Program Associate, Global Health Innovation

Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) is seeking a Program Associate to play a critical role in supporting our Global Health Innovation Transition to Scale portfolio. GCC supports innovations in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, with an aim to save and improve lives of unserved and underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries. Through the Transition to Scale program, Grand Challenges Canada provides grant and concessionary risk capital, along with technical advisory, to support the most promising innovations through the missing middle. As one of the largest impact investors in Canada, GCC has supported >230 innovators in >100 countries globally at Transition to Scale since 2011.

Program Associate

Under the direction of a Program Officer, and working closely with the Global Health Innovation Transition to Scale team, the Program Associate will ensure efficient, high quality execution of a range of programmatic activities and portfolio management. The Program Associate will support engagement with partners, innovators and contractors at all stages of innovation sourcing and investment/contract management (i.e. sourcing, review, opportunity development, negotiation, and post-deal execution), mitigate risk and raise issues with the Program Officer and/or Management as necessary.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting application intake and review processes for new pipeline opportunities that can include reproductive, maternal and newborn health, sanitation and other global health areas
• Support due diligence processes to prepare investment memorandums and presenting potential investments to GCC’s Investment Committee
• Leading negotiation processes for new grants and contracts, ensuring appropriate institutional due diligence is complete for all opportunities (which includes budgetary, legal, IP, background, and project due diligence)
• Supporting the monitoring and close-out of existing grants and contracts
• Supporting knowledge management and translation of project and programmatic data; this includes managing project data, leading reporting and validation, supporting analysis of portfolio progress, results and lessons, updating key information in the grants management system.
• Supporting quality improvement and streamlining processes cross-departmentally.
• Supporting engagement with key internal and external stakeholders, overseeing grantees and other external stakeholders’ participation to learning community and general meetings
• Providing other programmatic and organizational support as required

Qualifications

• At minimum four (4) years related program support and / or grant administration experience required
• Completion of a Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline (global health, international development, impact investing) or recognized equivalent strongly preferred
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of relevant domains (e.g., global health, mental health, youth and adolescent health, international development, social finance/impact investing – please indicate in your application areas of expertise)
• Demonstrated proficiency with word-processing, database and spreadsheet software (including but not limited to the Microsoft Office suite)
• Demonstrated commitment to impact; proactive, balancing planning and execution
• Demonstrated problem solving skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work well independently and within a team
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills; bilingual English/French an asset
• Project Management experience desired; certification an asset
• Experience working in a fast-paced start-up an asset
• Knowledge of corporate finance and investments an asset
• Some international travel may be required

Vaccines (COVID and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption on a medical ground pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

People with disabilities are encouraged to apply. People with lived experiences in relevant thematic areas are encouraged to apply.

If you are interested in making your contribution at UHN, please apply on-line. You will be asked to copy and paste as well as attach your resume and covering letter. You will also be required to complete some initial screening questions.

Closing Date: October 28, 2021

How to Apply:

University Health Network thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

UHN is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity and equal opportunity and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, persons with disabilities and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the Bona-fide requirements for the open position. Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted.