Senior Donor Manager, U.S. Strategy

Position title: Senior Donor Manager, U.S. Strategy

Location: Washington, DC

Purpose of the position: Develop and support engagement and fundraising strategies for mobilizing strong levels of resources in the United States to meet Gavi core programs needs and specific initiatives.

Department: US Strategy

Team: Resource Mobilization and Growth

Reports to: Director, U.S. Strategy

Career step level: 4

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases and protect people’s health. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners.

Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunize a whole generation – over 1 billion children – and prevented more than 17.3 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 lower-income countries and creating economic benefits of over USD 220.5 billion for the countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningococcal and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation, above all the zero-dose children who have not received even a single vaccine shot. The Vaccine Alliance uses innovative finance mechanisms to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines for the poorest communities in the world. Gavi brings together the public and private sector drawing on their expertise to modernize the immunization systems. Using the acumen of the private sector has helped unlock the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

In 2020, Gavi raised USD 10.5 billion from its investors to deliver on its 5.1 strategy from 2021-2025. As the convener of COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, together with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, Gavi has secured more than USD 12 billion in funding for COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) an innovative financial mechanism dedicated to fund access to Covid-19 vaccines to 92 economies. To date COVAX has shipped more than 1.96 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to 146 economies. As COVAX is sunsetting, Gavi is working with partners to integrate lessons learnt and strengthen the PPR architecture to help the world be better prepared for the next pandemic.

Gavi is now preparing the road to its next replenishment for 2026 – 2030, in a challenging context of poly-crisis for the international community. Support from existing investors and engagement of new investors will be critical to enable the organization to meet its objectives.  

THE ROLE

The Senior Donor Manager, U.S. Strategy will be a critical liaison to the U.S. market, helping to ensure effective communication and engagement with U.S. Government officials and other key stakeholders. S/he will drive engagement with external stakeholders, including Congressional offices, CSOs, the private sector and philanthropy.  This position will track the legislative process and engage with Congressional Offices to provide Gavi’s expertise and analysis and update lawmakers on Gavi’s results. Similarly, this position will serve as a key focal point with advocacy partners who champion Gavi’s work. The Senior Donor Manager will play a key role helping to mobilize support for a U.S. pledge to Gavi 6.0. This position will provide key updates and timely communications to other stakeholders about Gavi’s partnership with the U.S. Government and our global impact.

• Support strong funding and engagement from the United States government and private sector for Gavi programmes.
• Continue to build and expand the profile of Gavi and immunization among key stakeholders in the United States, including U.S. government and civil society stakeholders as well as the philanthropic and private sectors. 
• Help build and maintain a network in the United States of key champions supporting Gavi and its mission. Ensure effective advocacy collaboration with NGOs to support Gavi’s overall resource mobilization efforts in the United States.
• Produce well-written content tailored to key stakeholder audiences in the U.S.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the overall resource mobilization strategy for the Gavi Secretariat.

• Working with the Director of U.S. Strategy, develop and implement a Congressional engagement strategy based on strategic assessments of budgets, legislative body make up, and key policy priorities under discussion.
  
• Serve as lead liaison to Congressional offices, providing regular updates on Gavi’s work and results.
• Coordinate with advocacy and CSO partners around legislative engagement.

Strategy Building and Implementation

• Play a key role in supporting the Replenishment campaign for the U.S. and in support across all donor markets, including supporting the advocacy and communications work streams, champion engagement and other cross-cutting planning efforts.
• Execute strategic assessments of issues and opportunities driving development and global health policies and agendas, including: identifying influential constituencies and institutions with whom Gavi should promote increased funding and advocacy for immunisation; exploring opportunities for private sector partnerships with Gavi, and establishing private sector, civil society and influencers’ engagement strategies in cooperation with colleagues in the team and beyond. 
• Ensure appropriate level of engagement of Gavi’s CEO and Senior management with donor representatives. 
• Manage and build Gavi’s collaborative relationships with key external stakeholders around policy and program objectives. 
• Build U.S. advocacy and Gavi’s visibility in the United States, working in close partnership with the advocacy and communication teams.

Donor Relations

• Respond to requests from Congress and the Administration in a very timely manner and communicate issues to the Director of U.S. Strategy and across the Gavi Secretariat, as directed.

Teamwork

• With other RMG Senior Managers, contribute to team-wide tasks from the perspective of assigned donor countries. Contribute to framing the work objectives of the team for internal and external audiences; and
  
• Carry out other projects assigned by the Director of U.S. Strategy in accordance with the team objectives.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not limited only to the tasks listed and may include other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONSACADEMIC

• An advanced degree (e.g. Master’s level) in public policy, public health, political science or public administration strongly preferred; or equivalent educational background would be an asset.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 8-10 years of experience working on Capitol Hill, in the Administration, or in the U.S. advocacy community with an established track record of excellence in achieving desired results; 
• Strong understanding and experience with political and technical governmental decision-making processes in the United States, including the budget process, protocol, appropriations, and communications;
• Experience of identifying and articulating strategic and policy issues, trade-offs, and priorities to provide sound advice;
• Experience in legislative research and tracking.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of the U.S. federal political system and government processes, with particular emphasis on the budget, appropriations, and authorization processes; 
• Outstanding ability to interact effectively with leaders in public policy, global health and other partners (including the private sector) with the strong ability to be persuasive and proactive;
• Ability to understand and synthesize technical and strategic elements in order to define a clear strategy and prioritize to achieve the defined results needed;
• Superior analytical, oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues into effective oral and written briefs;
• Decisiveness and diplomacy, with a strong and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects while working as part of a team;
• Demonstrated ability to produce very high-quality work on a variety of issues with very short deadlines, to multi-task with competing priorities and to take prudent risks and make effective and timely decisions; and
• Demonstrated ability to work across institutional boundaries with various teams and utilise talent and expertise of team members in a productive way.

Desirable

• Excellent knowledge of the Gavi, vaccines and immunizations and global health issues generally; and
• Understanding of both public and private sector perspective.

LANGUAGES

• Written and spoken Fluency in English.
• Written and spoken fluency in French is an advantage.

CONTACTS

Internal

• Gavi Secretariat;
• Gavi Alliance Partners.

External

• US Government;
• Civil Society Community;
• Private Sector;
• Other partners as appropriate.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Manager, US Strategy”. Deadline for applications is 19 May 2024.

Become part of our community and join us on Facebook and Twitter for updates about our mission to save children’s lives! You can also follow our hashtag #vaccineswork.

Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government. 

And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.

Gavi is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.

In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation.