Deputy Director, Artificial Intelligence & Digital Health Evidence and Learning Job 2026: Earn Up to US$262,200 at the Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation is recruiting a Deputy Director, Artificial Intelligence & Digital Health Evidence and Learning, offering an exceptional salary of up to US$262,200 per year for candidates based in Seattle or Washington, D.C. This is one of the highest-paying global health leadership opportunities currently available, bringing together artificial intelligence, digital health, implementation research, and global health systems to improve healthcare for the world’s most vulnerable populations.
If you are an experienced leader in digital health, AI, public health, research, or international development, this role provides the opportunity to influence how cutting-edge technologies transform healthcare across low- and middle-income countries while working for one of the world’s most respected philanthropic organizations.
About the Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation is the world’s largest private philanthropic organization focused on reducing poverty, disease, and inequality. Through partnerships with governments, researchers, multilateral organizations, universities, and non-profit institutions, the foundation invests billions of dollars each year to improve health outcomes and create opportunities for people around the world.
The foundation believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life regardless of where they are born. Employees enjoy outstanding benefits, competitive salaries, generous paid leave, comprehensive healthcare coverage, retirement contributions, and an inclusive workplace culture.
About the Team
This position sits within the Exemplars in Global Health (EGH) programme.
The EGH programme identifies countries, health systems, and innovations that have achieved remarkable improvements in health outcomes and studies why they have succeeded. Rather than simply producing research, the team transforms evidence into practical guidance that governments, donors, and healthcare organizations can apply to strengthen health systems worldwide.
Its work includes:
- Studying countries that have achieved exceptional health outcomes
- Researching innovative health interventions with global learning value
- Supporting Gates Foundation strategy teams with evidence-based insights
- Working with governments, policymakers, multilateral organizations, and development banks to scale successful health innovations
About the Position
The Deputy Director will lead the Gates Foundation’s ambitious research and learning agenda focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Health.
The successful candidate will oversee a multidisciplinary team responsible for generating evidence on how AI technologies can improve health systems, expand access to healthcare, strengthen primary healthcare delivery, and improve health outcomes in underserved communities.
This senior leadership role combines research, strategic planning, innovation management, stakeholder engagement, and global partnership development.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will:
- Lead the foundation’s AI and Digital Health evidence strategy
- Direct implementation research on AI-enabled healthcare solutions
- Identify emerging technologies that can strengthen healthcare delivery
- Translate complex research findings into practical policy recommendations
- Manage a team of technical experts across AI and digital health
- Build partnerships with governments, universities, technology companies, and global health organizations
- Support Gates Foundation teams across Africa, India, South Asia, and other regions
- Guide responsible and equitable AI adoption for underserved populations
- Allocate budgets and resources across strategic priorities
- Serve on the Exemplars in Global Health leadership team and contribute to organizational strategy.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is ideal for professionals with experience in:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Health
- Global Health
- Public Health
- Health Systems Strengthening
- Primary Healthcare
- Epidemiology
- Health Informatics
- Medical Research
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
- Implementation Research
- Health Policy
- International Development
- Programme Leadership
- Research Management
- Data Science
APPLY ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Candidates with experience working across Sub-Saharan Africa or other low- and middle-income countries will be particularly competitive.
Required Qualifications
Applicants should have:
- At least 15 years of experience in digital health implementation within health systems
- Significant experience working with AI-enabled healthcare technologies
- A minimum of 5 years in senior leadership positions managing multidisciplinary teams
- Strong background in implementation research and evidence generation
- Experience translating research into policy and programme decisions
- Knowledge of health systems and primary healthcare
- Experience working in low- and middle-income countries
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership development skills
- Outstanding communication and leadership abilities.
Skills and Competencies
The Gates Foundation is seeking leaders who can demonstrate:
- Strategic thinking
- Innovation leadership
- AI and digital health expertise
- Research excellence
- Evidence synthesis
- Partnership building
- Matrix leadership
- Executive communication
- Team development
- Budget management
- Cross-cultural collaboration
- Decision-making in complex environments
- Commitment to equity and inclusion.
Salary and Benefits
This is among the highest-paying international development and global health leadership roles currently available.
Salary includes:
- US$238,400–US$303,900 annually (standard range)
- US$262,200–US$406,400 annually for Seattle and Washington, D.C. markets
Employees also receive:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Foundation-funded retirement contributions
- Paid family leave
- Generous paid time off
- Regional holidays
- Employee resource communities
- Professional development opportunities
- Inclusive workplace culture.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare worldwide, from clinical decision support systems and digital diagnostics to workflow optimization and patient engagement platforms. This role places you at the centre of that transformation, helping shape how AI can strengthen health systems while ensuring technologies remain ethical, equitable, and accessible.
Beyond the impressive salary, the successful candidate will work alongside leading experts, governments, research institutions, and technology innovators to influence healthcare policies and programmes that could improve millions of lives. The opportunity to combine advanced AI expertise with real-world global health impact makes this one of the most influential leadership positions in international development today.
Work Authorization
Applicants must have unrestricted work authorization in the country where the position is located. Employment is subject to a successful background check. The Gates Foundation also provides accommodations throughout the recruitment process for candidates who require accessibility support.
Final Thoughts
If you have built a career at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Health, Research, and Global Health Leadership, this is a rare opportunity to join one of the world’s most influential philanthropic organizations. With a salary reaching US$406,400 per year, exceptional employee benefits, and the chance to shape the future of AI-enabled healthcare worldwide, the Deputy Director, Artificial Intelligence & Digital Health Evidence and Learning position offers both significant professional growth and meaningful global impact.
