Deputy Director, Artificial Intelligence & Digital Health Evidence and Learning

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 The Exemplars in Global Health (EGH) program equips decision-makers with the evidence, insights, and practical “know-how” needed to accelerate and scale interventions that improve the health of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Working with a global network of partners, EGH identifies and studies exemplars and best practices across health outcomes, primary health care systems, and service delivery strategies. Through rigorous research, evidence synthesis, and timely analysis, EGH translates lessons from what works into actionable insights that help policymakers, practitioners, and funders strengthen systems, improve service delivery, and address pressing global health challenges. We pursue this through: 1) The study of “positive outliers”—identifying countries or regions that have achieved exceptional progress in health outcomes and analyzing the drivers behind their success; 2) The study of emerging practices with global learning value, using prospective research and real-time analytics alongside implementation to meet the ambition of ‘learning by doing’; 3) The provision of internal advisory services to support teams in pursuit of the Foundation’s three goals toward 2045; and 4) External partnerships to scale exemplary practices with governments, policymakers, global health initiatives, and multilateral development banks. Your Role The Deputy Director, AI & Digital Health Evidence & Learning role will lead an ambitious research and learning agenda that supports the foundation and its partners in achieving 2045 goals through a unique mandate of leveraging AI & Digital Health to serve the world’s most vulnerable populations. The role will drive the generation, synthesis, and application of evidence and global learning. The position reports to the EGH Director and oversees the AI & Digital Health Evidence & Learning sub-team. The Deputy Director (DD) leads the design and execution of EGH’s AI and digital health research and learning agenda, with a focus on harnessing digital innovation and artificial intelligence to accelerate improvement of health outcomes among the world’s most vulnerable. This role is responsible for identifying high-value learning questions, shaping innovation priorities, and ensuring rapid generation and application of evidence to improve service delivery, health outcomes, and equity. The role works at the intersection of innovation, evidence, and implementation, partnering closely with foundation country offices, technical teams, and external partners alike to test, evaluate, refine, and scale new approaches. This includes advancing cutting-edge digital and AI-enabled solutions—such as clinical decision support, workflow optimization, and patient engagement tools—that strengthen overstretched health systems and expand access to quality care. It also comprises digital and AI tools that can shift the fundamental cost structure of health systems administration for better decision-making and visibility on performance. A core focus of the role is ensuring that innovation efforts are rigorously evaluated and continuously improved, with a strong emphasis on rapid learning cycles, measurement, and adaptation. The DD brings the best global evidence and emerging practices—across countries and technologies—into program design and execution, enabling faster diffusion of what works. The role also plays a key part in shaping the foundation’s approach to responsible and equitable AI, ensuring that new technologies are designed and deployed to benefit underserved populations. Working across teams and with strategic partners, the DD helps translate innovation into scalable solutions that extend the reach of limited health system resources and unlock new pathways to impact. This role will work matrixed to other EGH sub-teams, Africa and India Offices, and foundation Program Strategy Teams (PST), lending significant AI and Digital Health expertise to PHC, health systems and vertical health outcome efforts. As a member of the EGH leadership team, the Deputy Director will lead a multidisciplinary group of technical experts across AI and digital health subdomains, fostering analytical rigor, technical excellence, and innovation while ensuring alignment with broader EGH and foundation priorities. What You'll Do Hold accountability for EGH's contributions in AI and digital health, serving as a trusted advisor to the Director and other foundation leaders in related strategy, evidence, and impact. Lead implementation research and evidence generation on how AI and digital health strengthen health systems, improve primary health care delivery, and enable effective bidirectional engagement between primary care platforms and priority health areas. Maintain current knowledge of the rapidly evolving landscape of digital and AI applications relevant to health systems. Provide strategic leadership in synthesizing complex evidence, shaping investment and research priorities, and ensuring that research outputs meaningfully inform policy, program design, and decision-making, including synthesizing evidence across geographies and health system contexts to surface lessons on when and how digital and AI innovations can strengthen health systems and when they do not. Lead a sub-team of technical experts on the cutting edge of AI and digital deployment in real world, LMIC settings. Foster analytical rigor and technical excellence while ensuring alignment with broader EGH and foundation objectives. Build a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative team culture. Serve as a recognized thought leader in the sector, identifying and cultivating new opportunities for EGH partnerships and influence in AI and digital innovation, in collaboration with the Deputy Director of Policy, Partnerships and Communications, and other colleagues across the foundation. Develop strong relationships with technology outfits, academic researchers, partner organizations, and global health decision-makers. Manage strategic relationships with key foundation teams, in particular Africa, India, and South and South Asia offices, while maintaining