Senior Research Manager, Polio

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 Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) is an embedded research institute with the Gates Foundation. We develop, use, and share computational modeling tools, and promote quantitative decision-making to support global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in the health of those most in need. The IDM team comprises both research scientists and software engineers who work with a wide ecosystem of partners including universities, NGOs, government ministries and other research organizations. Within IDM, the Eradication and Elimination team supports the malaria, polio, and immunization portfolios at the Foundation to develop strategic analytic and modeling products to inform investments for maximum impact on global health, to support country partners and regional country offices (RCOs) with their goals with respect to malaria, polio, and immunization strategies, and to conduct independent scientific research relating to relevant Foundation global health strategies across short and longer time scales.

Your Role

We are seeking a dedicated Senior Research Manager to support the Elimination & Eradication (E&E) polio team. In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Deputy Director for E&E, the IDM leadership team, and other senior research managers in the E&E team, to build a forward-looking polio modeling strategy, in close partnership with the polio program strategy team (PST). This includes developing strategies and plans for engagement with the PST and other Foundation groups, including the Regional Country Office (RCO) teams, relevant to the mission of eradicating polio. 

The central responsibility of the role will be managing the polio modeling team, including setting strategic priorities, guiding methodological approaches – including conducting and overseeing dynamical modeling and statistical modeling – and engaging with PST partners to ensure the delivery of highly impactful and time-sensitive model results to guide key questions on investment strategy. The role will require the development and implementation of a modeling strategy that will support decisions by the PST and other Foundation stakeholders that will lead to achieving the overarching goal of reaching zero global polio cases, with a focus on key geographies and the implementation of vaccine-based interventions. This position reports to the Deputy Director for Eradication and Elimination (E&E) and plays a vital role in ensuring the Foundation achieves its goal of eradicating polio. The role is based out of Seattle, WA and may involve international and domestic travel 20% of the time.

What You’ll Do

• Work with the E&E Deputy Director and IDM leadership, as well as the polio program leadership team, to develop a polio modeling strategy to support the needs of the Foundation and the goal of eradicating polio globally.
• Develop a polio modeling portfolio aligned with this strategy, remaining responsive to new scientific advances, new products in the polio program pipeline, and global changes relevant to the elimination and eradication goals.
• Manage the IDM polio team project portfolio to deliver impactful and timely analytical products that guide strategic priorities for polio control, elimination, and eradication to key stakeholders.
• Develop modeling approaches that can effectively assess how new approaches to polio eradication could be implemented to reduce transmission and disease in endemic settings, and maintain elimination in at-risk geographies.
• Develop study designs that can effectively measure the impact of programs on polio disease and transmission, in coordination with the polio program.
• Coordinate 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 polio.
• Lead planning and coordination of polio 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.

Your Experience

• A PhD degree in dynamical and statistical modeling of infectious diseases, epidemiology, polio-relevant immuno-epidemiology or vaccinology, 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 for polio or diseases with similar epidemiogical dynamics to polio, 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.
• 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
• Commitment to our core values, mission, and programs with an approach that is consistent with the foundation’s guiding principles and holding self to the highest ethical standards

*Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. This includes direct company sponsorship and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (eg: H-1B, O-1, L-1, E, OPT, STEM-OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).

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.

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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.