Executive Director
July 2022 | Remote, US
Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, North America (GARDP NA) seeks an Executive Director to build the presence and profile of GARDP NA’s mission and objectives throughout the United States and Canada
About GARDP North America
A baby, just two days old, is diagnosed with a life-threatening bloodstream infection. A mother of two undergoing treatment for breast cancer gets pneumonia. An elderly man acquires a joint infection after undergoing a hip replacement.
These three scenarios could take place anywhere in the world. What they all have in common is the need for effective antibiotics – fast. The rapid development of antibiotic resistance means that new drugs are urgently needed. However, most large pharmaceutical companies have abandoned the research and development of antibiotics.
GARDP North America addresses antibiotic resistance as one of the biggest threats to health in North America and globally. Nearly 1.3 million people die globally every year from drug-resistant infections, and 4.6 billion dollars are lost each year due to drug-resistant infections in the US alone. Policymakers and legislators in the US have recognized the urgency of this issue by providing funding for early-stage antibiotic development, as well through pending legislation to provide support for market introduction and access. GARDP NA works to accelerate development of and access to antibiotics for adults and children in the US and globally.
GARDP NA was established in 2021 as a partner of the GARDP Foundation with the objective of addressing antimicrobial resistance in North America and worldwide. The GARDP Foundation is a Swiss not-for-profit organization, based in Geneva and established in 2016 by the World Health Organization and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative to ensure that everyone who needs antibiotics receives effective and affordable treatment, no matter where they live. GARDP NA operates independently with its own governing Board and has filed for IRS 501(c)(3) status within the United States. The GARDP Foundation is supporting GARDP NA as the organization becomes established in North America. GARDP NA has the long-term goal of strengthening the identity and visibility of GARDP’s mission, and the short-term goals of ensuring that GARDP NA is driving actions to reduce antibiotic resistance and develop new antibiotics in the US.
GARDP Programs
GARDP NA and the GARDP Foundation focus on four programs to address drug resistance:
Serious Bacterial Infections
Serious bacterial infections are among the leading cause of death for people in hospitals. Antibiotic resistance is making these infections increasingly difficult to treat. GARDP is working on treatments for these infections, prioritizing those caused by the bacteria with the greatest increases in antibiotic resistance.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Infection rates of gonorrhea are increasing, with 82 million new cases each year worldwide. This infection—which can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and increased risk of HIV transmission—has progressively developed resistance to available treatments. GARDP is supporting late-stage trial of a new treatment for gonorrhea.
Antibiotics for Children
Every year 3 million babies and 1.2 million children suffer from sepsis, a life-threatening complication of infection. 3 out of every 10 neonatal sepsis deaths result from drug-resistant bacteria. The GARDP Foundation has recently announced results from a major international study to inform the development of improved antibiotic treatment regimens for neonatal sepsis. This study has shown that antibiotic resistance is now one of the major threats to newborn health globally. This is a major problem for babies in all countries, both rich and poor.
Discovery and Research
GARDP’s discovery and exploratory program focuses on three activities to advance antibiotic R&D: discovery and exploratory research; asset evaluation and development; and scientific affairs and REVIVE.
GARDP’s discovery and exploratory program focuses on three activities to advance antibiotic R&D: discovery and exploratory research; asset evaluation and development; and scientific affairs and REVIVE.
This program focuses on discovery and exploratory research, asset evaluation and development, and scientific affairs to advance antibiotic research and development. This program includes REVIVE, an education and collaboration program to improve, accelerate, and streamline drug discovery and research and development by directly connecting researchers with established and retired antibiotic researchers and developers, and by facilitating learning and knowledge exchange.
The GARDP Foundation
The GARDP Foundation was established in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to deliver on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. After six years in operation, the GARDP Foundation has built a pipeline to advance the programs discussed above. The GARDP Foundation has formed over 60 partnerships in 22 countries that span governments, the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, research institutions, nonprofits, and civil society.
GARDP bridges the gap between innovation and access by focusing on developing therapeutic candidates in late-stage clinical development. This requires identifying the barriers to access and finding innovative ways to overcome them. GARDP also explores ways to ensure there is a viable market and sustainable supply of treatments in the long-term. To tackle the growing antibiotic resistance crisis, GARDP has set the 5 BY 25 goal, which seeks to deliver five new treatments by 2025 for drug-resistant infections that pose the greatest threat to health and economic security.
