Bill and Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations

Agriculture has the potential to sustain us all, but fulfilling that potential is dependent on equitable access to the tools and products needed to increase productivity and support food security as climate change, population growth, and gender inequality pose growing threats.

Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One) is a new nonprofit dedicated to ensuring high-quality, pioneering crop innovations are available and accessible to those who need them most, to make good on the conviction that all lives have equal value. Smallholder farmers around the world have an urgent need for innovations to sustainably improve crop productivity and spur long-term economic growth. Too often, those discoveries never reach small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, whose lives and livelihoods depend on a productive, secure food supply.

Gates Ag One is uniquely focused on serving the interests of smallholders by ensuring groundbreaking agriculture products, like climate-resilient, yield-enhancing seeds and traits, reach markets that have traditionally missed out. We are redrawing the map between scientific research and market access – connecting ideas and action with an unwavering focus on sensible product development to maximize impact.

By building an inclusive and world-leading community of partners from both high- and low-income countries – including R&D partners, academics, private sector companies, non-profits, and governments – we can optimally evaluate, de-risk, and advance the best breakthrough crop science into revolutionary products for smallholder farmers.

Leadership & Culture

We believe that by creating an environment for our employees to thrive personally and professionally, we will have maximum impact toward our missions to achieve our vision. Our culture shapes our choices about what we do and how we do it. We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment can do extraordinary things.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Business Development, this exciting, new role of Open Innovation and Scouting Officer will support the development of new partnership models, identify new opportunities and partners, lead technical landscaping and review of candidate technologies for investment or in-licensing.

Core Responsibilities

Develop Partner Relationships and Lead Technology Identification and Reviews

Working closely with all teams in Gates Ag One (Product Development, IP etc.), and Legal Counsel, you will develop collaborative partnerships in the public and private sector to accomplish the mission of Gates Ag One.

• Lead partnership development including identification of technical leaders in industry, academia, and non-profit research institutes.
• Represent and introduce Gates Ag One and our mission to potential partners.
• Review technical and patent literature and presentations to identify and evaluate new technology opportunities, preparing all supporting documentation for and leading the decision framework review for internal recommendations.
• Collaborate with Business Development colleagues to facilitate negotiation and implementation of license, research or alliance agreements.

Develop and Implement New Business and Partnership Models

Participate in the development, communication and negotiation of innovative business models and partnership structures in the following areas:

• Ongoing collaborative access to cutting edge R&D and a pipeline of innovative IP.
• Partnerships for expanded capacity and faster iterations in product development, particularly for products with Global Access impact.
• Partnerships for “dual market” commercialization and out-licensing with selected partners in developed markets, and with public and private sector partners in developing markets.

Support Strategy, Planning and Communications

• Support the commercial strategy and planning process for Gates Ag One. 
• Shepherd technology reviews and progression through internal governance processes and procedures. 
• Serve as primary technical expert for onboarding colleagues across the organization to understand the potential of new technology candidates.

Core Knowledge & Skills

You must have relevant experience in managing a scouting/open innovation process in the private sector or leading a technical marketing and promotion activity for a leading public sector entity coupled with an ability to work in a dynamic, culturally diverse company environment.

Additionally, we seek:

• Excellent, partner engagement and relationship management skills to build productive and inclusive relationships.
• Demonstrated project management and execution skills, ability to achieve results and drive complex transactions and agreements to conclusion, including delivering internal alignment among diverse constituents, and achieving results through others.
• Intellectual agility, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness, and resilience.
• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior.
• Ability to travel up to 50% domestically and internationally.
• Ability to bring an entrepreneurial spirit, a healthy sense of humor, and generate positive energy in internal and external interactions.
• Commitment to Gates Ag One’s core values, mission and programs with an approach that is consistent with the highest ethical standards.

Education & Experience

• 5-8 years of relevant experience including a track record of successful completion of international transactions and business development agreements with public and private sector partners in both developing and developed markets.
• Advanced degree in Plant Biotechnology and/or MBA or relevant experience in Agricultural Sciences.

*In order to be considered for this role, candidates must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

#LI-AG1

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Depending upon your work location, we may require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and any recommended booster doses. All employees based in the United States are to provide proof of full vaccination upon hire and any recommended boosters, subject to applicable laws.

Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to hr@gatesfoundation.org.

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.

Application

Please click HERE to learn more and to apply online.