Analyst/Research Assistant, Disease Modelling and Health Systems Financing
Job No:
BI78
Location:
Melbourne
OVERVIEW
The Optima Consortium for Decision Science, Ltd., is a not-for profit company and an international leader in allocative efficiency, decision science and disease modelling. The Consortium is a partnership of global leaders in public health, epidemiology, mathematical modelling and cost effectiveness with specific focus on HIV, TB, nutrition, malaria and HCV spread across multiple academic institutions including the Burnet Institute, University College of London, The University of Geneva and The University of Copenhagen.
The vision of the Consortium is to improve global health outcomes through better health resourcing decision making. We achieve that goal by ensuring that decision makers have access to, and utilise, high quality decision making tools and building the capacity of stakeholders to use the tools as a basis for health resourcing decisions.
The Consortium works directly with international funding agencies, country governments and other key stakeholders to provide evidence-based resource allocation recommendations across multiple disease areas. The Optima approach has been used in over 50 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. We are looking to fill a number of positions within the Consortium for individuals to directly assist with the high demand of country applications and continued development of the Optima tools.
PURPOSE
Working with the World Bank, international health agencies, and country governments, the position holder will:
- Assist with real-world analyses to inform political and budgetary decisions to maximise health outcomes and/or minimise the cost of health interventions;
- Provide modelling and/or analytical support to governments and donor partners to optimise resource allocations and improve efficiency in the heath sector;
- Facilitate and participate in training and workshops in a wide range of countries;
Work as part of a team of mathematical modellers, economists, computer scientists, epidemiologists and health policy experts on the conceptual development of mathematical and economic models of epidemics of communicable and non-communicable diseases, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Your responsibilities will include:
- Assist with country-based efficiency studies and health economic evaluations
- Communicate with stakeholders including epidemiologists, public health experts, government officials, and global health and international aid agencies
- Contribute to the preparation of documentation required for project initiation, including scope of work and technical supporting documentation
- Prepare for and attend major international meetings, conferences, and teleconferences with national and international stakeholders as required
- Travel and contribute to international training workshops and other project-related meetings as required
- Develop and write reports, abstracts, and presentations associated with projects for governments and for internal, national, and international meetings
- Produce, and contribute to the development of, scientific papers
- Provide input into the conceptual direction of projects, including contributions to writing appropriate grant applications
- Coordinate and manage specific projects with a high degree of autonomy
CRITERIA
You will have:
- Postgraduate degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, economics, epidemiology, computer science or a similar field. Relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of a post graduate degree.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Experience in HIV, TB, HCV, nutrition, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, or other public health sectors
- Ability to work independently and under competing time pressures
- Ability to work with individuals from varied professional and cultural backgrounds
- Professional-level fluency in languages other than English (particularly Spanish, French or Russian) (preferable)
- Expertise in infectious disease epidemiology (preferable)
- Expertise in health costing and economics (preferable)
- Professional experience in public policy development and implementation (preferable)
- Demonstrated research experience, including the ability to undertake independent research projects (preferable)
Some travel, up to 20% may be required.
The Consortium is a geographically varied team and we are able to consider applications for individuals who wish to be based remotely from our geographic hubs.
APPLICATIONS
Refer to the attached position description for full details.
To apply, please complete the details below and attach the following:
- Cover letter with reference to the selection criteria
- Resume including the names and contact details of three referees
Applications close on 28 February 2018.