Program Officer, Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Healthcare (PHC)

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 Africa team works to enable the foundation’s ambitious goals of scaling evidence-based interventions that target a range of disease and socio-economic conditions which are endemic across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

The team implements its responsibility through direct country engagement to deploy interventions and delivery models, and by building the partner architecture to replicate successful interventions and models across multiple countries. The team also works closely with key continental and regional organizations to help accelerate implementation across multiple geographies.

Application Deadline: 28/11/2026

Your Role

The Program Officer (PO) will:

• Support the design, development and implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) reforms across both foundational reforms and innovation agenda pillars at the country level (federal and sub-nationals) including the Nigeria Integrated Health (NIH) Model and State Delivery and Intelligence Units (SDIU)

• Support PHC reforms that help Nigeria and other countries “spend well” on PHC by reforming financing fundamentals, delivery platforms, getting funds more directly to facilities or ‘local’ levels, enabling autonomy over the use of these funds and extending recourse and decision making over supplies and human resources

• Support the operationalization and institutionalization of PHC functionality and use of data for decision-making and accountability

• Strategically develop and manage one or more portfolios of grants and contracts requiring high-level grant management skills, monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the outcomes are achieved

• Develop key partnerships to expand and scale health impact at the country level

• Have a very strong country led focus and will engage with our country teams to ensure excellent partnerships, shared goals and joint vision

• Foster exceptional relationships with key Government stake holders at Ministerial level in Nigeria, using excellent communication skills with deep technical knowledge to support Ministries of Health (MoH) etc, to embrace the PHC strategy and create impact and better utilization of PHC services in Nigeria.

This position reports to the Deputy Director – HSS and PHC, in the Nigeria Country Office.

What You'll Do

This is a significant role in championing the PHC strategy across both Innovation and Foundational pillars and fostering unparalleled levels of support and partnership from the Nigeria Country Office (NCO). The PO will work closely with all health sub-teams and NCO to support health and PHC systems reforms.

• Ensure that the results framework is embedded across our HSS and PHC pillars and is fostered and jointly owned by relevant sub-teams and Program Support Teams (PSTs).

• Facilitate development of annual investment plans and budgets, develop, modify, and implement strategy at the national and sub-national levels. Work with NCO leadership, sub-teams and PSTs as requested to address cross-cutting issues and improve functions and performance.

• Accountable for the identification and assessment of key portfolio risks, and the development and management of mitigation/contingency plans at the portfolio level.

• Manage partnerships and grantee relationships to achieve impact, for example, by conducting site visits, convening meetings of key partners, monitoring, and evaluating components of grants.

• Support and coordinate with non-Gates Foundation partners to increase/scale the health impact at the country level.

• Provide technical support in the areas of innovation in Primary Health Care (PHC) systems strengthening and service delivery with a focus on leveraging innovations and using digital technologies to improve outcomes.

• Measure results and return on investments, pivot and learn from findings to create impact, and contribute to the nascent knowledge base on PHC systems strengthening.

• Negotiate, implement, and manage complex portfolio of grants on PHC systems and delivery innovation and foundational reforms that will improve PHC functionality, service delivery and efficiency at population levels of scale.

• Advise and support deep and moderate NCO efforts to accelerate foundational reforms by enabling federal and sub-national governments to effectively disburse funds/purchase high-priority services from PHC facilities, while enabling PHC facilities to receive and use these funds.

• Provide technical support, facilitation, technical assistance, mentoring and coaching in the design and implementation of health systems strengthening activities, tailored to the specific needs of the country.

• Advice and support the strengthening of platforms to improve subnational technical capacity to analyze & use data for PHC performance management.

Success Criteria

• Demonstrated abilities to work with multiple partners in Nigeria, including government, other donors, grantees to create a common vision and visualize simple and effective but implementable solutions to complex problems that lead to sustainable impact.

• Strong strategic thinker with experience developing evidence-based strategic or operational plans as well as shaping and managing sustainable and scalable ventures.

• Experienced coalition builder and background of creating effective partnerships and establishing cross-sectoral linkages at the different levels of government.

• Comfortable in a wide range of political, cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of partners.

• Deep understanding of systems strengthening and PHC service delivery to improve outcomes.

• Demonstrated working experience in health systems strengthening and PHC in developing economies, experience in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa is highly preferred.

• Demonstrates a growth mindset with curiosity about new approaches, ability to change direction when needed, and willingness to seek feedback and course correct based on it.

• Excellent program and project management capabilities – always driving towards clear results within a timeline.

• Clear, consistent communication in both writing and speaking.

• Demonstrates excellent individual judgement and can act independently but also knows when to pull in additional resources or solicit others for assistance.

• Capability to understand the challenges and complexity of introducing and scaling innovations in service delivery in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) and how to work with partners and key collaborators, especially public sector entities, to overcome these challenges. Experience in developing public-private partnerships is desired.

• Degree in Public Health, Health Systems and Administration, Health Financing, or other relevant field.

Your Experience

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in health systems strengthening, PHC or public health in African settings

• Ideally, 5+ years of experience in a low-income country context, or equivalent experience, in working directly with ministries of health, donors and implementing agencies in shaping the health systems strengthening, PHC reforms and innovation agendas.

• Established track record of carrying out analytical/diagnostic work and preparing high-quality technical reports, policy briefing materials, and presentations to influence health and PHC systems policy decision making and implementation at national and subnational levels.

• Experience in the use of diagnostics and other decision tools to improve quality, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of care.

• Track record of building strong relationships with implementing partners, donors, and officials at all levels of government

• In-depth understanding of the Nigerian health system and of federal and state health policy, with on-the-ground experience in northern Nigeria in particular.

 

Other Attributes

• Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

• Ability to travel up to 30%, domestically and internationally.

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

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact [email protected] with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.

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.