Deputy Director, Family Health

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
- Division Summary
The Africa and India Offices include a diverse range of program areas aimed at finding creative ways to ensure solutions and products get into the hands of people in low-income countries who need them most. We work in areas with the potential for high-impact, sustainable solutions that can reach millions of people. Our focus is on innovative delivery, including an emphasis on strengthening primary health care systems.

Our efforts are aligned with India’s National Health Policy Goals (NHP, 2017) to - reduce preventable deaths among mothers and children and enable elimination of selected infectious diseases, and we work closely with India’s Central and State governments, and partner with community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, academic and research institutions, the private sector, and development organizations, to achieve our shared goals. Our strong networks and ability to convene intellectual resources globally and across many sectors enable us to address emerging and complex challenges. Our efforts in India focus on key issues that affect the future of India’s most vulnerable communities: reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition; urban sanitation; agricultural development; gender equality, and digital financial inclusion in several states of the country.

Your Role

India has made substantial progress in improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes, reflecting sustained national and state-level efforts. Building on these gains, opportunities remain to accelerate progress, particularly in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, where the foundation collaborates with the state governments and other partners in advancing these efforts. The foundation is committed to supporting India’s continued progress towards a future where no mother, newborn, or child dies from preventable causes. The Deputy Director, Family Health plays a key role in advancing this goal in partnership with India’s central and state governments.

- What you will be directly accountable

The Deputy Director, Family Health, holds direct accountability for the foundation’s Maternal, Newborn, Child and Nutrition Health (MNCNH) portfolio in India - its strategy, investment choices and results - and family planning and women’s health innovation to advance health outside of pregnancy, supporting advancement towards national goals and contribute to progress against the foundation's global goals in the areas described above.

You will lead implementation of the foundation’s health priorities through partners in the states assigned to you, currently Assam, Meghalaya, and Odisha (and other states of strategic importance as assigned). You will also prepare strategy for local institutional capacity building for national and state institutions and for comprehensive primary health care and implement them through the respective foundation’s state leads for the state work.

- What you will integrate or converge

You will connect the MNCNH portfolio with the foundation’s other health work - including Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) such as Women’s Health Innovation, Health Research & Development (R&D), Digital and AI, Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE), and Partnerships and Communications - so that strategies, grants and investments fit together and trade-offs are made explicitly. Convergence with health (R&D) team is required to facilitate innovations development, testing, and integration into health systems to solve complex challenges. Where heath systems lever such as human resources for health, data systems, supply chains, strategic purchasing or comprehensive primary health care are needed to deliver MNCNH and state goals, you will draw on them in coordination with the teams that lead that work.

- Where accountability is shared

In your assigned states you will share accountability with the foundation’s state teams, working alongside the Deputy Directors for the Infectious Diseases and State Health Systems.

You will report to the Director - Health, India Country Office, and be a member of the India Country Office management team. This position partners closely with multiple Deputy Directors and Program Officers and is a member of a matrixed team, requiring collaboration with cross-domain program and functional teams in India and other foundation offices.

- What success looks like

Measurable, time bound programs on MNCNH goals in the portfolio and your assigned states; a well-chosen portfolio of investments with clear milestones and go/no-go decisions; strong relationship with government and local partners; and mentor a high-performing, well-developed team.

The role sits within the Foundation’s India Country Office (ICO) in New Delhi .

- What You’ll Do

a) Strategy, Portfolio Leadership and Delivery

- Lead the strategy, development and delivery of the foundation’s grant portfolio in India, spanning MNCNH, Family Planning and Women’s Health Innovation. Drive measurable, time-bound progress against clearly defined outcomes and indicators aligned with maternal and child survival goals.
- Collaborate closely with the foundation’s Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) in Seattle to ensure alignment between global priorities and ICO strategies, while using evidence and local insights to advocate for context-specific adaptations.
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the foundation’s health priorities in assigned states, currently Assam, Meghalaya and Odisha, as well as other states of strategic importance as required. Lead, manage and support the teams (two members) responsible for delivering these priorities.
- Shape and advance strategies to strengthen the capacity of local institutions and improve comprehensive primary health care, working through national and state-level teams and institutional partners to support effective implementation.
- Oversee the design, management and performance of strategic investments and grant portfolios in support of programmatic and policy objectives. Establish clear milestones and performance measures to inform investment decisions, assess progress, manage risks and make informed trade-offs across interventions, while promoting learning and knowledge-sharing across states.

