- Location
- Johannesburg, South Africa · Remote - South Africa
- Workplace
- Remote
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Healthcare
- Seniority
- Senior
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Visa
- Not sponsored
- Closing date
- Today
- Source
- Workday
Description
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 Foundation's mission is to use the power of AI to reduce the digital gap, focusing on the ethical and fair use of AI to help low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). As Large Language Models become more advanced, we are committed to unleashing GAI's untapped potential to create development solutions in LMIC. Our initiatives are diverse, not only creating new applications for GAI in decision support and chatbot interventions but also covering health, education, and agriculture sectors. Building on the success of proof-of-concept projects from the Grand Challenges, we aim to make sure that the progress of GAI reaches and benefits all segments of the population.The Core AI Team is a key, cross-functional group that leads and supports various AI initiatives. The AI core team acts as the secretariat of the internal AI Taskforce. It is responsible for 1) developing a cross-foundational AI strategy, 2) supporting the implementation of different AI streams, 3) playing an advisory role to PSTs on their AI efforts and, 4) informing large Foundation investments in AI. This team plays an essential role in ensuring AI integration and success across our organizational framework.
Application Deadline: 12/8/2026
Your Role
Are you passionate about using the power of AI to reduce inequality in low- and middle-income countries? Do you have experience working in developing countries on AI or digital health initiatives? If so, we want you to join our team at the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world.
The Senior Program Officer, AI and Health is a key member of the AI team. This role will support several teams at the Foundation who are considering and investing in multiple applications of AI in Health, which is a high priority area for the Foundation. As such, this individual will be responsible for developing our overarching strategy to healthcare applications in AI; conceptualising, investing and managing investments in health applications of AI; providing advice and technical assistance to other program teams considering investment in this area; advocate for the safe, responsible use of AI as force multiplier to reducing inequality in health in LMICs.
What You’ll Do
Develop the foundations’ approach to AI and health
This would include existing and planned investment in multiple applications of AI in health across diagnostics, end user engagement, decision support and decision sciences for health
Develop a clear understanding of specific ecosystem constraints and opportunities related to AI in health
Identify a key set of partners and stakeholders in order to be successful in this focus area across the technical, advocacy, government, academic and funding spheres
Move towards developing appropriate benchmarks and evaluation frameworks for AI in health:
Work closely with appropriate technical partners, governments, regulators to establish context appropriate frameworks by which AI models should be evaluated for accuracy, safety, usability, cost effectiveness
Map the pathways by which promising health technologies transition from small, defined proof-of concepts to minimal viable products and ultimately scaled products/applications that are sustainable across multiple countries
Lead thinking on the design and execution of clinical trials for decision support tools in healthcare
Manage a portfolio of investments
Support studies on AI tool effectiveness, safety, and regulatory strategies and manage investments that relate to health ecosystem for AI in LMICs
Ensure that funding is appropriately managed and where appropriate, done in collaboration with other foundation teams and external funders
Prepare background documents, briefs, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders related to AI in health
Provide technical guidance to internal teams
Several program teams are considering investments at the intersection of AI and health. You will be responsible for advising these teams, reviewing proposals and where appropriate co-own these investments
Ensure that investments are well aligned to strategies and led with a needs based (versus tools based) approach
Your Experience
Advanced degree in computer science, data science, public health, or related field with 10+ years of experience; or equivalent experience.
Significant experience (10+ years) in health and technology development/application
Experience in having supported the development, testing, launch or actual scale up of any AI based technology
A demonstrated understanding of AI at a conceptual level
Experience with governments, Ministries of Health, NGOs, academic institutions, and global funders, particularly in the global South
Experience in technology assessment and product development is an advantage
Knowledge of AI landscape and digital health, particularly in Africa, India, Latin America is an advantage
Other Attributes
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship
Strong program and/or project management skills/experience.
Comfortable dealing with ambiguity and able to turn ambiguity into clarity and impact.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
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.
