Program officer job at GATES FOUNDATION
JOB ALERT
PROGRAM OFFICER, HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PHC
ORGANIZATION: BILL AND 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: 28 NOVEMBER 2026
ABOUT THE GATES FOUNDATION
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a global nonprofit organisation focused on addressing poverty, disease and inequity and supporting people around the world to live healthy and productive lives.
The Africa team works to scale evidence-based interventions addressing major health and socioeconomic challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa. The team works directly with countries and partners to strengthen delivery models and expand successful approaches across multiple geographies.
ROLE SUMMARY
The Program Officer will support the design, development and implementation of Primary Health Care PHC reforms in Nigeria at federal and sub-national levels.
The role will contribute to foundational PHC reforms and innovation initiatives, including the Nigeria Integrated Health NIH Model and State Delivery and Intelligence Units SDIUs.
The officer will work closely with government, implementing partners, donors and other stakeholders to strengthen PHC financing, service delivery, data use, accountability and system performance.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support PHC reforms at national and sub-national levels, including foundational reforms and innovation initiatives.
- Support reforms that improve how Nigeria finances and delivers PHC services, including mechanisms that enable funds to reach PHC facilities and local levels.
- Support greater autonomy and decision-making around PHC financing, supplies and human resources.
- Strengthen PHC functionality and the use of data for decision-making and accountability.
- Manage portfolios of grants and contracts, including monitoring, evaluation and grant management.
- Develop and manage strategic partnerships to expand and scale health impact in Nigeria.
- Build strong relationships with government stakeholders, including senior officials within Ministries of Health.
- Support the development of annual investment plans, budgets and strategies at national and sub-national levels.
- Ensure results frameworks are embedded across Health Systems Strengthening and PHC portfolios.
- Identify portfolio risks and develop appropriate mitigation and contingency plans.
- Manage relationships with grantees and implementing partners through monitoring, site visits, meetings and grant reviews.
- Provide technical support on PHC systems strengthening, service delivery innovation and the use of digital technologies.
- Measure results and return on investment and use findings to support learning and improved impact.
- Negotiate, implement and manage complex PHC grants focused on systems, delivery innovation and foundational reforms.
- Support governments to strengthen the disbursement and use of PHC funds and improve facility-level financing.
- Provide technical assistance, mentoring, coaching and facilitation for health systems strengthening activities.
- Support sub-national platforms to strengthen technical capacity for analysing and using data for PHC performance management.
SUCCESS CRITERIA
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Experience working with government, donors, grantees and multiple partners to develop shared goals and practical solutions.
- Strong strategic thinking and experience developing evidence-based strategic or operational plans.
- Experience building coalitions and cross-sector partnerships across different levels of government.
- Ability to work effectively across diverse political, cultural, geographic and operational environments.
- Deep understanding of health systems strengthening and PHC service delivery.
- Experience supporting health systems strengthening and PHC programmes in developing economies.
- Strong programme and project management capabilities with a focus on measurable results.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgement and work independently while knowing when to seek additional support.
- Understanding of the challenges involved in introducing and scaling service delivery innovations in Low and Middle Income Countries LMICs.
- Experience working with public sector institutions and, preferably, public-private partnerships.
EDUCATION
A degree in Public Health, Health Systems and Administration, Health Financing or another relevant field.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
Applicants should have:
- Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in health systems strengthening, PHC or public health in African settings.
- Ideally, at least 5 years of experience working in a low-income country context or equivalent experience.
- Direct experience working with Ministries of Health, donors and implementing agencies on health systems strengthening, PHC reforms and innovation.
- Experience conducting analytical and diagnostic work.
- Proven ability to prepare high-quality technical reports, policy briefs and presentations that support policy decision-making and implementation.
- Experience using diagnostics and decision-making tools to improve the quality, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of healthcare.
- A track record of building strong relationships with implementing partners, donors and government officials at different levels.
- In-depth understanding of the Nigerian health system and federal and state health policies.
- On-the-ground experience working in Northern Nigeria, in particular.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be legally authorised to work in Nigeria without visa sponsorship.
The position requires the ability to travel up to 30 percent domestically and internationally.
Employment will be subject to successful completion of a background check.
ABOUT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
The Gates Foundation provides a range of employee benefits, including comprehensive healthcare coverage, paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays and opportunities for professional development and employee engagement.
The foundation also states its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and equal employment opportunity.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
28 NOVEMBER 2026
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the official Gates Foundation careers portal.
