Program Officer, Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Healthcare (PHC)
AI summary
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is hiring a Program Officer, Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Healthcare (PHC), based in Abuja, Nigeria. The role focuses on managing grants and contracts, supporting PHC reforms, strengthening government partnerships, and improving data-driven decision-making and service delivery at federal and sub-national levels. This is a full-time position reporting to the Deputy Director – HSS and PHC in the Nigeria Country Office.
- Full-time role based in Abuja, Nigeria
- Focus on Primary Healthcare systems strengthening and reform
- Manage complex grants, contracts, and partner relationships
- Engage with senior government stakeholders and country teams
- Reports to Deputy Director – HSS and PHC, Nigeria Country Office
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Original source description
Job Title: Program Officer, Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Healthcare (PHC)
Program Officer, Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Healthcare (PHC) at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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Sep 18, 2026, 4:02 AM
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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people- especially those with the fewest resources - have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job ID: B021768
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-Time
Your Role
The Program Officer (PO) Will:
Strategically develop and manage one or more portfolios of grants and contracts requiring high-level grant management skills, monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the outcomes are achieved
Support PHC reforms that help Nigeria and other countries “spend well” on PHC by reforming financing fundamentals, delivery platforms, getting funds more directly to facilities or ‘local’ levels, enabling autonomy over the use of these funds and extending recourse and decision making over supplies and human resources
Foster exceptional relationships with key Government stake holders at Ministerial level in Nigeria, using excellent communication skills with deep technical knowledge to support Ministries of Health (MoH) etc, to embrace the PHC strategy and create impact and better utilization of PHC services in Nigeria.
Develop key partnerships to expand and scale health impact at the country level
Support the operationalization and institutionalization of PHC functionality and use of data for decision-making and accountability
Have a very strong country led focus and will engage with our country teams to ensure excellent partnerships, shared goals and joint vision
Support the design, development and implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) reforms across both foundational reforms and innovation agenda pillars at the country level (federal and sub-nationals) including the Nigeria Integrated Health (NIH) Model and State Delivery and Intelligence Units (SDIU)
This position reports to the Deputy Director – HSS and PHC, in the Nigeria Country Office.
What You'll Do
This is a significant role in championing the PHC strategy across both Innovation and Foundational pillars and fostering unparalleled levels of support and partnership from the Nigeria Country Office (NCO). The PO will work closely with all health sub-teams and NCO to support health and PHC systems reforms.
Measure results and return on investments, pivot and learn from findings to create impact, and contribute to the nascent knowledge base on PHC systems strengthening.
Support and coordinate with non-Gates Foundation partners to increase/scale the health impact at the country level.
Manage partnerships and grantee relationships to achieve impact, for example, by conducting site visits, convening meetings of key partners, monitoring, and evaluating components of grants.
Negotiate, implement, and manage complex portfolio of grants on PHC systems and delivery innovation and foundational reforms that will improve PHC functionality, service delivery and efficiency at population levels of scale.
Advice and support the strengthening of platforms to improve subnational technical capacity to analyze & use data for PHC performance management.
Ensure that the results framework is embedded across our HSS and PHC pillars and is fostered and jointly owned by relevant sub-teams and Program Support Teams (PSTs).
Accountable for the identification and assessment of key portfolio risks, and the development and management of mitigation/contingency plans at the portfolio level.
Provide technical support in the areas of innovation in Primary Health Care (PHC) systems strengthening and service delivery with a focus on leveraging innovations and using digital technologies to improve outcomes.
Advise and support deep and moderate NCO efforts to accelerate foundational reforms by enabling federal and sub-national governments to effectively disburse funds/purchase high-priority services from PHC facilities, while enabling PHC facilities to receive and use these funds.
Provide technical support, facilitation, technical assistance, mentoring and coaching in the design and implementation of health systems strengthening activities, tailored to the specific needs of the country.
Facilitate development of annual investment plans and budgets, develop, modify, and implement strategy at the national and sub-national levels. Work with NCO leadership, sub-teams and PSTs as requested to address cross-cutting issues and improve functions and performance.
Success Criteria
Demonstrates excellent individual judgement and can act independently but also knows when to pull in additional resources or solicit others for assistance.
Capability to understand the challenges and complexity of introducing and scaling innovations in service delivery in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) and how to work with partners and key collaborators, especially public sector entities, to overcome these challenges.
Experience
in developing public-private partnerships is desired.
Experienced coalition builder and background of creating effective partnerships and establishing cross-sectoral linkages at the different levels of government.
Demonstrated working
in health systems strengthening and PHC in developing economies,
in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa is highly preferred.
Excellent program and project management capabilities – always driving towards clear results within a timeline.
Clear, consistent communication in both writing and speaking.
Strong strategic thinker with
developing evidence-based strategic or operational plans as well as shaping and managing sustainable and scalable ventures.
Degree in Public Health, Health Systems and Administration, Health Financing, or other relevant field.
Demonstrated abilities to work with multiple partners in Nigeria, including government, other donors, grantees to create a common vision and visualize simple and effective but implementable solutions to complex problems that lead to sustainable impact.
Comfortable in a wide range of political, cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of partners.
Demonstrates a growth mindset with curiosity about new approaches, ability to change direction when needed, and willingness to seek feedback and course correct based on it.
Deep understanding of systems strengthening and PHC service delivery to improve outcomes.
Your
Established track record of carrying out analytical/diagnostic work and preparing high-quality technical reports, policy briefing materials, and presentations to influence health and PHC systems policy decision making and implementation at national and subnational levels.
in the use of diagnostics and other decision tools to improve quality, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of care.
Track record of building strong relationships with implementing partners, donors, and officials at all levels of government
Ideally, 5+ years of
in a low-income country context, or equivalent experience, in working directly with ministries of health, donors and implementing agencies in shaping the health systems strengthening, PHC reforms and innovation agendas.
In-depth understanding of the Nigerian health system and of federal and state health policy, with on-the-ground
in northern Nigeria in particular.
Minimum of 6 years of relevant work
in health systems strengthening, PHC or public health in African settings
Other Attributes:
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
Ability to travel up to 30%, domestically and internationally.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
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