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 Gender Equality Division’s mission is to ensure women and girls in Africa and South Asia can enjoy good health, make their own choices, earn their own money, and be leaders in their societies. When women and girls have an equal chance to thrive and lead, everyone benefits.
This role is part of the Gender Equality Division’s Family Planning (FP) team, which works to bring access to high-quality contraceptive information, services, and supplies to women and girls in the world’s poorest countries. The FP team’s work spans innovation, advocacy, data, and supports delivery and scale in localized and global contexts.
Your Role
The Senior Program Officer, Private Sector Delivery (SPO) will be a key member of the FP team, helping to shape the next decade of private sector growth for family planning in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with a focus on priority markets where the private sector can drive sustainable, equitable access. The role will work closely with the Deputy Director, Country Impact, to strengthen market systems and catalyze new partnerships that make FP products and services more accessible, affordable, and appealing, especially for women.
This position requires a strategic and entrepreneurial mindset: someone who can connect market dynamics, technology innovation (including AI), and policy environments to unlock scalable, sustainable solutions. The SPO will serve as a strategic advisor, grant maker, and thought partner, working across internal teams, governments, donors, and private sector actors to advance FP access and outcomes. They must work as a strong grant maker, and an excellent collaborator who can identify, work with, and crowd in a range of internal, national, subnational, global, public and private partners over common agendas.
This position will report to the Deputy Director, Country Impact, and will collaborate closely with the FP team and other foundation teams.
What You’ll Do
- Shape and execute a regional strategy for private sector market growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, focusing on expanding access to high-quality FP products and services (for example: developing investment theses with different players like an e-commerce platform, a distributor, mom-and-pop pharmacies, etc.).
- Lead the Country Impact initiative’s exploration of AI and digital innovation in the private sector by identifying practical applications that can enhance FP private sector service delivery, data use, and client experience.
- Strengthen in-country market systems by identifying and addressing regulatory, financing, and distribution barriers to private sector participation.
- Cultivate a strong ecosystem of private sector partners (including bringing in new ones, from multinational manufacturers to local social enterprises, to coordinate investments and amplify market growth.
- Leverage private sector distribution expertise to serve as an in-house technical expert to Country Impact initiative’s colleagues working on in-country public sector supply chains to the last mile public facilities.
- Shape the Country Impact initiative’s investments on the surrounding architecture and global goods needed for an ongoing vibrant private sector (for example: building market data suppliers).
- Develop and implement investments (grants and/or contracts) to support programmatic goals, ensuring interventions can be sustained at scale.
- Partner with colleagues to build and manage relationships with donors, government, private sector, implementers, and other stakeholders to develop innovative plans and interventions.
- Contribute to strategy review/annual planning materials and other reporting materials for foundation leadership.
- Cultivate strong cross-team working relationships to develop impactful FP programs.
- Actively monitor, evaluate, and learn from programming to foster uptake of FP in the health space; lead analysis to translate data insights into action.
- Consult with grantees and other partners to increase project impact and ensure grants align with FP strategy goals (including site visits, operational guidance, and convening key partners).
- Work on complex problems requiring in-depth evaluation of diverse factors.
- Embed diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in day-to-day work, partnerships, and investments.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Your Experience
- Substantial experience catalyzing private sector growth and participation in healthcare, consumer goods, or adjacent sectors (e.g., FMCG, digital health, pharmaceutical, or supply chain).
- MBA or other advanced degree preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated success in private sector development, market shaping, or health markets in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- Proven ability to translate market insights into investment strategies and actionable business or policy recommendations.
- Skilled collaborator, able to work across sectors and cultures to drive consensus and momentum.
- Strong analytical and communication skills, with experience shaping strategic narratives for senior decision-makers.
- Passion for improving access to family planning and women’s health, grounded in an understanding of market realities and user needs.
- Strong, multi-disciplinary planning and management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Fluency in English essential; French preferred but not required.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a highly matrixed and diverse environment.
- Strong judgment on complex and sensitive issues.
- This role is anticipated to include up to 30% domestic and international travel.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
#LI-BR1
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.