Director, GLP-1 in India Fund

Renaissance Philanthropy seeks an exceptional leader to scope and design a new fund to expand access to GLP-1 medications in India.

The Challenge

A number of low and middle income countries, including India, Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines, Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, and South Africa, face rising Type 2 Diabetes prevalence, high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and large populations with prediabetes and obesity. In many of these countries, the infectious disease burden is still significant while chronic disease has skyrocketed. Current and future government healthcare resources cannot cover the costs of treating these chronic conditions.

Originally developed for Type 2 Diabetes, GLP-1s have produced significant, >15% weight loss in patients and have emerged as a treatment option for obesity. Alongside that, they have shown reduction in heart attack, stroke, death, and kidney disease and the potential to delay or prevent disease progression in diabetes, chronic kidney diseases (CKD), and cardiovascular diseases. Other conditions are being evaluated, and evidence has emerged for areas including substance abuse and liver disease.

Expanded GLP-1 treatment has the potential to reduce hospitalizations (e.g., CKD and CVD events) and delay progression to severe complications. This is an opportunity for wide scale population-level health impact and system-level cost savings.

Semaglutide has gone off-patent in several major emerging markets—including India, Brazil, China, and Canada, bringing in generic competition. This is driving significant price reduction compared to current branded GLP-1 therapies.

This creates a critical opportunity to expand access beyond high income populations and enable population-scale interventions for diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular risk.

Is there a role for targeted philanthropic or catalytic capital to accelerate access, drive widespread adoption, achieve population health impact, and unlock long-term health system savings?

Why India?

India offers a strong case for impact as well as a market for testing affordability and other potential constraints. Factors favoring India: 

Role Overview

We are seeking a versatile and highly entrepreneurial leader to scope and design a new fund to increase access to GLP-1s across India. 

You would be responsible for scoping, designing and, eventually, launching and managing this multi-year initiative, working across science, policy, and industry to turn evidence into action. You will be in charge of defining the fund’s theory of change, coordinating key stakeholders, and building the partnerships and infrastructure needed for success. 

You will operate with autonomy and entrepreneurial freedom, working with a small, high-performing team and convening the broader ecosystem required to make progress on a meaningful public health challenge. 

Initial 3 Months

During the first 3 months, your focus will be to develop the blueprint for the fund, preparing it for launch. During this time, your title will be “Fellow” or “Senior Fellow,” and key deliverables will include: 

  • Developing the strategic plan: Define the Fund’s vision, scope, and theory of change, including clear metrics for success.

  • Determining operating model and scale: Outline structure, governance, financial mechanisms, and multi-year horizons.

  • Developing a portfolio roadmap: Identify and prioritize early program pillars, including strategies to counter adoption barriers such as awareness, provider presence, and affordability, as well as potential additional pillars. 

  • Engaging stakeholders: Conduct consultations with researchers, policymakers, funders, and industry leaders to refine program design and secure early commitments.

  • Establishing foundational systems: Create budget tracking, communication, and reporting frameworks.

  • Preparing for launch: Produce the strategic plan, narrative deck, and partner materials and pitching to secure key funders and partners.

By the end of this period, you would have defined a clear, actionable plan for how the fund can increase access to GLP-1s in India.

Responsibilities Thereafter

Once the fund is launched, you would assume overall leadership for the initiative and your title would change to “Fund Director.” This would involve:

  • Providing strategic direction and leadership for all aspects of the fund.

  • Managing a growing portfolio of programs, grants, and partnerships.

  • Coordinating a global coalition of scientists, policymakers, and healthcare leaders.

  • Ensuring effective resource allocation, transparent reporting, and operational excellence.

  • Building and mentoring a small, mission-driven team to execute the fund’s objectives.

Key Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience in global health, international development, program evaluation, entrepreneurship, founding organizations, or related fields

  • Strong research and analytical skills with ability to identify high-impact opportunities and exceptional talent and the ability to develop expertise in new areas and across disciplines.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences

  • Experience working with researchers, practitioners, and/or policymakers in global health or development contexts, with preference for experience with diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, or chronic kidney disease.

  • Experience developing meaningful collaborations with government agencies, multilaterals, corporates, academic institutions, and other funders to co-fund or scale initiatives.

  • Past experience or demonstrated ability to identify credible and impactful organizations, social enterprises, and other implementation partners to deploy capital and scale this initiative. Ability to assess their governance, leadership, impact potential, risks, and scalability.

Values

You will thrive within our team, if you:

  • Have strong mission and vision alignment: You believe in the power of science, innovation, and technology to create a brighter future for all. 

  • Exhibit high agency: You can move mountains and break perceived constraints.

  • Inspire others and are highly collaborative: You can motivate others to join your mission and goals. You understand the value of going further by working with others. 

  • Value exceptional talent and the power of networks: You can spot or nurture exceptional talent and believe in the value of building networks and the power law of talent. 

  • Are comfortable working in fast-moving and ambitious teams: You are not afraid of ambiguity and enjoy working at pace. 

This position can be remote though it would be advantageous to be based in India.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. This can be either a full time role or a part time role depending on the candidate and their broader portfolio of work.

About Renaissance Philanthropy

Renaissance Philanthropy is a nonprofit with a mission to fuel a 21st-century renaissance by increasing the ambition of philanthropists, scientists and innovators. The organization builds time-bound, thesis-driven philanthropic funds to support ideas that advance entire fields. Renaissance Philanthropy has a proven track record of partnerships with global funders and organizations across the private and public sectors, including The Walton Family Foundation, Coefficient Giving, the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), and Germany’s SPRIND. In its first two years, it has catalyzed $533M for science, innovation, and technology, including $268M in funding raised for initiatives housed at Renaissance Philanthropy and $265M of funding unlocked directly for other organizations.

Diversity

We encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply, regardless of whether you feel you meet 100% of the qualifications. The top candidates will bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds from a variety of industries along with many but not necessarily all the skills listed above.

Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce is critical to our success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. 

Renaissance Philanthropy is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Next Steps

Apply here.

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