Head of Information Technology

“We are focused on results. Those that can be measured. And those measured in ways beyond numbers. We see individuals, not issues. We are inspired by passion, and compassion for the wellbeing of people. Our methods are based on logic, driven by rigor, results, issues, and outcomes. Our innovation means trying new things, learning from our mistakes, and consistently refining our approach. Our strategies help us define our path to success, but our effectiveness is based in the aggregate power of our initiatives to impact holistic change.”

 -Bill Gates and Melinda French-Gates

The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) is a non-profit biopharmaceutical development organization primarily dedicated to the development of impactful biopharmaceutical interventions for diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest populations, diseases that combined cause five deaths every minute.  Headquartered in Cambridge MA, the Institute is designed to advance novel drug, biologics, and vaccine candidates through late-stage development and registration.  The Institute encompasses experienced biopharmaceutical development professionals across regulatory, CMC, and clinical functions as well as comprehensive operational support functions.  The Institute’s programs are managed by its internal teams and functional areas in collaboration, working with partners across the global health ecosystem.

The Institute is based on five core “mantras” that are embedded within the organization and its people:

• Urgency: Execute with excellence to maximize impact.

• Collaboration: Establish empowered teams to drive our bottom line: lives saved.
• Innovation: Build on the known, uncover the new, achieve the unprecedented.
• Rigor: Drive the science, focus on the details, and execute with the highest quality.
• Courage: Dare to confront the world’s most significant global health challenges.

Though the Institute is a diverse group of passionate change-makers, creative fixers, and relentless advocates, these five core values are universally adopted by all who join it with the personal goal of improving the health and wellness of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

As a wholly owned subsidiary and separate legal entity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Institute partners scientifically, operationally, and financially with the foundation to leverage the foundation’s ongoing support and contributions toward the achievement of global health equity.

The Institute is currently composed of 160 employees and leverages dedicated vendor partnerships and consultant staff to assure the right skills are in place at the right time while retaining the flexibility to adapt as required by the development program portfolio.

The Gates MRI offers hybrid work arrangements, a 50% mix of on-site and work-from-home, and a competitive relocation package for those looking to move to the Cambridge, MA area.  Remote employment is not offered for this role at this time.

THE POSITION

Head of Information Technology

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer/Head of Business Operations, The Head of Information Technology (Head of IT) is a hands-on and experienced IT executive accountable for defining, delivering, leading, and managing the IT strategy, capabilities, and resources across the Gates MRI enterprise. This includes supporting the business in enhancing its global Clinical Development, CMC, and GxP related capabilities, support of all business application software, infrastructure including disaster recovery and business continuity, cyber security, and business support technology. 

The Head of IT will be responsible for providing oversight and direction to Gates MRI IT function. This role will be a key contributor to the institute's virtual biotech strategy and will be responsible both for IT operations and for technology and digital innovation. The Head of IT will build and maintain strong and productive relationships with all business unit leaders and Gates Foundation (GF) IT leadership as a trusted advisor and true business partner.  As a virtual organization, you will be supported in achieving this through the leadership and management of internal team members, externally engaged contract staff, and leveraged outsourced partnerships where applicable.

Key responsibilities

IT Strategy:

• Develop vision, strategy and roadmap for IT capabilities fit for purpose for a virtual biotech technology infrastructure
• Define and execute the company's technology, architecture and data roadmap, aligning it with business objectives
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight for all IT initiatives, ensuring alignment with industry best practices, emerging technologies, and biotech regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with the Gates Foundation and the business leaders to identify and define the essential business capabilities and ensure support needed
• Collaborate with the Gates Foundation Enterprise IT on the enterprise IT strategy and roadmap

Business Partnering:

• Lead the IT Steering Committee and conduct business project assessment and prioritization in partnership with Operations functions
• Ensure transparency and collaboration between the IT organization and its business partners
• Manage the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies, services and best practices including cloud, managed services, SaaS/PaaS solutions, and the latest collaboration technologies
• Build strong relationships with business groups and their leaders across the enterprise, and develop a detailed understanding of their issues, challenges, and opportunities
• As a dual advocate, leverage your relationships within the MRI to advocate for our needs with the Foundation while driving collaboration and effective change management to meet the Gates Foundation’s needs within the MRI in this space

Operations:

• Direct the design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of the computing infrastructure that supports the company's operations and business applications
• Maintain oversight of all IT projects, ensuring that commitments have proper business case, are properly planned, staffed, monitored, and reported for outcomes and impact
• Lead the design and implementation of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan
• Implement robust cybersecurity protections on all IT resources in partnership with Gates Foundation
• Prepare and monitor IT operational budgets that meet prevailing objectives and constraints.
• Establish a comprehensive enterprise information security program to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of relevant data including patient data
• Manage relationships with external technology vendors, service providers, and strategic partners to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality services and solutions
• Negotiate contracts and service level agreements (SLAs) to achieve favorable terms and conditions while meeting business needs

IT Function:

• Establish and enforce IT policies, processes, portfolio management, development standards and methodologies
• Implement the most appropriate and effective IT organizational design to support and engage with the business
• Develop, plan, and implement IT resourcing plan including employees, service providers and Gates Foundation shared services
• Recruit, mentor, and develop top talent in the technology organization, providing guidance and professional development opportunities
• Promote a business-first mentality at all levels of the IT organization
• Represent Gates MRI in Gates Foundation Enterprise IT architecture reviews and integrated planning

QUALIFICATIONS

• 15+ years in IT functional roles in biotech/pharmaceuticals with demonstrated evolution of strategic accountabilities and at least with 5-7 years in enterprise leadership positions with a track record of driving technology strategy and innovation in a drug development organization
• Deep understanding of technology needs within the biopharma industry, including clinical, biostats, CMC, GxP environment and global data privacy needs
• Advanced experience in the biopharma environment with enterprise level IT architecture and data accountability
• Executive presence with effective communication skills, with a bias for action
• Demonstrated strategic thinking abilities and an enterprise-wide perspective
• Expertise in IT infrastructure and architecture, cybersecurity, and data management practices
• Experience in the delivery of complex technology initiatives, analytics, application development, solution integration, project implementation, infrastructure, information security and risk
• Financial expertise in managing budgets, integrated projects, evolving business climate, and escalating costs
• Proven experience leading and managing productive teams in a high-growth environment
• Previous management of outsourced resources and a demonstrable track record of flexible resource management to meet changing business needs
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, information technology, software engineering, business management or related disciplines

In recognition of high-wage market differences such as the Cambridge, MA area where this position is located, the salary range for this role is $300,000 - $340,000 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.

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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

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of 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.