Senior Health Economist

Credence Management Solutions employs hard-working, passionate individuals who bring innovation, accountability, and a growth mindset to the many missions we support across the US Federal Government. Employee empowerment is part of the fabric of our corporate culture through which we emphasize opportunity, recognition, reward, and retention. At Credence, we follow the principles of servant leadership and believe that serving and supporting others is critical to both our individual and collective achievements. We have only one measure of success. Yours.

We are hiring for positions under the Global Health Training, Advisory, Support Contract (GHTASC) in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Global Health (GH). These roles deliver institutional support services in a wide range of technical areas at the junior, mid, senior, and expert levels.

We are a diverse, enthusiastic family of subject matter experts, business professionals, and practitioners who all share a common goal of providing excellent services to our government customers. If you want to work in a dynamic and fast-growing environment with highly motivated colleagues, then Credence is the right place for you!

Credence Management Solutions is seeking a Senior Health Economist. See below for more information on this exciting opportunity and apply to join Credence today!

Position Summary

The Office of Health Systems (OHS) serves as a center of excellence and focal point for USAID’s worldwide leadership and technical expertise in health systems strengthening (HSS). The Office is responsible for developing and leading implementation of the Agency’s Vision for Health Systems Strengthening, developing the Agency’s talent and ensuring widespread knowledge sharing in health systems, and providing field and program support to USAID Missions. OHS provides technical leadership and expertise within a network of HSS colleagues throughout the Bureau for Global Health in the development and implementation of USAID’s agenda and strategy to promote effective, sustainable, country-owned health systems capable of promoting health, preventing disease, advancing reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition; combating infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases; and addressing emerging public health priorities.

OHS works across the six functions of the health system: Health Finance, Governance and Leadership, Information, Human Resources for Health, Medical Products/Vaccines/Technologies, and Service Delivery. OHS leads the Agency’s health systems research efforts including development of a research portfolio and of metrics and tools for measuring health systems improvements. OHS also works to build partnerships and synergies to support this agenda and strategy, including with other U.S. Government agencies, host country governments, donors, the private sector, and civil society.

OHS’s Equity Team supports the Office’s work to promote equitable access to quality, affordable, appropriate health care services for all. The team’s work is integrated with OHS efforts to optimize the use of scarce resources in the health sector and to improve the quality of services. The team works to identify the social and economic determinants and consequences of inequities in the health sector and the adverse impact on health outcomes. The team provides technical input to the management of USAID projects and programs, interacts with other development partners to advance global goals related to health equity, and supports relevant research activities. Team members often work on cross-office and cross-bureau groups to advance these Team members also represent OHS on Bureau-wide country support teams by collecting and synthesizing technical suggestions for the management of USAID missions’ HSS programs.

The Health Economist will be assigned to the Equity team in GH’s Office of Health Systems. S/he will receive day-to-day guidance and technical oversight from the OHS Equity Team Leader. S/he will focus on economic strategies and interventions to support equitable access to quality, affordable health care services and promote equity in improvements in health outcomes. To carry out this work, the incumbent will collaborate with other experts and practitioners in OHS in health system strengthening broadly and in health finance and economics specifically, to promote consistency among approaches to health financing challenges in USAID’s partner countries.

The successful candidate for this position will have broad and in-depth knowledge of social and economic factors that contribute to, and result from, inequities in the health system, and will have significant expertise in applying analytical skills to better understand and address these issues.

The Health Economist will devote substantial time supporting USAID’s country programs, working with USAID Missions, implementing partners, development partners, and other institutions to strengthen the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of in-country health system strengthening activities – with an emphasis on mitigating inequities that have an adverse impact on health status and broader economic development, promoting such activities’ contribution to progressive universalism and improvements in the healthcare seeking behavior of target populations. As called upon, s/he will participate as a technical expert in global technical meetings and coordination efforts on these topics.

The Senior Health Economist will primarily support the Office of Health Systems (OHS) as a Credence Institutional Support Contractor (ISC).

Responsibilities

The responsibilities for the Senior Health Economist will emphasize application of his/her expertise to global leadership and country support to promote equity in access to health services and in health outcomes.

The Senior Health Economist will:

• Provide technical expertise within GH, to other USAID/Washington operating units (e.g., regional bureaus and other technical bureaus), and to USAID missions on economics and equity issues as they impact health system performance and population health outcomes.
  • Identify and share with GH, other AID/W operating units and missions, new insights and global knowledge and their implications for the contexts they are operating in.
  • Contribute technical expertise to develop strategies, tools, and systems related for health systems strengthening, including improved capacity and performance in indicators of health sector equity.
  • Develop and deliver presentations, short courses, briefings, and technical papers, as needed, on topics related to health economics and health equity to USAID/GH, field missions, and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Mentor team members and other staff on socioeconomic determinants of health and equity issues.
• Support OHS and Global Health Bureau to develop and maintain partnerships and /engagement with internal (Washington operating Units, Missions) and external development partners, global and /regional organizations and think tanks that work on health system financing and equity.
• Provide technical analysis and support for programs that help countries transition to greater self-reliance and sustainable health systems through effective and equitable utilization of and access to domestic resources.
• Provide technical expertise and analysis in areas such as economic evaluation, technical efficiency, equitable and efficient resource allocation, data analysis, and/or generation of information for informed decision-making.
• Provide central-level performance monitoring and technical management support for relevant USAID global projects and implementing partners. Monitor implementing partners’ work as it relates to economic factors and equitable health services, including fulfillment of a technical advisory role on discrete activities as required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 10 years, Bachelor’s degree with 12 years, Associate’s degree with 14 years, or High School graduate with 16 years relevant experience in social science field such as economics, finance, public administration, management, or related discipline(s).
• Experience in the field of economics or social sector analysis and programming, including work with underserved or vulnerable populations to address inequities. At least three (3) years’ experience in an international or resource-challenged setting. Experience in the health sector preferred.
• Proven track record of technical advisory support to high level decision-makers in the public, private and/or civil society sectors.
• Experience with capacity building, institutional development, coaching and mentoring especially in cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary settings.
• Strong background in program development and management, including experience in the design, management, and implementation of technical assistance in developing countries or other low resource settings.
• Demonstrated ability to apply accepted analytical tools, techniques and frameworks to field of expertise.
• Demonstrated understanding of the determinants of social and economic inequality in developing countries.
• Strong diplomatic skills and demonstrated experience working with a range of development partners, including multilateral and bilateral donors as well as private foundations and civil society.
• High degree of judgment, ingenuity and originality to interpret strategy, to analyze, develop, and present work, and to monitor and evaluate implementation of programs.
• Solid teamwork skills and experience working with diverse teams.
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally 15-25% approximately.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency with the ability to obtain and maintain Facility Access required.

Competencies/Performance Criterion

• Innovation: Employee takes initiative to propose new ideas/approaches, and demonstrates ability to find new and better ways to accomplish work.
• Customer Service: Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to Organization policies and procedures.
• Interpersonal Skills: Employee demonstrates ability to work in cooperation with others and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, clients and other outside contacts.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development that is aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals. Proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the Organization.

Prior to submitting your application, please ensure that all relevant experience and education is documented on your resume. There is no limitation to resume length; updates to resumes will not be accepted during the interview and selection process.