Program officer Career at GATES FOUNDATION
Job Announcement: Program Officer – Health Systems Strengthening & Primary Healthcare (PHC)
Organization: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Job Requisition ID: B021768
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Deputy Director, Health Systems Strengthening and PHC, Nigeria Country Office
Application Deadline: November 28, 2026
About the Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a global nonprofit organization focused on addressing poverty, disease, and inequity, supporting people worldwide to live healthy and productive lives. The Africa team works directly with governments and partners across Sub-Saharan Africa to scale evidence-based interventions, strengthen delivery models, and expand impactful health and socioeconomic solutions.
Role Summary
The Program Officer will support the design, development, and implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) reforms in Nigeria at both federal and sub-national levels. This role focuses on foundational PHC reforms and innovative initiatives—such as the Nigeria Integrated Health (NIH) Model and State Delivery and Intelligence Units (SDIUs)—by collaborating with governments, implementing partners, and donors to enhance PHC financing, service delivery, data usage, and overall system performance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Foundational Reforms: Drive PHC reform efforts at national and state levels; enhance service delivery models, financing mechanisms, and facility-level fund flow.
Autonomy & Performance: Support greater local decision-making regarding financing, supplies, and human resources while strengthening data-driven accountability.
Portfolio & Grant Management: Negotiate, structure, monitor, and evaluate complex grant portfolios, ensuring results frameworks and risk mitigation strategies are fully integrated.
Partnership & Government Relations: Build coalitions with senior officials in Ministries of Health, donors, and grantees to scale health initiatives across Nigeria.
Technical Assistance & Capacity Building: Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and facilitation on digital technologies, data analytics, and healthcare delivery innovations.
Planning & Financial Oversight: Assist in formulating annual investment plans, strategies, and budgets to maximize return on investment and measurable health outcomes.
Qualifications & Experience
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Systems and Administration, Health Financing, or a related field.
Experience:
Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in health systems strengthening, PHC, or public health within African settings (ideally 5+ years in low-income country contexts).
Direct experience working with Ministries of Health, implementing agencies, and public-private partnerships.
In-depth understanding of the Nigerian health system, including federal/state policies, with primary on-the-ground experience in Northern Nigeria highly preferred.
Core Competencies: Proven track record in strategic planning, analytical diagnostics, grant management, high-level technical reporting, and cross-sector coalition building.
Additional Requirements
Must have legal authorization to work in Nigeria without visa sponsorship.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.
Successful completion of a background check is required.
Work Environment & Benefits
The Gates Foundation offers comprehensive healthcare coverage, paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and dedicated professional development opportunities within an environment committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application directly through the official [Gates Foundation Careers Portal].