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About the Position
The Executive Director for GARDP North America will build the presence and profile of GARDP’s mission and objectives in the United States and Canada. They are responsible for managing the operations of GARDP North America and implementing a fundraising and visibility strategy to secure funding partnerships from both public sources (government agencies and US-based multilateral institutions) and private sources (foundations, corporations, and major donors).
The new Executive Director will be a visionary, able to develop and execute strategy. They will engage in US policy activities as they relate to antibiotic development and antibiotic resistance and maintain relationships with funders (public and private), industry, policy makers, and multilateral organizations to support the mission of GARDP NA and the GARDP Foundation. The new Executive Director will collaborate with the GARDP Foundation in Geneva and other regional offices with the common purpose of raising awareness and developing solutions to combat antibiotic resistance worldwide. The GARDP NA Board will support the new Executive Director and will be a resource for establishing GARDP NA within the United States. The new Executive Director will take full advantage of all that the GARDP NA Board has to offer.
In the first six months, the Executive Director will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive assessment of the organization and presenting recommendations for new goal setting and achievement.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Propose to the Board of GARDP NA a mid-term and annual action plan including required resourcing, consistent with the ambitions of the multi-year business plans and yearly action plans of GARDP globally, and in close collaboration with the GARDP NA Board.
- Implement the agreed upon plan for achieving fundraising objectives, building the presence and profile of GARDP in North America, and maintaining key relationships, in support of both GARDP NA and GARDP globally.
- Provide liaison activity in North America supporting the current active portfolio, potential future collaborations and partnerships, and supporting an R&D presence in the US antibacterial R&D community.
External Affairs
- Execute the GARDP NA External Affairs objectives as defined in the multi-year plan and annual action plan.
- Lead efforts to identify and secure public and private funding opportunities.
- Develop and oversee a plan for mid to long-term private fundraising.
- Oversee outreach to the US Government to secure funding including USAID, CDC, NIH/NIAID, NCATS, BARDA, DOD, etc.
- Work closely with any outsourced providers in support of the objectives and ensure management of private and public funding with relevant staff and/or consultants.
- Support outreach and development of letters of intent and proposals as necessary to secure public and private funding.
- Propose a branding strategy for GARDP NA, in collaboration with GARDP global Communications team.
- Manage communication efforts in the US, identifying opportunities for GARDP, working in close collaboration with the global Communications team and local consultants as required.
- Identify, map, build, and maintain a network of key stakeholders in North America to achieve GARDP NA’s and the GARDP Foundation’s ambitions.
- Track and influence relevant US policy initiatives, working in close collaboration with the Policy Advocacy team and any outsourced providers.
- Profile and position GARDP NA as a trusted R&D and access partner and foster relationships with public and private actors in the field of R&D and public health in the region as required.
Operations
- Complete the organization of the legal presence of GARDP NA as appropriate, and ensure that governance requirements are being followed, while supporting governance work (organization of Board meetings, ensuring record of meetings and implementation of resolutions, etc.) in collaboration with the GARDP Foundation’s Executive Office and Legal Department.
- Ensure consistency between the global vision of GARDP and GARDP NA operating model.
- Set up and supervise human resources, administrative and finance activities in collaboration with the GARDP Foundation’s Finance and Administration Director.
- Ensure office management and be accountable for the performance of GARDP NA to the GARDP NA Board.
- In partnership with the GARDP NA Board, prepare the annual action plan, budget, and risk management plan for the office, ensuring alignment with the GARDP Foundation.
- Take responsibility for compliance of the activities of GARDP NA with legal obligations in relevant jurisdiction where the office is operating.
- Ensure implementation of GARDP ethical standards and values within team and with partners.
Key Qualifications
- Proactive decision maker with 10+ years of experience in external affairs and fundraising
- Proven track record in raising funds from public and private sources (particularly government, corporations, and foundations)
- Understanding of and commitment to global health, medical innovation, scientific research, and access to medicine issues. Understanding of the drug development process a plus.
- Experience working effectively with a Board to establish goals
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural, multilocation team environment, and to collaborate with the GARDP Foundation and other regional offices.
- Proven experience in mobilizing funds for research and development and access objectives
- Strong ability to take initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines
- Experience working in both the public and private sector is highly desirable
- Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates strong judgment and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and public speaking skills with the ability to represent GARDP at high level events
- Strong collaborator with strategic thinking and leadership abilities
- Excellent management, negotiation, and advocacy skills
- Proven ability to exercise high degree of independence to ensure program delivery and explore new areas of activities
All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Please email your cover letter and resume in confidence to: gardpna@developmentguild.com
Suzanne Battit
Senior Vice President
Development Guild DDI