Senior/Executive Director, External Affairs

Position description

As an organization whose mission is to translate science into global public health impact, working on vaccines and therapeutics, IAVI has a vaccine policy which states that subject to applicable law, we require all U.S. and Puerto Rico based employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption or accommodation. We are committed to supporting our employees during this process as we work to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. 

Position Description   

Job Title:             Senior / Executive Director, External Affairs

Location:            New York, NY Preferred; Remote Washington DC Considered

Reports to:         Vice President, Global Access and External Affairs 

Position Summary:  

Are you an experienced External Affairs leader with a strong global health R&D network, who brings a strong strategic perspective and expertise executing key resource mobilization strategies to help advance the IAVI mission to translate science into global health solutions? 

IAVI is seeking a resourceful and experienced Senior/Executive Director, External Affairs who will lead the development and execution of external engagement, resource mobilization, and fundraising strategies to help IAVI to deliver on its mission. As part of the External Affairs team, the Sr./Executive Director will work in close collaboration with IAVI’s product development and finance teams to identify and cultivate resource mobilization opportunities, effectively communicate IAVI priorities, shepherd proposal development processes, ensuring strong donor engagement and stewardship. The Sr./Executive Director will bring a strong relevant network of global health and R&D partners, in particular US-based Donors and funders, as well as strong knowledge of global health R&D ecosystem to help access funding for IAVI priority disease areas; and excellent strategic communications, relationship cultivation, and management skills.

Key Responsibilities  

Donor cultivation

• Lead and execute donor cultivation and fundraising activities across all donor categories including select bilateral, multilateral, foundations, corporations, leveraged partnerships, and consortia for designated donor targets, with a focus on the US-based public and private sector funders.
• Expand IAVI networks and donor cultivation efforts to diversify and deepen our donor base.
• Work with relevant donors, peer organizations, advocacy coalitions and other strategic partners to ensure that IAVI is well positioned for key opportunities.
• Maintain strong understanding of evolving global health and financing ecosystem, funding trends, and key decision makers and influencers affecting IAVI external affairs strategy.
• Conduct and oversee ongoing prospect identification and donor solicitations research and maintain a pipeline of donor targets.
• Serve as a spokesperson for IAVI programs in external engagements, harnessing relevant IAVI experts as needed.
• Contribute to the External Affairs team’s ongoing efforts to influence global health R&D funding, scientific strategies, and policies necessary to accelerate publicly funded product development.

Resource mobilization & proposal development 

• Gain strong knowledge of and fluency in IAVI organizational, scientific and product development priorities to strategically position IAVI and optimize resource mobilization opportunities.
• Drive strategy and execution for identification of priority targets, ensuring IAVI is well positioned for funding opportunities that align with product development and disease priority areas.
• Work with scientific, R&D, Operational Excellence, and EU External Affairs team to oversee comprehensive and up-to-date tracking of funding opportunities and timely pursuit of identified opportunities.
• Effectively lead the tactical execution of end-to-end proposal development process for relevant opportunities, including building internal alignment on proposal strategy, orchestrating cross-functional technical inputs, navigating internal processes and donor requirements, and contributing as needed to content development and writing.
• Proactively identify and secure opportunities to spotlight IAVI’s unique value proposition in the global health ecosystem and to strategically position IAVI with key funding agencies and consortia.
• As needed, manage relationships with external consultants and team members to ensure robust advocacy efforts and appropriate representation in key networks.

Donor stewardship 

• Maintain effective and trusted relationships on behalf of IAVI with key donors, partnering with IAVI colleagues who are relationship managers to strengthen and deepen such relationships.
• Ensure regular touchpoints across relevant technical and grant management counterparts, high quality reporting, and strong coordination across grant compliance, finance, and technical teams to meet donor stewardship commitments.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD, MS, MA) is required; in Public Health, Life Sciences, or a relevant field is highly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in resource mobilization in a scientific, product development and/or global health setting, working with US Govt funders is required; Minimum of 15 years of experience to be considered for Executive Director.

Qualifications and Skills: 

• Strong network and track record or successfully working with US-based donors.
• A proven track record of successfully cultivating donors, developing proposals, and securing funding.
• Ability to understand and communicate complex scientific information for a range of audiences.
• Knowledge of the global health ecosystem and strong networking and relationship building skill with relevant R&D or global health partners and funders.
• Track record building coalitions and consortia to advance funding and advocacy initiatives.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• A self-starter and team player with a genuine passion for working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial organization that is highly focused on mission and impact.
• Sensitivity toward cultural diversity and ability to effectively work across varied geographic regions of the world.

Organizational Overview: 

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.  

IAVI CORE VALUES: 

• Dedication to the Mission: We are committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions
• Innovative Evolution: We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up
• Integrity: We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect
• Collaboration: We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.  

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide. 

Compensation and Benefits Information for US-Based Candidates:   

The annual base salary for this position is targeted at $210,000.00 – 260,000.00  

Please note, there may be some variation based on experience level. In addition, this position offers competitive benefits such as annual bonus, generous retirement savings plan, three health insurance plans to choose from, and other benefits.   

 

Application instructions

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