolio of grants and technical assistance at the federal level and in Kaduna and Kano States, specifically targeting PHC services. The PO will work closely with various federal agencies and state governments to support ongoing health financing reforms, such as the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), and will provide leadership in designing and implementing service delivery plans. The ultimate goal is to strengthen NCO’s support for sustainable PHC financing, aligned with Nigeria's broader PHC transformation agenda. The incumbent will work closely with government, private sector, and civil society partners to catalyze these efforts.

This is a limited term employment (LTE) of 9 months.

What You’ll Do

The PO will support the Nigeria Country Team with HF-related tasks including but not limited to: gathering and analysis of HF data; Development and Review of strategic documents and reports; Engagement with key partners as designated. Partners may include grantees, state/national government officials, development partners etc.; Representation at HF-related meetings/convenings, when designated; Preparation for internal and external meetings. Key responsibilities include:

• Technical Expertise and Leadership: Provide technical, programmatic, and administrative leadership in designing, implementing, and monitoring health financing initiatives, ensuring integration with other health system components like HRH, supply chain, and service quality.
• Support for Health Sector Reforms: Lead the Foundation’s efforts in supporting health sector reforms such as Nigeria's Health Sector Renewal Investment Plan and Basic Health Care Provision Fund 2.0, including overseeing investments, developing monitoring and evaluation tools, and mitigating fiduciary risks.
• Partner Engagement: Increase NCO's engagement in Nigeria's health financing reforms and work closely with partners like R4D to enhance and implement strategies, particularly in revising benefits packages under BHCPF 2.0.
• Capacity Strengthening: Strengthen the Foundation’s support to federal MDAs, particularly in health sector budgeting, coordination, and performance reviews, ensuring effective implementation of the health SWAp.
• State-Level Support: Guide health financing reforms in Kaduna and Kano States, supporting realistic planning, budgeting, and accountable use of public funds to improve PHC outcomes.
• Partnership Management: Collaborate with donors, government, private sector, and other external partners to develop and implement innovative, health financing interventions.
• Representation and Coordination: Represent the Foundation in health financing activities, participate in key working groups, and coordinate with other NCO and Foundation staff to ensure alignment and commonality in advancing NCO’s goals.
• Technical Support and Strategy Development: Provide technical advice and support across NCO initiatives, ensuring integration of health financing into broader health system strengthening efforts.
• Collaboration with State Governments: Work closely with state officials, Foundation grantees, and partners to drive PHC program implementation and strengthen the PHC system and routine immunization programs.
• The PO will also perform other duties as assigned, ensuring the overall success and impact of NCO’s health financing strategy.

Your Experience

• Master’s degree in health economics, economics, or public health with a health financing focus. A PhD in health financing will be an advantage.
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience years of relevant work experience in health financing and health economics in African settings is preferred.
• Established track record of carrying out analytical/diagnostic work and preparing high-quality technical reports, policy briefing materials, and presentations to influence health financing policy decision making and implementation at national and subnational levels.
• Deep understanding of the Nigerian health system and of federal and state health policy, with on-the-ground experience in northern Nigeria in particular.
• Demonstrated familiarity and commitment to the foundation's core values, mission, and programs and to serving our grantees and the people of Nigeria.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared/joint objectives, both internally and externally.
• Manages complexity and ambiguity effectively: Making sense of complex, high quantity and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems - especially in managing relations. Demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in a complex, fast-paced environment both in Nigeria and in headquarter (Seattle).
• Communicates effectively: Developing and delivering communications that convey complex situations in a clear and concise manner with a broad and diverse audience.
• Demonstrable experience with effective interactions between country level and headquarter offices is critical.
• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.

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Your Role

The Africa Regional Office and the Malaria Program Strategy Team (PST) are recruiting a Senior Program Officer (SPO), for Strategic Partnerships and Country Engagement to support the Director and team in achieving its impact goals by: 

• Leading a portfolio of foundation investments in Nigeria and providing the Malaria PST and Africa Regional office with regular updates on progress against our strategic goals. 
• Identifying new opportunities and partner organizations for the foundation to invest in high-burden areas in Nigeria to drive down morbidity and mortality. 
• Defining and evaluating, in close collaboration with our implementing partners, operational research projects that address questions on the technical, operational, and financial feasibility of new implementation strategies and tools. 
• Provide technical guidance for malaria investments in close collaboration with our Nigeria country office and Africa regional office and the Malaria PST. 

This position is currently Abuja-based but will be Dakar-based (once the office is operational) and will report to the Deputy Director for Health of the Africa Team and the Deputy Director for Strategic Partnerships and Country Engagement of the malaria PST. 

What You'll Do

• Develop, lead, and implement malaria implementation strategies, and negotiate and run complex, performance-based investments. 
• Review letters of inquiry, grant, and contract proposals; provide clear, concise, and insightful written analyses and recommendations for the foundation including drafting and editing proposal summaries and progress reports for existing investments for review by foundation leadership. 
• Lead internal processes and portfolio progress while ensuring appropriate documentation, budgeting, and reporting. 
• Give to the design of new strategies, collaborations, and implementation plans to ensure long-term sustainability and impact. 
• Collaborate with foundation colleagues in related program areas to take advantage of cross-sector grant-making opportunities. 
• Conduct high-quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with partners in the field. 
• Cultivate a sense of urgency for the fight against malaria amongst the implementing partners and an innovation adoption approach to problem-solving. 
• Consult with grantees and other partners to enhance the impact of projects and ensure optimal learning. This may include conducting site visits, providing operational guidance, and convening meetings of key stakeholders. 
• Represent the foundation with stakeholders who may include public and private entities, partner organizations, other funders, universities, think tanks, and government agencies. May serve on external boards and working groups. 

Your Experience

The foundation is seeking an expert in malaria program implementation. 

The ideal candidate should have: 

• A Ph.D., MD or equivalent in a related field is required. 
• A proven experience of 10 years + of working on malaria program implementation.  
• Regional multi-country experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is essential. Having worked with or for a national malaria control program will be a strong asset. 
• Detailed and up-to-date technical knowledge of malaria epidemiology, WHO policies, and implementation guidance. 
• Experience working with global institutions including malaria donors like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the US Presidents Malaria Initiative. 
• Proven track record of leading and influencing others. 
• Experience in strategic planning and strategy implementation. 
• High detail orientation and affinity for data, with the ability to artfully manage tactical execution while remaining objective when absorbing and presenting information.  
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgement in developing methods, techniques and evaluating criteria for obtaining results. 
• Demonstrated excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience. 
• Demonstrated capacity and initiative to solve problems with energy and a positive attitude.  
• Experience in a role requiring collaboration (both internally and externally), prioritization, and results-orientation in a fast-paced, complex organization. 
• Intellectual quickness, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness, and resilience.  
• Demonstrated ability to work with efficiency, tact, and flexibility, particularly as part of a team. Experience working in teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.  

Other Attributes 

• Fluency in English and proficiency in other languages is an asset.
• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people. 
• Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.