At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health economics to improve community health and reduce inequalities.
- Company: Join NHS Dorset, a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to population health improvement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare by influencing strategic decisions with economic insights.
- Qualifications: Master's level education or equivalent experience in health economics required.
The predicted salary is between 79504 - 91609 £ per year.
Influencing health & care at system scale, ensuring resources achieve the greatest possible impact for local communities. Transform outcomes through economic insight, provide expert leadership in economic evaluation, resource allocation & value-based commissioning. Managing a commissioning budget of approx. 8 billion, the new organisation will play a pivotal role in improving population health, reducing inequalities & delivering sustainable, high-quality care for our communities. You would lead the function, providing expert economic advice & strategic insight to support planning, commissioning, investment decisions & service transformation. Working with executive leaders, clinicians, commissioners, finance teams, analysts & system partners to ensure economic evidence informs key decisions.
Leading the development of robust economic models & evaluations to support decision-making. Applying cost-effectiveness, budget impact & allocative efficiency methodologies to improve outcomes & maximise value. Supporting investment, disinvestment & service redesign decisions through rigorous analysis & evidence. Embedding health economics across population health, commissioning, finance & strategy functions. Building & leading a high-performing team. Developing partnerships with universities, research organisations, NHS bodies, local authorities & voluntary sector partners. Representing the Cluster at regional & national forums, strengthening our reputation.
You will be a strategic and influential leader with significant experience applying health economics in a complex healthcare or public sector environment. You should be able to demonstrate:
- Master's level education or equivalent senior-level experience in a relevant specialist field.
- Formal training and expertise in health economics, economic evaluation and modelling.
- Advanced knowledge of cost-effectiveness analysis, value-based commissioning and allocative efficiency approaches.
- Experience analysing large and complex datasets and developing economic models to inform strategic decisions.
- Strong analytical skills using tools such as R, STATA, Python or advanced Excel modelling.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders and presenting complex evidence to executive and board-level audiences.
- A passion for improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities through evidence-based decision-making.
You'll join an ambitious organisation committed to:
- Improving population health and tackling inequalities.
- Delivering better value from every NHS pound spent.
- Supporting innovation and evidence-led transformation.
- Investing in professional development and leadership.
- Creating an inclusive, collaborative and supportive working environment.
Working as part of a "team of teams", you'll help shape the future of health and care across Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset.
The Associate Director of Health Economics provides senior system leadership and expert economic insight for strategic planning, commissioning, and resource allocation across the Population Health Improvement Directorate and the wider Cluster, ensuring decisions improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and deliver clear value for money. The role applies advanced health economic methods, including cost-effectiveness, budget impact, and other modelling and evaluation techniques, to guide prevention, optimise care pathways, support sustainable models of care, and ensure resources deliver the greatest benefit to patients and populations.
The post-holder establishes and maintains methodological standards for economic modelling and evaluation, ensuring analyses are robust, transparent, reproducible, and ready to inform executive and board-level decisions. Quality assurance processes are embedded across the system to promote best practice and confidence in decision making. The Associate Director works with internal teams and external partners to apply economic evidence to key decisions, including business cases, service options, resource allocation, performance monitoring, and long-term planning, while providing leadership and guidance to build analytical capability and ensure rigorous methods are consistently applied, resulting in better-informed decisions and improved outcomes for patients and communities.
The post-holder develops and maintains partnerships with national agencies, universities, research organisations, professional networks, local government, and the voluntary and community sector. These collaborations support the development and application of robust methods, accelerate innovation, and enable the sharing of knowledge and best practice, ensuring evidence is translated into tangible improvements in patient care and population health.
The Associate Director represents the Cluster in regional and national forums, communicates complex economic issues clearly to senior stakeholders, and strengthens the evidence base for policy, strategy, and commissioning. The role ensures decisions at all levels are informed, equitable, and value-driven. Through leadership, technical excellence, and partnership working, the Associate Director ensures health economics functions as a strategic asset for the Cluster, directing resources to where they add the greatest value, supporting value-based commissioning, improving patient outcomes, and reducing unwarranted variation and inequalities.
Essential qualifications include:
- Educated to masters level or able to demonstrate equivalent experience of working at a senior level in a specialist area.
- Extensive knowledge of relevant specialist areas, acquired through postgraduate study or equivalent experience, with further specialist learning to masters level standard.
- Formal training or equivalent experience in health economics, including economic evaluation and modelling.
- Advanced knowledge of economic evaluation methods, cost effectiveness analysis, allocative efficiency and value based approaches.
- Demonstrable experience using analytical or modelling software relevant to health economics (e.g., R, STATA, Python, Excel based models).
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and the implications for decision making and engagement.
- Appreciation of the relationship between health and care bodies, including provider, commissioning and system level functions.
- Membership of a relevant professional body.
Essential experience includes:
- Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
- Persuade board and senior managers of the respective merits of different options, innovation and new market opportunities.
- Negotiate on difficult and very complex and detailed issues.
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
- Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
- Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Ability to carry out procurements for highly detailed, high value contracts that require analysis, comparison and assessment.
- Plans and organises a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances.
- Inputs to strategic plans across NHS and within the specific teams.
- Works with Stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and opening up the market.
- Good use of available information sources to enable efficient and effective planning.
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines.
- Delivers results through managing through others and using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility.
- Manages relationships with a range of different stakeholders.
- Manages team within the constraints of strategic plans.
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues.
- Budget management, setting and working knowledge of financial processes.
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
- Experience analysing large and varied datasets using advanced economic evaluation methods and modelling techniques.
- Ability to compare assumptions, test alternative scenarios and assess long term value, cost and population impact.
- Capability to provide strategic advice on investment priorities, value based commissioning and allocative efficiency.
- Experience planning and overseeing a portfolio of economic work, adjusting sequencing and approaches as circumstances change.
- Proficiency in analytical and modelling tools relevant to health economics, such as R, STATA, Python or advanced Excel models.
Associate Director Health Economics - Population Health Improvement in Dorchester employer: National health service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises patient safety and service improvement. With a strong commitment to employee development, including leadership training and apprenticeship programmes, staff are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to the health of London. The Trust's inclusive culture and focus on quality management ensure that employees feel valued and supported in their vital roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director Health Economics - Population Health Improvement in Dorchester
✨Get Involved with Local Health Initiatives
Join local community health events or volunteer for organisations like public health agencies. This not only builds your experience but also helps you network with industry professionals who might know of openings at places like National health service.
✨Tap into Professional Associations
Check out associations like the Institute of Healthcare Management. They often have job boards, networking events, and conferences that are perfect for connecting with potential employers in health sciences administration.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow health policy news and trends—being knowledgeable about the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also make you stand out as a candidate. You can discuss recent developments and their implications when chatting with folks at National health service.
✨Apply Through Our Website for Better Visibility
When you find roles that excite you, especially at places like National health service, don’t forget to apply through our website. This can sometimes give you an edge by showing the employer you’re savvy and committed to finding the right fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director Health Economics - Population Health Improvement in Dorchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at National health service.
Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at National health service.
Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to National health service. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at National health service. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at National health service
✨Showcase Your Administrative Skills
In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Align Your Goals with the Organisation
As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research National health service’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!
