[Regular] Senior Program Officer / Application Period 2022-08-16 ~ Until Hiring - Closed

Job Posting

The Research Investment for Global Health Technology Foundation (RIGHT Foundation, https://rightfoundation.kr/en) is a research funding agency dedicated to supporting global health research and development (R&D) through a three-way partnership among the Government of Korea, the Gates Foundation, and life science companies.

The RIGHT Foundation (hereinafter “the Foundation”), which aims to advance global health equity by supporting the development of essential health technologies as global public goods, is seeking a highly qualified candidate for a Senior Investment Portfolio Management Officer in the Investment Portfolio Management team.

Position Overview

The Senior Investment Portfolio Management Officer (SIPMO) plays a critical role in leading Request for Proposal (RFP) development, managing scientific evaluation processes, and ensuring that funding decisions are grounded in rigorous evaluation, strategic alignment, and anticipated public health impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The SIPMO also contributes to grant management by providing scientific input and supporting structured technical engagement as needed. This position requires advanced technical expertise and a strong understanding of R&D pathways in at least one of the following areas: vaccines, therapeutics/biologics, and diagnostics. The SIPMO will work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including scientific reviewers, Selection Committee members, and funding partners, to support the structuring of funding opportunities and contribute to high-quality evaluation and decision-support processes grounded in scientific rigor.

Core Responsibilities

The SIPMO will be responsible for the following, including but not limited to:

• RFP Development
• Lead the development and refinement of RFPs across multiple funding programs, including product development, evidence generation, and training
• Refine funding scope, eligibility criteria, and evaluation frameworks in alignment with organizational strategy and priorities
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with programmatic and strategic directions
• Scientific Evaluation Process Management
• Lead and coordinate the scientific evaluation process of proposals and produce high-quality syntheses of evaluation outputs to support structured decision-making
• Ensure integrity, transparency, and coherence across evaluation processes
• Identify, recruit, and engage external reviewers and Selection Committee members
• Scientific Evaluation Synthesis and Decision Support
• Assess scientific proposals and technical evaluation reports
• Synthesize reviewer inputs into structured, decision-ready outputs
• Lead preparation of Selection Committee briefing materials, evaluation summary reports, and Board decision materials
• Frame key scientific, technical, and implementation considerations, including risks and potential public health impacts in LMICs, to support structured decision processes
• Contribute scientific insights to support the quality and rigor of external evaluation reports and portfolio-level decision-making
• Cross-functional Collaboration and Scientific Engagement
• Provide scientific input to strengthen coordination across grant selection processes and management of funded projects
• Contribute to scientific discussions related to funded projects, as needed, to facilitate structured grant management
  

Core Competencies

• Commitment to the Foundation’s mission
• Demonstrated experience in RFP development or designing evaluation frameworks
• Deep understanding of product development pathways (preclinical to clinical stages)
• Experience in product development, including translational research, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development, or regulatory sciences relevant to vaccines, therapeutics/biologics, or diagnostics
• Proven ability to synthesize complex scientific and technical inputs into structured, decision-relevant insights
• Excellent written communication skills in English, with the ability to produce clear, structured, and decision-oriented documents
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams under tight timelines with high accuracy
• Strong coordination and communication skills in international and cross-functional environments
• High level of ownership, accountability, and professional judgement

Qualifications

• Education
• Advanced degree (Master’s, PhD or equivalent) in life sciences, biomedical sciences, engineering, pharmacy, or other scientific disciplines relevant to human health
• Professional Experience
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience across one or more of the following domains:
• Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or global health R&D
• Scientific program management (e.g., RFP development, portfolio or evaluation management)
• Research funding organizations (funder-side experience strongly preferred)
• Preferred Qualifications
• Familiarity with grant selection and/or management processes
• Experience supporting selection committees or scientific advisory boards
• Experience in infectious diseases or other relevant global health areas
• Experience working in LMIC settings or global health programs
• Experience working in international and cross-functional environments
• Language and Eligibility
• Fluency in both Korean and English
• Candidates must be eligible to work in Korea; prior work experience in Korea is preferred
  

Required Application Materials

• Application Period: 2026-04-09 ~ Until Hiring
• Required Documents: Cover Letter (English and Korean), CV (English and Korean), including expected salary and anticipated start date
• Submit to: [email protected]

Recruiting Process

• Application Review -> Technical Assignment -> Interviews (Korean and English, up to two rounds) -> Final Interview
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis (approximately every two weeks). Only shortlisted candidates will be notified at each stage.
• The technical assignment will assess:
• Ability to interpret RFP context and adapt evaluation criteria accordingly
• Ability to synthesize scientific and technical inputs into structured outputs to support decision-making
• Strong analytical thinking and written communication skills
  

Working Conditions

• Employment type: Full-time (3-month probation period; regular employment subject to probation evaluation)
• Working Hours: 40 hours/week (max. 52 hours/week)
• Location: Dongdeok building 4F, 68 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Salary: Compensation will be determined in accordance with the Foundation’s internal policies, based on qualifications and experience.