Deputy Director, R&D and Innovation in Water-Efficient Sanitation Technologies

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
paid time off
United States, Washington, Seattle
500 5th Avenue North (Show on map)
Mar 25, 2025
The Foundation We are the largest nonprofitfighting 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 Global Growth and Opportunity (GGO) division focuses on creating and scaling market-based innovations to stimulate inclusive and sustainable economic growth. We seek to catalyze sustainable transformative change in the face of inequities and market failures, to realize the potential of untapped markets, and to see the economic and social benefits of including everyone. Core areas are Agricultural Development; Digital Public Infrastructure; Global Education; Inclusive Financial Systems; Nutrition; and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. We seek solutions that are sustainable, transformative, and inclusive with an eye toward applying technology innovations as well as data evidence to inspire change in the world's developing countries. Water, Sanitation & Hygiene The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WSH) team's vision is to enable widespread use of safely managed, sustainable sanitation services, contributing to positive health, economic, and gender equality outcomes for the world's poorest. Unsafe sanitation is a massive problem that is becoming more urgent as our global population increases and trends like water scarcity and urbanization intensify. About 3.6 billion people-almost half the world's population-either practice open defecation or use unsafe sanitation facilities and services. The focus of the team's strategy is on developing and commercializing transformative sanitation technologies, in particular the Reinvented Toilet (an innovation that doesn't require a connection to a water pipe or a sewer line and kills all of the pathogens in human waste). We collaborate with technologists, the private sector and government officials to advance these transformative technologies that have high potential to improve sanitation conditions for underserved communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. More information can be found here - https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-growth-and-opportunity/water-sanitation-and-hygiene/ttc-partnering-information Your Role The Deputy Director, R&D and Innovation and Water-Efficient Sanitation Technologies will lead a strategic portfolio aimed at advancing next-generation decentralized household and community sanitation systems. This role requires a top-tier scientist and global leader with deep expertise in chemical engineering and thermodynamics, who can evaluate, fund, and accelerate cutting-edge innovations that improve and promote water efficiency, energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, water reuse, and resource recovery in sanitation solutions and service delivery. A critical component of this role is engagement with major research funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), or relevant national funding agencies in Global North and Global South to accelerate the translation of research outcome to industry solutions. The Deputy Director will use these relationships to align investments, co-fund high-impact research, and influence funding priorities that advance the foundation's mission. This Deputy Director role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of sanitation and onsite water reuse technologies by using scientific rigor, strategic funding, and cross-sector collaboration. The Deputy Director will ensure that onsite water reuse systems such as reinvented toilets and equivalent are efficient, scalable, and accessible, and are being developed to transforming the lives of millions in low-resource settings worldwide. The position is located in Seattle, WA.This role offers hybrid in-office schedule, a competitive salary, generous benefits and relocation to the Seattle, WA area, if needed. What You'll Do Technology Innovation & Strategic Investment Lead the identification, evaluation, and funding of breakthrough technologies that optimize energy use, cost efficiency, and resource recovery for safely treating human waste and wastewater onsite. Monitor and critically assess emerging innovations in water and energy efficient solutions, advanced processes in chemical engineering, material science, thermochemical processes, and decentralized treatment systems. Direct foundation investments to accelerate R&D from laboratory-scale innovation to field deployment, ensuring cost-effective, scalable solutions. Engagement with Research Funding Organizations & Policy Leaders Develop and maintain partnerships with global science funding agencies to align research priorities and co-fund high-impact projects. Advocate for greater investment in water and energy efficient onsite reuse innovation within public funding institutions. Leverage insights from government-funded programs to identify and support promising technologies that complement foundation priorities. Technical Leadership & Scientific Scrutiny Serve as a scientific authority within the WSH team, providing rigorous evaluation of new technologies. Guide the foundation's strategy in thermodynamics-based process engineering, heat and energy transfer, and resource-efficient sanitation. Bridge fundamental research and practical deployment, ensuring promising technologies transition from lab-scale to real-world implementation. Grantmaking & Research Portfolio Management Oversee and manage a global grant portfolio, funding universities, startups, and industry-led R&D efforts to drive innovation in sanitation and onsite water reuse. Design and implement programs that catalyze industry adoption of advanced sanitation and onsite water reuse solutions. Work closely with governments, regulatory agencies, and international standard-setting bodies to develop and update standards and technology performance targets. Foster public-private partnerships to support the commercialization of breakthrough sanitation technologies. Your Experience Scientific Expertise & Research Funding Networks Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Process Engineering, or a related field. Deep understanding of energy-efficient and thermodynamically optimized treatment systems. Outstanding innovator and experience with leading research funding organizations and programs-either as a principal investigator, program director, head of research institute, etc. Strong relationships with academic research institutions, federal and national funding agencies, and industry partners in the fields of chemical engineering, water treatment, and decentralized energy and water systems. Strategic Thinker & Industry Connector Proven ability to evaluate and invest in emerging scientific innovations. Experience securing and managing multi-million-dollar research grants or overseeing funding portfolios in major scientific institutions. Strong network in academia and industry. Leadership & Grantmaking Experience Experience leading high-impact R&D programs in water, waste-to-energy, sanitation or thermochemical processes. Familiarity with grantmaking, and research funding mechanisms, Strong management skills to oversee teams and multi-stakeholder collaborations. The salary range for this role is $233,600 to $362,200 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle, WA and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $254,700 to $394,700 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. #LI-TO 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 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.