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New Delhi, India, India
Onsite
Not Available
The Foundation
We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The Team
The India Country Office (ICO) is central to the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the key goals of the foundation in India. The Digital Innovation & AI team is a core enabler for these key goals of the ICO across our portfolio.Your Role
The Senior Manager, Digital Innovation & Applied AI, will co-develop the strategic direction and bodies of work for the broader Digital Innovation & AI portfolio, working closely with both internal and external stakeholders in India (e.g., government, philanthropic, private sector). Apart from providing oversight to the interventions supported by the team, you will lead the thinking and execution of critical transformative Digital Innovation & Applied AI interventions that are core to the long-term strategy of our program teams and may be cross-cutting.
This position requires a strategic leader with strong program management, change management, stakeholder engagement, and AI/digital fluency. You will be leading/strategizing development, of cutting-edge AI based scalable solutions through partnerships to maximize impact.
You will be based at the foundation’s ICO in New Delhi, and report to the Deputy Director, Digital Innovation & AI.
What You will Do
Provide strong leadership on all the Digital & Applied AI interventions being led/supported by the Digital Innovation & AI team, across our all our active program areas under all the clusters at ICO.
Building high-trust partnerships with the AI companies and Innovation ecosystem in India to drive adoption of AI-enabled systems at scale, in partnership with the relevant stakeholders.
Bring innovative ideas to solve complex health and development problems at scale and collaborate with colleagues across various teams at ICO to co-design high impact interventions leveraging Digital & AI.
Co-develop and continuously evolve the ‘AI for Good’ strategy for India and actively contribute to the foundation wide efforts on taking AI use cases to scale, aligned with the programmatic priorities of the foundation.
Aligned with the overall strategy, develop anchor relationships with technology partners for digital collaboratives and ecosystem development - both at national level as well as in our priority States.
Collaborate with technology partner organizations and key government stakeholders to strategize and support long-term capacity building efforts on Digital & Applied AI within government and partners.
Identify and leverage opportunities for AI-enabling Health R&D and Innovation solutions.
Develop, advise, and manage well-scoped, well-structured investments (grants and/or contracts) to execute against the bodies of work related to Digital Innovation & AI, aiming for innovative approaches that can be scaled.
Conduct thorough analysis of grants and contracts, grantee progress reports; write high quality briefing documents that synthesize results and learnings for leadership and the ICO teams.
Manage and mentor the Digital & Applied AI team; includes but not restricted to - responsible for hiring, successful employee onboarding, communicating performance expectations, creating goal alignment, integrating project and change management, giving and seeking feedback, providing coaching, measuring progress, holding people accountable, supporting employee development, and recognizing achievement as well as lessons learned.
In collaboration with the policy team, lead and maintain the foundation relationship with key ministries and departments - both at the Government of India level, as well as in priority States of the foundation in India.
Working alongside the Deputy Director, Digital Innovation & AI, represent the team and the foundation on industry and public engagement priorities for Digital & Applied AI related topics; both internally and externally.
Be a high-energy and strong ‘Digital Innovation & AI’ ambassador, internally and externally.
Your Experience
Bachelor’s or other relevant advanced degree (e.g., technology, digital, AI, business administration) with 10+ years of relevant senior-level experience, developing, implementing, and monitoring large scale Digital & Applied AI initiatives/strategies.
Demonstrated experience in the Digital Innovation & Applied AI space and taking them to scale at a State/National level. An in-depth knowledge of India’s AI/digital ecosystem is essential.
Experience in managing a portfolio of grants/contracts focused on Digital and AI development is preferred.
Experience in high-performing, results-oriented environments - such as in technology companies preferably on domains aligned with the foundation, consulting, development agencies with technology background, or philanthropic organizations.
Passion for solving complex problems through digital innovation (especially in health) and demonstrated relevant experience of the same.
Proven ability to manage/deliver complex digital projects/programs and risk mitigation, with clear milestones and outcomes.
Experience working in developing country settings. Knowledge of India and prior, relevant work experience in-country is essential.
Strong initiative, organizational skills, and ability to work autonomously and cross-functionally while remaining flexible to changing tasks, priorities, and roles and responsibilities.
People management skills, including managing teams of impactful self-directed professionals and acting as a partner to team members managing specific projects/portfolios.
Demonstrated ability to work in a highly matrixed and diverse work environment, with strong collaboration, consultative and diplomacy skills.
Excellent analytical thinking and communications skills, including writing and public speaking skills to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Results-driven and initiative-taking with ability to inspire the pursuit of excellence and stay focused on long-term vision.
Models professional courage - engages in trust-based debate, asks hard or unpopular questions, and is willing to say no.
Demonstrated commitment to innovation, inclusion, and impact.
Other Attributes
Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people and a deep commitment to development issues and high standards of personal integrity.
Ability to travel up to 35% of time domestically and internationally.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
Application deadline: 18 June 2026
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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
We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact HR@gatesfoundation.org with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all 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.