b) Cross-Functional Leadership and Health Systems Strengthening

- Share accountability with the foundation’s state health systems strengthening and infectious disease teams for achieving health outcomes in assigned states. Provide strategic direction, foster cross-team collaboration and resolve complex challenges requiring senior leadership engagement.
- Lead convergence between MNCNH, family planning, women’s health initiative PST teams, India Country Office’s Health Research & Development and Digital Health and AI for family health and state deliverables.
- Leverage critical health system enablers, including human resources for health, health information systems, supply chains, procurement and strategic purchasing, to accelerate progress towards MNCNH and state-level objectives, in close collaboration with the teams leading health systems strengthening.
- Foster effective collaboration across matrixed teams, ensuring alignment of priorities, coordinated execution and shared accountability for results.

c) Partnerships, Policy Engagement and External Influence

- Build and sustain strategic relationships with senior government officials, technical divisions within relevant national ministries and state departments, and other key stakeholders to advance the foundation’s health priorities and influence policy and programme implementation.
- Monitor emerging policy developments, evolving government priorities and programme reforms to identify opportunities for strategic engagement and support. Leverage evidence generation, data analysis and technical expertise to inform policy dialogue and strengthen decision-making across MNCNH, Family Planning and Women’s Health.
- Develop and nurture high-impact partnerships with bilateral and multilateral agencies, philanthropic organisations, public health institutions, NGOs, private sector organisations and other stakeholders to accelerate progress towards the foundation’s goals in India.
- Maintain a structured and purposeful cadence of engagement with government counterparts, grantees and strategic partners. Lead periodic consultations, portfolio reviews and stakeholder discussions to assess progress, address challenges and continuously refine strategies.
- Serve as a trusted strategic partner and resource to grantees and foundation programme teams, providing guidance, facilitating collaboration and supporting the achievement of shared objectives.

d) Measurement, Learning and Performance

- Partner closely with the Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) function to develop and advance a coherent learning agenda across states, ensuring that evidence and insights inform strategic decisions, programme adaptations and future investments.
- Oversee the monitoring, evaluation and synthesis of results from grants and contracts, translating performance data and implementation experience into actionable insights. Lead contributions to portfolio reviews, strategic assessments and presentations to senior leadership.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, evidence-based decision-making and cross-state learning, ensuring that successful approaches are identified, adapted and scaled where appropriate.

e) People Leadership and Organisational Contribution

- Build, lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team, with direct management responsibility for two staff members. Provide coaching, mentorship and professional development opportunities that strengthen individual capabilities, team effectiveness and succession planning.
- Contribute actively to the ICO management team, helping shape organisational priorities, strengthen collaboration across functions and foster a culture of accountability, inclusion and high performance.
- Represent the foundation at high-level meetings, public events, technical forums and strategic engagements, effectively communicating its priorities, investments and impact.
- Lead or contribute to the development of strategic briefs, landscape analyses, policy papers and other thought leadership materials, and undertake special projects or strategic initiatives as required.

Your Experience

We are seeking exceptional leaders and strategic thinkers with a proven track record of developing innovative solutions and addressing complex challenges in the health sector in India. Ideal candidates will bring a hypothesis-driven, data-informed approach to problem-solving, alongside demonstrated experience navigating matrixed organizations and collaborating across diverse teams to deliver transformative, high-impact solutions.

The qualified candidate should have the following competencies and experience:

- MD in Obstetrics and Gynecology, or other advanced degree in Public Health, Global Health or related field. A doctoral degree (PhD/DrPH/MD) would be preferred.
- A minimum of 15 years of senior-level experience working within health systems at both state and national levels.
- Senior-level leadership experience in a health organization, either public or private, including responsibility for program strategy, design, and implementation, preferably in the areas of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Nutrition Health.
- Deep, technical knowledge of family health domains, in Indian and global contexts.
- Demonstrated experience building and leading strategic partnerships with collaborators from diverse sectors including NGOs, government, and the private sector.
- Proven success using and communicating (verbally and in writing) evidence and data to inform policy, programming, and management decisions.
- Superior skills in critical thinking and planning.
- Comfortable with use of responsible AI for improving health
- Strong ability to work with efficiency and diplomacy, particularly as part of a multi-disciplinary team effort. Demonstrated ability to work in productive collaboration with diverse teams including scientists, business analysts, program implementers, and developing country partners.
- Demonstrated curiosity and comfort in areas beyond current areas of expertise with proven ability to rapidly acquire knowledge and implement good judgment in diverse scientific and political areas.
- Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work of self and others in a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands, which requires the ability to see critical paths, measure and mitigate risk, and make trade-offs.
- Proven ability to structure and manage high-return, well-risk-mitigated investments, with clear benchmarks and outcomes; with experience in developing this skill in others.
- Demonstrated experience in building, leading and developing high-performing, highly skilled teams.
- Role model for courageous inquiry and intellectual integrity.
- Willingness to prioritize collective success over self.

Other Attributes

- Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behaviour with a diverse range of people and a deep commitment to development issues and high standards of personal integrity.
- Ability to travel locally and internationally, up to 40%.

*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

Application deadline: 6 December 2026

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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

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact [email protected] with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.

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.