Director of Health

Surgo Ventures, with headquarters in Washington, DC and a hub in the United Kingdom, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to solving health and social problems with precision. We do this by bringing together all the tools available from behavioral science, data science, and artificial intelligence to unlock solutions that will improve and save lives. We work globally: in the United States, the United Kingdom, and in low- and middle-income countries on issues like COVID-19, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, housing, and more.

Our multidisciplinary team includes global development experts, data scientists, behavioral scientists, and technologists who are skilled in collecting, analyzing and interpreting data on why people behave the way they do and how complex systems work, and in developing scalable solutions and tools. We are a growing, diverse team with big plans. We are now recruiting for a Director of Health. 

The Director is responsible for leading strategy, management, and execution within our health portfolio. Our portfolio is global and currently includes several initiatives in India, Africa, and the US. The specific aspects of the portfolio the Director will lead will depend on background and expertise. We focus on generating novel insights, designing and testing innovative solutions, and building data platforms for partners. Our ultimate goal is to ensure greater precision in the design and implementation of programs. This requires strong technical knowledge of the development sector, where the sector is heading, and new ideas for achieving impact. A deep passion for and understanding of the health data landscape and needs is imperative for this role. A critical part of this role is designing and overseeing the development of new data tools within Surgo. The Director will also be responsible for expanding our partner and funding base for this portfolio. The Director will play a key role in the direction and growth of the organization and Surgo’s broader portfolio.

We are looking for an exceptional candidate that has deep experience in the field, with a strong track record of building impactful data systems and tools. You should have a strong sense of the gaps and needs in the field, a vision of how innovative insights and data solutions can drive change, and an agenda for moving health forward through data and innovation that you would like to implement by joining Surgo Ventures. 

This role entails strong relationship management with a diverse set of partners, and collaborative work within the Surgo research team. We are looking for someone entrepreneurial in spirit, strong problem solver, and an excellent communicator. This is an exciting opportunity to build out Surgo’s growing portfolio and contribute to the voice and influence strategy and delivery at an innovative, ambitious, and fast-growing organization.

Role Description:

We are looking for an exceptional, creative, and entrepreneurial individual with a very strong background in global/public health. As Director, your core responsibilities are: 

  • Lead Surgo's health portfolio by providing strategic, managerial, and technical guidance to new and existing initiatives bringing new approaches and ideas

  • Develop and oversee Surgo’s initiative and portfolio strategy and define growth path for new programs in the US, UK, and low- and middle- income countries

  • Build impactful health portfolio through identifying new ideas and building relationships, concepts, and areas of engagement in line with our mission 

  • Develop our annual initiative plans, outcome metrics, and budgets and ensure we execute against these

  • Conceptualize and lead development and testing of innovative data tools, and innovative modalities for data collection and analysis 

  • Build innovative and long-lasting partnerships with other public and private sector actors - including donors, government and private sector partners, and other data providers and modellers

  • Serve as Surgo expert and represent us in high profile conferences, meetings, and expert panels

  • Conceptualize and guide our communications agenda by working closely with our Director of Communications; lead the development of communications material including briefs, reports, and publications 

  • Mentor and support other colleagues within the organization

  • Support/lead the hiring of additional talent as needed   

Core Experience and Knowledge:

  • 10+ years of experience of working in the sector, ideally in both global and domestic (US) settings

  • Deep subject matter knowledge including nuanced understanding of major players, funding landscape, global/domestic agenda, and scientific literature

  • Track record of building and using data, data platforms, and new approaches to drive social impact

  • Excellent project management skills including managing work plans, budgets, partners, and grants/contracts

  • Excellent stakeholder management skills including proven track record of building relationships and working in a challenging multi-stakeholder environment

  • Experience designing and scoping new programs, initiatives, and partnerships 

  • Experience in leading and designing implementation research

  • Experience or familiarity with field data collection and research and quantitative analysis  methods (including statistical methods and modelling)

Essential Skills and Attributes:

  • Demonstrated initiative to solve unstructured problems with little oversight, flexibility, high energy, and a positive attitude

  • Ability to lead diverse teams to results

  • Creative problem solver and strategic thinker with a rigorous approach and passion for working on some of the world’s toughest development challenges

  • Self-starter with proven history of building portfolios and executing programs

  • Master storyteller with ability to craft compelling narratives and presentations for variety of audiences 

  • Creativity, broad knowledge, and out-of-the-box thinking

  • Entrepreneurial mindset, self-motivating, and ability to develop independent recommendations 

  • Proven record of publishing in top academic journals

  • US work permit (required)

 Preferred Requirements:

  • Master’s/Doctorate degree

  • 5+ years of working in the field on programs in low resource settings, and working closely with governments and implementing partners

  • Experience in quantitative modeling

Location: Washington, DC, USA

Compensation: Highly competitive compensation and benefits package

Our hiring philosophy:

We hire for passion and core competencies. We look for problem solvers and lateral thinkers. We love it if you have done different things with your time. If you think you are ideal for this position, write to us even if you don’t have all of the above requirements.

We ask….

Do you have a deep passion for solving tough global health and social impact challenges?

Do you want to work in one of the most entrepreneurial social impact organizations?

Are you a problem solver by nature? Do you live and breathe data and see patterns in it that others don’t?

Would people say you are one of the most analytic, curious and creative people they know?

If yes…we look forward to hearing from you.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity Policy:

Surgo believes a diverse, inclusive staff makes us a stronger team and more impactful organization. We’re committed to a diverse team, and qualified people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, ages, sex, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, languages, social class, marital status, religions, veterans status, and disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application:

  • Apply by visiting our application page here

  • Short-listed applicants will go through several steps: a phone screening, a take-home project, and a virtual on-site with the CEO and the team.

  • Closing date for applications: Rolling basis

  • Desired start date: ASAP