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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 Global Health (GH) Division harnesses advances in science and technology to save lives in low- and middle-income countries. We focus on the health problems that have a major impact in developing countries but get too little attention and funding. Where tools exist, we support sustainable ways to improve their delivery. Where they don’t, we invest in research and development of new interventions, such as vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics. Our work in infectious diseases focuses on strategies to fight and prevent HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), neglected tropical diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases, pneumonia and maternal, newborn and child health.

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.

Application Deadline: Monday, June 9, 2025

We are seeking an outstanding individual to join the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) at the Gates Foundation as the Deputy Director for Eradication and Elimination (DD, E&E). This role leads the cluster that contains the teams working on modeling and analysis for Polio, Measles, Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and Immunization systems more broadly. While much of the focus of the role is on disease elimination and eradication strategies to achieve permanent improvements in health, you will also support the development of innovative, data-driven methodologies for pathogen control—particularly in the areas of surveillance—including the development and application of methods utilizing molecular data, tailoring and targeting mixes of interventions, and vaccine delivery systems.

You will help shape strategies and lead teams that develop and leverage dynamic epidemiological modeling tools, geospatial analysis, and other methods to inform the design and operation of disease elimination and eradication programs, while incorporating social determinants of health, mobility dynamics, and environmental stressors into program design. You and your teams will also help shape novel data collection efforts supporting these programs. Your work will play a critical role in informing the foundation’s evolving approaches to equitable health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This position requires exceptional leadership in epidemiological modeling, public health systems, and operational translation of complex analytics into policy-ready insights. The role also requires effective partnering within and beyond the Gates Foundation, as you will collaborate closely with internal and external partners to drive meaningful change in addressing health disparities and increasing success of eradication efforts.

This role is based in our Seattle, WA office. Relocation will be provided.

What You’ll Do

+ Lead the design and implementation of advanced quantitative modeling and analytical projects to evaluate and guide the foundation’s investments in eradication strategies, vaccine deployment, and systems-level optimization.

+ Apply stochastic, agent-based, and systems dynamic models to assess and predict intervention impact, especially in vector-borne and climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria and dengue, leveraging your knowledge of mobility patterns, labor migration, and informal economies in transmission dynamics.

+ Develop and drive data-to-decision pipelines, transforming strategic questions into actionable research—spanning hypothesis generation, simulation, and stakeholder-ready insights. Inform investments in new data made other teams at Gates Foundation. Emphasis on approaches that integrate real-world data, community-based surveillance, and contextual analysis.

+ Translate complex findings into tools, visualizations, publications, and presentations to support policy decisions and programmatic action. Build outputs such as interactive dashboards and rapid response frameworks to support timely epidemic responses and real-time surveillance.

+ Advance scientific rigor and reproducibility through improvements to IDM’s modeling toolkits, codebase management, and cloud-based infrastructure, ensuring results are rigorous, scientifically-sound, scalable, and policy-relevant.

+ Lead and grow diverse, multidisciplinary teams including epidemiologists, modelers, climate-health specialists, and data scientists while fostering an environment that values collaboration, equity, psychological safety, and continuous learning.

+ As a manager of managers, mentor managers in your cluster towards ever-increasing skill in leadership and management.

+ Partner with national malaria control programs, regional health ministries, and global research networks, building co-designed research agendas and implementation frameworks.

+ Partner with polio eradication efforts and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) programs across the world.

+ Represent IDM in global forums, including support for cross-sector initiatives

Your Experience

We’re looking for a strategic and grounded scientific leader who brings innovation, humility, and a systems mindset to the complex landscape of disease eradication and global health equity.

+ Ph.D. in epidemiology, applied physics, statistics, climate-health, computer science, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent applied experience.

+ 10+ years of experience leading advanced modeling, public health analytics, or interdisciplinary research programs that bridge science, strategy, and implementation.

+ Deep technical expertise in predictive modeling, simulation of disease transmission, and application of modeling tools to support public health programs in LMICs.

+ Demonstrated success in creating collaborative platforms, advising national disease control programs, and co-developing targeted intervention strategies, including in regions such as South Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

+ Experience with integration of environmental, mobility, and climate risk data into health system modeling to inform localized, adaptive strategies.

+ Demonstrated innovation in developing new sources and types of data to inform epidemiological modeling and analysis.

+ Strong background in translating research into scalable tools and frameworks for decision-makers, including in rapid-response settings and pandemic preparedness contexts.

+ Track record of inclusive leadership and team building, with a commitment to capacity strengthening, ethical research practices, and global equity.

+ Excellent communicator and coalition-builder, able to engage both technical and non-technical audiences—from grassroots health programs to global policy forums.

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

#LI-PA1

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., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $285,300 to $442,100 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.

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

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 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.