Senior Health Economist/Health Specialist at World Bank Group

 Senior Health Economist/Senior Health Specialist to be based in Pretoria, South Africa. Given that this is a local recruitment, qualified applicants with South African citizenship, permanent residence or an approved status conferring a right to reside and work in South Africa will be considered on a priority basis. 

Duties and Accountabilities:

• Working under the supervision of the Practice Manager, HAEH2, the Senior Health Economist/Senior Health Specialist will have the following key responsibilities, inter alia:
• Lead or support development and implementation of the Bank’s HNP country specific and/or regional operations in the South Africa CMU. This will include: (i) leading technical discussions; and (ii) monitoring the Bank portfolio on a day-to-day basis in close collaboration with the relevant government agencies, development partners, and the wider Bank team.
•  Lead or support ASA related to strengthening health systems including health financing, governance, service delivery, health emergency preparedness and response, linking health to broader human capital development topics and/or related topics in the South Africa CMU countries.
• Organize and lead missions of the health team.
• Lead or contribute to policy dialogue with government counterparts at the national and subnational levels and with other relevant stakeholders.
• Help teams with building and maintaining partnerships and networks within the Bank (in HNP GP as well as other GPs) and with external partners including the governments.
• Review and provide sector specific or cross-sectoral inputs for various operational and policy documents (e.g., sector/country briefings, background reports, portfolio performance reviews, country partnership strategy, systematic country diagnostics, etc.).
• Respond to ad hoc information requests from internal and external parties.
• Carry out any other activities required as part of the HNP team to support the development of the Bank’s work program in HNP in the South Africa CMU.  
• Mentor junior staff in the unit and country offices within the South Africa CMU.
• Selection Criteria

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in health economics, medicine, public health, or related field. Candidates with a PhD or combined degrees would have an added advantage. Candidates without a core qualification in at least one of these domains need not apply.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: health economics, health systems, public health, program management, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, operations research in health.Experience in two or more of these areas is advantageous.
• Strong knowledge and prior experience of working with/on health systems, including health policies and programs, challenges, and priorities in more than one country in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Southern Africa
• A proven track-record of leading policy dialogue, policy reforms, and/or service delivery innovations, and of working across sector boundaries.
• Proven analytical skills linking economic and/or technical thinking and quantitative analysis, and the ability to inform high-level policy dialogue through strong communications (including writing) skills.
• Demonstrated track record of synthesizing complex analytics and results into user-friendly written outputs.
• A proven track-record of leading or making substantive contributions to complex operational engagements as task team leader with significant operational responsibilities.
• Demonstrated expertise in policy dialogue and the ability to interact effectively with Government officials and a range of partners at various levels.
• A drive for results, including a proven track record of high standards / accountability for work products, meeting deadlines, an ability to prioritize tasks within his/her work program and strategies for working collectively with others on the team to deliver products of the highest caliber
• Diplomatic and client-engagement skills, and proven success working as a team member.
• Experience working in fragile and emergency context in the health sector would be an advantage.
• Fluency in English (excellent oral and written communication skills) is essential, with the ability to prepare documents on complex subjects, speak and write persuasively, and present ideas clearly and concisely.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrate Health, Nutrition and Population Knowledge and Experience, has the ability to critically assess the performance of health systems, to identify key challenges and solutions. Understands and is able to articulate the economic issues related to HNP. Has broad cross-sectoral understanding relevant to HNP and is able to identify how HNP issues relate to overall country development strategies, non-HNP policy decisions, and development initiatives across sectors. Ability to lead the Bank's overall strategy development and policy dialogue in HNP in a country
• Lead and Innovate: Encourages and works with others to identify and implement relevant solutions. Identifies opportunities in changing circumstances and energizes others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity in context of WBG's values and mission. Helps others to understand problems, client needs and the underlying context. Ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Deliver Results for Clients: Develops and implements solutions that show understanding of how clients and/or own work achieves results that are financially, environmentally and socially sustainable. Shares new insights based on in-depth understanding of the client and recommends solutions for current and future needs of clients. Holds self and team accountable for risk management and outcomes. Maintain client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries: Collaborates across organizational boundaries, internally and externally with a sense of mutuality and respect. Consistently engages others in open dialogue, brings out any conflicting viewpoints and incorporates viewpoints into solutions, giving credit where credit is due. Leverages expertise of all team members to ensure successful outcomes. Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge: Ensures systematic sharing of good practice and learning from lessons from across WBG, clients, and partners. Is known across WBG in their subject area and is sought out by WBG colleagues to advise, peer review, or contribute to knowledge products of others. Seeks mentoring opportunities with more experienced staff to deepen or strengthen their professional knowledge and mentor’s junior staff. Leads in the sharing of best practice, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Make Smart Decisions: Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with the WBG's strategy. Evaluates risk and anticipates the short- and long-term implications of decisions.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

• The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
• We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.