Senior Health Economist – Disease Burden Analysis job at Infectious Diseases Institute

About the Organization

To strengthen health systems in Africa, with a strong emphasis on infectious diseases,
through research and capacity development.

Job Description

The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is seeking a highly qualified Senior Health Economist to lead and contribute to a groundbreaking project on Disease burden in Africa. This position is instrumental in synthesizing the burden of disease on the African continent, conducting economic evaluations, and generating high-level reports that will shape health programming and planning across the region. The successful candidate will lead the economic evaluations team and work closely with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including statisticians, epidemiologists, and data scientists, to develop scientific questions, refine analysis methods, and identify literature and data sources for the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Develop scientific questions and analysis methods for the project in collaboration with the research team.
Conduct literature searches and scoping reviews to identify model parameters that reflect the African context.
Utilize advanced health economic evaluation methods to analyze the cost-effectiveness of current health interventions for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and forecast disease burden.
Conduct budget analyses and determine the cost of implementing health care interventions as well as the cost of inaction.
Work closely with senior statisticians and epidemiologists to refine analysis methods and interpret findings.
Lead the writing and preparation of scientific reports, manuscripts, and presentations for high-level scientific audiences.
Collaborate with donor agencies, collaborators, and stakeholders in African countries to ensure the relevance and impact of the research.
Engage the already established technical working groups to ensure that the employed methodologies and results from analyses make scientific and policy sense.
Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members, including junior health economists and analysts.

Qualification, Experiences and Competencies

Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in health economics, epidemiology, statistics, or a related field.
Extensive experience (at least five years) in health economic evaluation methods for disease transmission, including cost-effectiveness analysis, decision analysis, and modeling.
Experience working in interdisciplinary research teams and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts to non-technical audiences.
Proven track record of publishing scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals or experience leading the writing of high-level technical reports.

Required Skills:

Strong quantitative skills and proficiency in data analysis, including experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SAS).
Experienced in using advanced health evaluation methods such as cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), cost-utility analysis (CUA), cost-benefit analysis (CBA), and other approaches.
Knowledge of machine learning techniques and data science methods is desirable.
Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Maintain excellent organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
Communicate research findings and implications to diverse audiences, including policymakers, donors, and the scientific community.
Work independently and with minimal technical supervision to produce high-quality results under pressure.