At a Glance
- Tasks: Solve complex healthcare problems using innovative quantitative solutions and collaborate with diverse experts.
- Company: Join a specialist team at the forefront of health economics and data science.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, personal development support, and unique leave options.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of learning and collaboration with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: PhD or equivalent in a quantitative field; fluency in R, Python, or MATLAB required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Operational Research Group is a small, specialist team within HEOR sitting at the intersection of mathematical modelling, data science, and health economics. Our work is genuinely unusual: we build novel quantitative solutions to complex problems in healthcare. We are looking for an innovative problem solver - if you enjoy tackling complex problems and creating innovative solutions - then our operational research group (ORG) could be the place for you to develop your career.
We focus on three key areas:
- Deliver innovative, rigorous solutions to client challenges
- Develop new modelling paradigms and challenge the field to think differently
- Drive quality and efficiency across HEOR through new analytical tools, automation, and data-driven decision-making
We work with differential equations, optimisation algorithms, simulation frameworks, and bespoke software, applied to real decisions in drug development, value demonstration, and healthcare delivery. You’ll work across a varied portfolio of projects: some client-facing (building models that underpin major healthcare decisions), some internal (designing tools that improve how HEOR operates), and some genuinely novel (developing new methodological approaches and contributing to published thought leadership).
Day to day, you might be:
- Translating a complex clinical or economic decision problem into a mathematical or computational model
- Building R or Python backends and R Shiny frontends for client-facing decision tools
- Applying optimisation techniques and data visualisation to communicate solutions to non-technical audiences
- Collaborating with economists, epidemiologists, and clinicians to define and solve problems across therapy areas
- Supporting the redesign of how we model diseases using AI
- Developing AI agents
- Contributing to proposals, publications, and conference presentations that push HEOR's methodological frontier
- Developing training resources and analytical frameworks that raise the technical bar across HEOR
Requirements:
We are looking for someone with a strong quantitative foundation, intellectual curiosity, and the drive to apply rigorous methods to messy real-world problems. You’re comfortable operating in ambiguity, confident stepping outside your comfort zone, and motivated by doing work that genuinely matters. You’ll need:
- A PhD in a quantitative discipline, or equivalent experience - mathematics, physics, engineering, operational research, or a closely related STEM field
- Fluency in at least one of R, Python, or MATLAB, and experience using version control (git)
- Strong interest in agentic models and AI assisted working
- Experience with numerical modelling, differential equations, or algorithm development
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: the ability to structure an ambiguous problem, select appropriate methods, and deliver a rigorous solution
- Clear written and verbal communication, you can translate complex quantitative work for non-specialist audiences
- The initiative to work independently and the collaborative instinct to work effectively across a wide range of colleagues and clients
Benefits:
Competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
- A ‘learning' culture focused on personal development and supported by study bursaries
- Workplace pension scheme
- Range of high street, supermarket, restaurant, gym membership, holiday and entertainment discounts via Sodexho
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee assistance programme
- Employees are given an additional day of leave for their wedding and moving house
- Annual leave purchase scheme of up to 10 additional days' leave per year
If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing careers@heor.co.uk
Operational Researcher employer: HEOR
As an Operational Researcher within our specialist team, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that champions innovation and collaboration. We offer a competitive benefits package, including a strong focus on personal development through a learning culture, study bursaries, and additional leave for significant life events. Join us in making a meaningful impact in healthcare while enjoying the unique opportunity to work at the forefront of mathematical modelling and data science in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Researcher
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees in the Operational Research Group on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can give you insights into the team and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a mini-project or case study that showcases your problem-solving abilities and technical skills in R or Python. Bring it up during interviews to demonstrate your innovative thinking.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss real-world applications of your work. Think about how your quantitative skills can tackle healthcare challenges and be prepared to share examples of how you've done this in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Operational Researcher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:Make sure to highlight your quantitative skills and experience with R, Python, or MATLAB. We want to see how you can apply these tools to solve real-world problems, so don’t hold back on showcasing your technical prowess!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to complex topics. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can translate intricate ideas into simple terms.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect how your experiences align with our work in operational research. Show us why you’re the perfect fit for our innovative team!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role right there!
How to prepare for a job interview at HEOR
✨Know Your Maths and Models
Brush up on your mathematical modelling skills, especially differential equations and optimisation algorithms. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in real-world scenarios, as this will show your practical understanding and problem-solving abilities.
✨Showcase Your Coding Skills
Make sure you're comfortable discussing your experience with R, Python, or MATLAB. Prepare examples of projects where you've built backends or frontends, and be ready to explain your thought process in a way that non-technical folks can grasp.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. You might be asked to present a solution to a non-specialist audience, so being able to break down your work into digestible pieces is crucial. Think about how you would explain your last project to a friend who isn’t in the field.
✨Demonstrate Your Curiosity
Be prepared to discuss your interest in innovative solutions and AI-assisted working. Share examples of how you've tackled ambiguous problems and what drives your passion for operational research. This will highlight your fit for the role and the team’s culture.
