Job Description
Discovery Project Leader, Gates Medical Research Institute
Cambridge, MA
Headquartered in Cambridge, MA and led by CEO Dr. Penny Heaton, The Bill and Melinda Gates Research Institute (Gates MRI) focuses on translational medicine, advancing novel drug and vaccine candidates against the aforementioned diseases from the laboratory into human studies. At the Gates MRI, we work across multiple interventions and disease areas to increase the identification, selection, and optimization of novel drug and vaccine candidates, with the intention to transition viable candidates to late-stage development partners across the global health ecosystem. We will seek to publish our learnings, so that they will be available to all research and development communities through our commitment to open access. To enable a fast-to-decision mindset, the institute operates using small teams and a flat structure with the understanding that it is essential to break out of silos and embrace unconventional approaches across modalities. The five core mantras that permeate across the organization and drive progress at every level are:
Urgency: Strive every day to do better than your last best accomplishment.
Collaboration: Solving the world’s most complex disease burdens is a team effort.
Innovation: Uncover new methods, approaches and solutions to achieve unprecedented results.
Rigor: Follow the science with passion and perseverance.
Courage: Pursue progress boldly without fear of failure.
Though the Institute is a diverse group of passionate change-makers, creative fixers and relentless advocates, these five core values will be universally adopted by all who join it and strive to improve the health and wellness of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
THE POSITION
Reporting to the Head of Translational Discovery, the Discovery Project Leader (DPL) for Vaccines will combine discovery leadership with project and portfolio management skills to drive progression of early stage discovery projects and ensure the availability of a continuous pipeline of assets for clinical development by the Gates MRI. The DPL team marries industrial rigor to academic creativity to drive innovative results in keeping with the core mission and values of the Gates MRI.
Members of the DPL team function in two distinct areas: as portfolio managers and as discovery leaders. As portfolio managers, they provide support and guide early stage discovery efforts at both the Gates MRI and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) across a range of therapeutic areas and modalities, including small molecules, biologics, devices and vaccines. The Discovery Project Leaders work closely with multi-disciplinary teams at the BMGF as well as industry, academic and nonprofit partners to build an infrastructure capable of supporting the analysis and progression of a complex portfolio, with the goal of improving portfolio breadth, increasing the efficiency of decision making, and ensuring rigorous, decision-oriented experimentation. Responsibilities combine broad strategic assessment with the nuts and bolts of day to day project execution, including managing timelines and driving milestone achievement and go/no-go decision making.
DPLs work closely with colleagues in clinical development and other teams in the Gates MRI to initiate and progress projects on clinical stage assets to support further development and regulatory filings. Because the portfolio may include small molecules, biologics, vaccines and diagnostics, and cover a range of disease areas, the required experimental approaches may vary considerably across programs, placing a premium on the ability to ask fundamental questions, articulate rapidly testable hypotheses, and assemble and coordinate teams of expert collaborators and partners.
The DPLs, regardless of their technical background, are expected to seek out and embrace innovative approaches to discovery science in the service of translational medicine, including the use of best practices from other disease and product areas, with the ultimate goal of making the Institute a global leader in this area. The successful candidate will be required to have a global reach and establish highly collaborative and fruitful partnerships with a diverse set of partners including CROs, academia, biotech, pharma, governments, and global health product development partners, including those located in low-income countries.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will be an innovative, sophisticated, and highly creative individual who thrives in a “get it done” environment, with a strong track record of hands-on experience in preclinical discovery with an emphasis on project leadership and project management skills. (S)he will have the following mix of personal and professional characteristics:
Ph. D. in microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, chemistry or related fields with at least 5+ years of industry experience or M.S. with at least 9+ years of industry experience in the discovery of vaccines.
Demonstrated excellence in discovery project leadership and project/portfolio management, as well as subject matter expertise.
Excellent organizational and communication skills required for extensive interactions with multiple collaborators and partners.
Equally comfortable with high level strategic analysis and “down-in-the-weeds” detail-oriented execution.
Comfort with ambiguity and complexity required; must be open to change and able to work across multiple projects and therapeutic areas simultaneously.
Strong interpersonal skills with polish and presence; ability to influence others at all levels and lead in a highly matrixed organization
Personal leadership style that inspires trust, confidence, and collaboration.
Passionate, persistent and tenacious. Strong ability to prioritize and operate with a sense of urgency
Experience in pioneering the start-up of new organizations or functions is a significant plus
Position will require travel (3-4 days per month average).
Sense of humor a must.
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.