Program Officer, Drug-Devices

Program Officer, Drug-Devices

Manage a portfolio of grants and contracts for drugs, devices, and combination products — shaping CMC strategy, manufacturing scale-up, and regulatory pathways to advance women's and maternal-neonatal health outcomes in India.

Location: New Delhi, Delhi
Experience: 10+ years in pharmaceutical/combination product development, CMC, and regulatory affairs
Compensation: Competitive
Closes on: 20th Feb, 2026

Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise — that people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives — the foundation works across global health, education, and economic development.

The India Country Office (ICO) is central to the foundation's commitment to advancing equitable health outcomes and strengthening India's health innovation ecosystem. Within the ICO, the Digital, Health Innovations, and Artificial Intelligence (DHAI) cluster accelerates R&D and the deployment of affordable, high-quality, accessible health products — working with the Government of India at central and state levels, academia, industry, and global networks.

Role

You will play a critical role in shaping and managing a portfolio of India-focused investments in drugs, devices, and drug-device combination products that advance women's health innovation (WHI) and maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) outcomes. The portfolio includes programs such as Hormonal IUD, heavy menstrual bleeding therapeutics, implants, novel contraceptives, and maternal & neonatal therapeutics.

Responsibilities

  • Design, structure, and manage grants and contracts for drug, device, and combination product development — ensuring strong CMC plans, realistic scale-up pathways, and clear deliverables
  • Identify and select partner institutions (industry, academia, CRO/CMO/CDMO networks, and public-sector partners) and shape scope and strategy for grants and contracts around development readiness, quality systems, and scalable manufacturing
  • Apply milestone-based performance metrics and support go/no-go decision-making, including technical and commercial diligence of feasibility, manufacturing readiness, regulatory risk, and cost targets
  • Provide technical and strategic guidance to grantees and contractors on CMC strategy and cost-of-goods reduction progress
  • Collaborate with foundation teams in Seattle and the ICO, connecting CMC, regulatory, and product strategy to program objectives and partner execution plans

Requirements

  • Master's or PhD in Science, Engineering, or related fields
  • Minimum 10 years' experience in pharmaceutical and/or combination product development, CMC, manufacturing sciences, and regulatory affairs in India and/or LMIC contexts
  • Strong understanding of CMC and manufacturing within the product development and commercialization pathway, particularly in women's health and maternal/child health products
  • Experience in manufacturing scale-up through CMO/CDMO tech transfer, process characterisation, control strategy development, and GMP readiness
  • Experience evaluating COGS models and driving cost reduction via process optimisation, yield improvements, and raw material optimisation while maintaining quality and regulatory compliance
  • Portfolio and project management skills with the ability to structure and oversee large-scale grants and contracts
  • Familiarity with India's health product policy ecosystem and experience working with agencies such as ICMR and CDSCO
  • Excellent analytical thinking and communication skills, including the ability to synthesise evidence into actionable insights and prepare high-quality briefings for leadership
  • Willingness to travel up to 30% of the time

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums
  • Generous paid time off and paid family leave
  • Foundation-paid retirement contribution
  • Regional holidays and employee community engagement opportunities

Apply

Interested candidates can apply before 20 February 2026 using the link below.

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