Health Economist at Society for Family Health (SFH)

Job Profile:   

As a health economist, your job is to research and report on the economics of health care. The health economist is primarily responsible for maximizing value for money and cost-effectiveness of programme activity by the application of economic theories and tools to assess all aspects of programme and healthcare interventions and advising on optimal efficiency.

Job role: The successful candidate will perform the following functions:

• Provide technical assistance/ health financing expertise to State activities on the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) projects, working with other technical staff and state government institutions such as the Ministry of Health, State Primary Healthcare Management Board, etc.
• Provide technical assistance to state governments to support their scale-up of ASRH interventions. This TA may include the costing and budgeting of ASRH action plans and financial analysis of FP/ASRH expenditures.
• Provide guidance to state-level MOH/Primary Healthcare Management Board regarding budgeting for and ASRH planning including service delivery activities.
• Build an evidence-based business case for A360 Amplify Nigeria through conducting cost-effectiveness and/or cost-benefit analysis.
• Provide input into the development of activity-specific work plans and budgets.
• Support the state ASRH team (ADHO, FP/RH Cord, etc.) to track and document the trend for fund release for the ASRH programmes in the state.
• Plan and coordinate the costing survey at the implementation sites, and sub-national government level.
• Track ASRH programme implementation cost and determine unit cost per adopter of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls in the focus states.
• Participate in and prepare necessary technical and program-related reports, including presentations and white papers.
• Organize as needed project/program training, conferences, workshops, and meetings.
• Interact with internal and external resources and other experts to bring new and “cutting edge” ideas into approaches. 
• Prepare health financing analyses, recommendations, briefing notes, and assessments for internal and government stakeholders' use.
• Document health financing success stories/lessons learned and produce publishable health financing materials including policy briefs and peer-reviewed articles.
• Represent the projects, company, and programs in the health financing area in Nigerian forums, as necessary.
• Support the development of funding proposals and routine programme reports to donors.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications/Experience:

• At least 5 years of on-the-job experience working in health financing analysis, tracking, or development of expenditure tracking systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, Health Economics, Health Policy, Public Financial Management, or related fields with academic specialization in Health Financing or commensurate work experience in health finance 
• An MSC, MPH, or MBA will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in economics, health economics, public policy, public sector financing, or public health, in partnership with government counterparts or other policymakers.
• Training in Public Financial Management is desired, and health or development policy training is an asset.
• Relevant experience with INGOs or governments in Nigeria will be considered an added advantage.
• Previous work experience in applied health financing and governance, health economics, and health systems strengthening.
• Experience and knowledge related to the technical components of health financing (e.g., costing and cost-effectiveness analysis, resource mobilization, health resources tracking, etc.)
• Experience working with governments in a technical advisory role, especially developing research or other communications materials for policymakers.
• Demonstratable experience in coaching and mentorship.

Skills and Competencies required.

Technical:

• Data Analysis
• Research
• Project Management
• Technical writing, documentation
• Cost tracking and analysis
• Budgeting
• Planning

Behavioural:

• Results oriented.
• Process driven.
• Teamwork
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Proactive and resourceful
• Prioritization skills