The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting 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.

Your Role

The Deputy Director will lead the strategic and operational management of new product introduction, regulatory affairs, permitting, product certification, and market development, primarily for early adopter markets like the U.S. and France. This role requires deep expertise in driving large-scale product rollouts, influencing regulatory frameworks, and fostering robust government and industry partnerships. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing cross-functional teams and engaging with senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment with organizational goals while spearheading initiatives that advance innovation in decentralized / non-networked water efficient sanitation technologies and service delivery, particularly in early adopters’ markets in the US and in France.

This position reports to the Interim Director, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

This is a full-time role with salary, benefits and relocation assistance if necessary. This position is located in Seattle, WA where employees enjoy a flexible / hybrid work schedule.

What You’ll Do

• New Product Introduction (NPI) Strategy & Execution: Lead the formulation and execution of NPI strategies for sanitation technologies, including compliance with ISO 30500, NSF 40, NSF 245 and NSF 350 standards. Oversee cross-functional teams across internal and external collaborators to ensure products are designed for scalability, manufacturability, and market fit. Collaborate with government and commercial partners to drive go-to-market strategies in early adopters’ market segments located in the U.S. and France.
• Regulatory Compliance & Permitting: Develop and maintain expertise in US and France regulatory frameworks related to sanitation and water reuse technologies. Lead efforts to streamline permitting processes, working with governments and regulators to accelerate market entry. Advise commercial partners on product certification and regulatory navigation, ensuring alignment with industry standards.
• Product Certification & Standards: Champion the adoption of innovative water efficient sanitation solutions by ensuring compliance with relevant international standards. Liaise with certification bodies and regulatory agencies to advocate and streamline product certifications processes that facilitate market growth.
• Market Development & Commercialization: Design market entry strategies and drive the creation of sustainable ecosystems for product adoption in early adopter markets, particularly in the U.S. and France. Partner with industry leaders, government bodies, and investors to support market readiness and commercialization of innovative water efficient sanitation products. Identify and address market barriers, such as regulatory constraints or financial disincentives, and propose solutions to accelerate commercialization.
• Government & Industry Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with key government officials, industry partners, and civil society organizations to promote the adoption of water efficient sanitation technologies. Serve as the primary liaison between the Foundation, government entities, and commercial partners to ensure cohesive and strategic alignment.
• Cross-functional Leadership & Team Management: Lead a multidisciplinary team focused on delivering regulatory, market development, and commercialization goals. Drive collaboration across internal teams, including product development, manufacturing, legal, and policy / advocacy colleagues. Provide leadership and mentorship to senior program officers and other direct reports, fostering a culture of inclusion, innovation, and accountability.
• Sector Expertise & Thought Leadership: Stay abreast of global trends in sanitation, product certification, and market development, using this knowledge to drive critical initiatives. Represent the organization at high-level industry forums, policy discussions, and conferences, advocating for the adoption of transformative sanitation technologies and water efficient sanitation solutions.

Your Experience

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Public Policy, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in new product introduction, regulatory affairs, or market development for decentralized sanitation or onsite water reuse, or related fields.
• Proven track record in launching new product categories or innovations in water reuse into highly regulated markets.

Other Attributes

• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with a demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Strong command of strategy formulation and execution with experience in high-impact regulatory and market-driven initiatives.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, particularly in engaging with senior leaders and external partners.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and work in fast-paced global environments.
• Strategic thinker with a deep understanding of market dynamics and regulatory landscapes in the US (strongly preferred) and France (preferred).
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a focus on innovation and scalability.
• Comfortable working across cultures and geographies, with demonstrated experience in emerging markets.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in both leadership and project execution.
• The ability to participate in regular domestic and global work travel (25%).

*Applicants for this role will only be considered if they are able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $229,100 to $355,200 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences where our offices are located, in Seattle, Washington D.C., and Boston (Cambridge). The range for this role in these locations is $249,600 to $386,900 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission and new hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary range between the minimum and the midpoint salary range. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

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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.