About the Role
The Health & Life Sciences (HLS) team, through its programmatic engagement with key stakeholders and global community of scientific experts, operates four practice areas – a) advisory role, b) a scientific learning agenda on topics such as Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity, c) special projects, and d) Alzheimer’s disease focused investments inclusive of biomarker research, biobanking and sample sharing, and data sharing and interoperability initiatives.
THE POSITION
We are looking for an individual to join the HLS team as a Manager / Senior Manager with focus on the scientific learning agenda as well as Alzheimer’s disease—particularly the upstream biology and disease etiology. This individual will report to the Director, Health & Life Sciences. The position will require the following skillset:
Deep fundamental basic scientific knowledge (e.g., Master’s in biology or similar field)
Management of multiple scopes of work and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams
Ability to review and summarize recent literature in diverse scientific areas within and beyond neurodegeneration
Proactive fluency with latest scientific techniques and innovations, with insight into their applicability to impact GV priority diseases
RESPONSIBILITIES
We seek a flexible and scientifically curious individual who functions with independence and personal initiative to take on a wide range of activities and relationships, including but not limited to:
Assistance with planning and preparation for GV Learning Sessions, including:
Review and summary of literature in diverse areas of human disease (e.g., obesity/diabetes, neurodegeneration, mental health, maternal health disparities)
Periodic scan of evolving tools/technologies in life sciences (e.g., CRISPR, mRNA platforms)
Review and summary of private sector/commercial landscape and relevant companies and products in biotech and pharma, including interviews of scientific and medical KOLs
Creation of detailed run-of-show for GV Learning Session, including communication and collaboration with lead scientific and/or medical KOLs
Management of Scientific Consortia (e.g., proteomics) – facilitation of consortium terms on data sharing, analysis, and publication recruitment and relationship among international partners from both academia and industry
Assistance w/Gates ecosystem projects and products, including management of vendors and collaborators building community research tools, such as health imaging data storage, annotation, and analysis for better diagnosis and prognosis of human disease
Assistance w/strategic planning for portfolio growth, including landscaping of available tools and therapeutic gaps in disease areas as listed above
Management of regular check-ins between disease KOLs and GV, including agenda development, material preparation and scheduling
Review of scientific proposals, including iterative editing and shaping of grants and contracts, and due diligence of investment opportunities
As needed, support other GV activities and partnerships related to disease diagnostics and biomarkers – such as relationship with Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative (ADDI), and proactive outreach to industry players
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Advanced degree with 3-5 years of experience (Master’s degree preferred)
Prior experience in:
Life sciences research, familiar with cell signaling and biochemical pathways – required
Human disease research, with focus on disease mechanisms, diagnostics, drug targets, and/or therapeutics – preferred
“Big data” analytical skills (e.g., epidemiology or ‘omics project background) – preferred
Management consulting / advisory services – optional
Biotech / pharma diagnostics and therapeutics development – optional
Exceptional oral, facilitation, and written communication skills
Empathy in collaboration and communication
Ability to learn new content quickly and identify connections
Comfort with highly unstructured and ambiguous situations; ability to proactively identify solutions in such situations and execute those approaches
Experience in developing and managing strong partnerships and relationships inside and outside the organization, managing conflicts, and building consensus. Effective as a collaborator in complex internal & external organizations
Commitment to the organization’s core values, mission, and programs with an approach that is consistent with the organization’s guiding principles and holding self to the highest ethical standards
This role will be based in the Greater Seattle Area and requires the ability to travel up to 30% given the nature of collaborations across time zones and continents.