Senior Manager, Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation

Geneva

Organization: Gavi, Vaccine Alliance
Location: Geneva
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Sustainable trade and development
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
- Public, Private Partnership
- Innovations for Sustainable Development
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

Position title: Senior Manager, Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation

Employment: Parental Leave Backfill Role (TEMPORARY)

Location: Geneva

Purpose of the position: Develop and pursue new and innovative partnerships with the private sector to mobilise finances, technologies, and expertise that enable the acceleration of immunisation programmes in Gavi countries.

Department: Resource Mobilisation & Growth

Team: Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation

Reports to: Head, Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation

N° of positions supervised: N/A

Career step level: 4

We are committed to fostering a just, equitable and diverse culture free from racism and discrimination in which all staff, partners and stakeholders feel empowered, safe and heard.

BACKGROUND

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines.

Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of nearly 822 million children and the prevention of more than 14 million future deaths. At the Global Vaccine Summit in June 2020, world leaders pledged more than $8.8bn to ensure Gavi can continue to amplify this work and immunise another 300 million children by 2025.

A year later, the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic is still ravaging. In countries with already fragile health systems, this is likely to have a catastrophic impact. Through the ground-breaking COVAX Facility and the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), Gavi is working with the international community to take urgent action in accelerating access of COVID-19 vaccines and ensures availability to populations no matter where they live. This is the moment where more resources from diverse and sustainable sources are required, and that available financing must be leveraged strategically and efficiently to unlock the greatest level of impact possible. The Gavi COVAX AMC has already secured significant financing from sovereign and private sector donors, and as the fundraising campaign for the Gavi COVAX AMC continues, the Gavi secretariat seeks to ensure sustainability in its ambitious immunisation programmes and safeguard global health security through helping put together the world’s response to the global COVID-19 crisis.

The Resource Mobilisation & Growth, (RMG) department supports the Alliance by ensuring sustainable donor financing and enhanced resources for innovation. This includes (i) converting pledges for the 2021-2025 period; (ii) fundraising for the COVAX AMC to support the global covid-19 response; (iii) diversifying Gavi’s financing base to include new and emerging donors, development institutions, regional banks, and the private sector (iv) bringing to bear the innovation and resources of the private sector through new and expanded partnerships, innovative financing, and other initiatives; and (v) leading key fundraising and reporting exercises.

Within RMG, the Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation team, , is focused on mobilising financial resources from philanthropic investors, foundations, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and corporations, building value-add partnerships with the private sector, and scaling innovative solutions to advance Gavi’s mission. To date, the team has pioneered the use of emerging technologies to accelerate vaccine delivery, built partnerships with global multinationals and leading country corporations, and created the INFUSE platform to identify high potential innovators. Over 2021-2025, the Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation team has an ambitious agenda to fully harness and scale private sector tools, technologies, and business models to advance Gavi’s goals and focus on unreached and under-immunised children with equity as the organising principle.

KEY FUNCTIONS AND DELIVERABLES

The Senior Manager, Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation will manage a diverse portfolio of partnerships, drive the implementation of strategic initiatives, and build partnerships with key global, regional, and country stakeholders to scale and sustain impact.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Develop, lead, and finalise fundraising engagements with private partners across priority markets in support of Gavi’s strategic objectives:

Initiate, negotiate, and close grant agreements and contracts with new private sector partners, in support of Gavi’s core objectives;
In collaboration with other RMG teams, support the development of innovative financing mechanisms to scale the impact of private sector partnerships;
Build, manage, and maintain key stakeholder relationships in key target markets/industries.

2. Manage, grow, and secure existing and new private sector partnerships to support Gavi’s 2026-2030 strategic objectives and resource mobilisation goals for Gavi 6.0:

In collaboration with RMG teams and Gavi technical teams, identify prospects, develop value propositions, and structure partnership deals;
Act as the primary interface for day-to-day interaction between the Gavi Secretariat and the private sector partners, addressing issues, providing effective client service, and growth opportunities;
Monitor closely and evaluate regional and industry trends, business developments and policy changes which may affect Gavi’s engagement with the private sector strategy in emerging and growth markets;
Develop and maintain individualised partnership account plans, adhering to financial and programmatic reporting requirements from donors

3. Support the development of Gavi’s innovation agenda, by engaging with corporate sector partners, multi-stakeholder platforms, and innovators to identify and adapt promising and scalable technologies, approaches, services, and business models with the potential to accelerate Gavi’s strategic goals;

4. Participate in and coordinate cross-cutting activities within the team, in contribution to the overall resource mobilisation and private sector partnerships goals

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

Academic:

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (economics, finance, business, or international development);
Professional certification in innovation management, strategy development, and/or strategic communications is an asset.

Work Experience:

Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in building, cultivating, growing, and monitoring multi-stakeholder partnerships (including with the corporate sector, government departments, etc);
Demonstrable experience in devising and executing innovation strategies and partnerships, leveraging digital and advanced technologies;
Familiarity and comfort working with technology providers, start-ups, and enabling actors, advocating for and driving social impact;
Ideal candidate has experience both with corporate and public sectors, in business development, strategy, and/or innovation functions with demonstrable experience in scaling projects/initiatives;
Excellent understanding of the key transformations impacting today’s business, industry and political environment; as well as good overview of private sector engagement in development/aid work;
Experience of managing multiple projects within a fast-moving environment, including with/in resource constrained settings;
Experience of engaging with business executives and senior level stakeholders, building consensus, and facilitating cross-functional dialogues.

Skills/Competencies:

Excellent analytical and synthesising capabilities;
Excellent communication skills and an outstanding command of written and spoken English (knowledge of other language would be an asset);
Entrepreneur spirit, problem-solving skills and result-orientation is a must;
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish working relationships with multiple teams, leveraging programme/project management frameworks;
Ability to work independently, under pressure, demonstrating initiative, and flexibility
Good understanding of Gavi and Gavi’s strategic objectives or capability and willingness to acquire this knowledge quickly.

Languages:

Excellent command of English with proven writing and editing skills;
Other languages will be a plus

Contacts:

Gavi Secretariat;
Gavi Partners;
Donor governments and development agencies
Financial institutions;
Private sector companies;
Philanthropic investors/HNWIs;
Other key stakeholders in target markets.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Manager, Private Sector Partnerships and Innovation”. Deadline for applications is 18 July 2024.

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This vacancy is now closed.