strong connections with other teams requiring AI & digital health expertise (particularly testing and learning approaches, and evidence from real world deployment) to achieve their goals. Develop a deep understanding of other team strategies and serve as a thought partner in shaping future directions and identifying opportunities for collaboration. Build, maintain and manage strategic partnerships with external stakeholders including governments, global health institutions, development banks, philanthropic partners, and frontier labs. Communicate complex technical concepts (AI, digital health) in clear, compelling ways for diverse audiences, from frontline implementers to senior leaders. Ensure a broad set of foundation teams and leaders are up to date with EGH AI & digital health contributions, given speed, jumps and pivots expected from a high-visibility portfolio. Allocate resources—including budget and headcount—across strategic priorities to maximize EGH contribution in AI & Digital Health. Regularly assess projects and investments through an impact-focused lens, making intentional trade-offs and working across the matrix to optimize resources, leverage synergies, and strengthen overall portfolio effectiveness. Serve as a member of the EGH leadership team, contributing to strategic decisions across portfolios, advising on organizational and talent matters, helping navigate trade-offs, and providing counsel to the Director on priorities and direction. Your Experience Domain expertise in digital deployment within health systems/service delivery required (15+ years), including newer experience with the introduction of AI enabled tools. 5+ years in leadership roles with significant management responsibility, including building and managing senior-level teams. Track record of driving strategy and holding accountability for team performance, including budget oversight. Significant research and MLE background related to the effectiveness of digital and AI in health. Research focus on health systems and primary health care preferred. Experience with cost-effectiveness and implementation research a plus. Strong track record in translating evidence and technical insights into actionable recommendations for policymakers and other decision-makers. Deep experience leading to research, learning, and knowledge-generation efforts, including familiarity with research methods, evidence synthesis, and analytical approaches. Demonstrated experience working in low- and middle-income countries, with substantial experience in Sub-Saharan Africa strongly preferred. Your Capabilities Strategic Leadership and Innovation: Identifies emerging opportunities and risks in AI and digital innovation, shaping strategy and translating technological advances into meaningful health impact. Technical Credibility and Judgment: Combines strong technical understanding with evidence-based decision-making to guide investments, research priorities, and opportunities for scale. Analytic Proficiency: Strong proficiency in mixed-methods research, including design, analysis, and synthesis for research efforts, with particular focus on implementation research. Collaboration and Matrix Leadership: Excels in complex matrixed environments, aligning diverse stakeholders and driving clarity, accountability, and results. Stakeholder Influence and Partnership Building: Builds trusted relationships across foundation teams, governments, implementing partners, academia, and technology organizations to advance shared goals. Executive Communication and Thought Leadership: Communicates complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively to technical and non-technical audiences, from implementers to senior leaders. People Leadership: Builds and develops high-performing, inclusive teams while fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Strategic Prioritization and Adaptability: Makes sound trade-offs, allocates resources effectively, and thrives in a rapidly evolving and highly visible field. Interpersonal Effectiveness. Ability to build trust, influence without direct authority, and balance strategic rigor with practical execution Positive Mindset. Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, humility, integrity, and a commitment to collaboration, equity, and inclusion Competencies for all senior EGH roles: INVESTING FOR IMPACT: builds and manages partnerships to achieve goals; evaluations and manages potential risks of investments and projects; designs and implements portfolios aligned with the strategy; gains clarity between the foundation and the partner on a shared set of outcomes. LEADING YOURSELF & OTHERS: communicates complex information and concepts simply; manages partner relationships and provides internal and external thought leadership; sets high goals for accomplishment and is able to work independently as well as with others to meet those goals. COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS: collaborates with potential partners in developing projects and proposals and in supporting the execution of their work; effectively represents and communicates the complexity of the foundation's work and details of strategy; represents the foundation to key external constituencies relevant to their area of expertise. ADVANCING THE FIELD: creates collaborations among partners, governments, and funds to create systemic change in a field, with a lens on developing the evidence and learning most needed to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. TECHNICAL & PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS: applies and translates specialized technical knowledge and expertise in a relevant area of work in support of our strategies The salary range for this role is $238,400 to $303,900 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $262,200 to $406,400 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process. *Must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. #LI-AK1 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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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. Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, we aim to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.