About the job

Job summary

The Deputy Head of Health Economics is responsible for providing health economics expertise and support across Welsh Government. This is achieved through delivering evidence-based advice, analysis and guidance, appraising allocation of resources in such a way that achieves effective and equitable outcomes for the citizens of Wales and value for money for Welsh Government. The evidence and analyses generated by these activities is summarised and shared with Ministers and policymakers. 

A central element of the role is using prioritisation methods like programme budgeting and marginal analysis (PBMA), and multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA), to prioritise Government investment decisions around health and social care.

This is a business critical role in helping to ensure the health and social care system is run efficiently and based on objective decision making using best evidence and methods.

The Deputy Head of Health Economics is a member of the Science Evidence Advice (SEA) senior management team, helping to shape the strategic direction of the division and the analytical delivery of current and emerging threats. They provide approvals of the SEA Brief, which describes the current Covid-19 situation and other infectious diseases (e.g., influenza, avian flu, scarlet fever) ahead of clearance by the Chief Scientific Advisor for Health (CSAH).

They also provide support and oversight for colleagues contributing to papers and reports; developing methodology, reviewing analyses and reports, and quality assuring work conducted. They provide line management for staff.

The Deputy Head of Health Economics works on a breadth of topics including public health, non-communicable diseases, vaccinations, mental health, cost of living crisis, fuel poverty and health impacts on the workforce.

They are expected to maintain strong relationships with Public Health Wales, the NHS in Wales, academic groups, and UK partners including DHSC, UKHSA and OHID.

Job description

The Deputy Head of Health Economics is responsible for providing health economics expertise and support across Welsh Government. This is achieved through delivering evidence-based advice, analysis and guidance, appraising allocation of resources in such a way that achieves effective and equitable outcomes for the citizens of Wales and value for money for Welsh Government. The evidence and analyses generated by these activities is summarised and shared with Ministers and policymakers. 

A central element of the role is using prioritisation methods like programme budgeting and marginal analysis (PBMA), and multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA), to prioritise Government investment decisions around health and social care.

This is a business critical role in helping to ensure the health and social care system is run efficiently and based on objective decision making using best evidence and methods.

The Deputy Head of Health Economics is a member of the Science Evidence Advice (SEA) senior management team, helping to shape the strategic direction of the division and the analytical delivery of current and emerging threats. They provide approvals of the SEA Brief, which describes the current Covid-19 situation and other infectious diseases (e.g., influenza, avian flu, scarlet fever) ahead of clearance by the Chief Scientific Advisor for Health (CSAH).

They also provide support and oversight for colleagues contributing to papers and reports; developing methodology, reviewing analyses and reports, and quality assuring work conducted. They provide line management for staff.

The Deputy Head of Health Economics works on a breadth of topics including public health, non-communicable diseases, vaccinations, mental health, cost of living crisis, fuel poverty and health impacts on the workforce.

They are expected to maintain strong relationships with Public Health Wales, the NHS in Wales, academic groups, and UK partners including DHSC, UKHSA and OHID.

Person specification

Key areas that The Deputy Head of Health Economics is expected to work within are:

• Prioritising NHS and government spend using programme budgeting and marginal analysis (PBMA), and multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA)
• Championing health economics in the public sector
• Building the economic case for prevention, providing evidence synthesis, assessing health and social care spending, resource allocation review, supporting shift of services from acute secondary care to primary and community care, and exploring costs and benefits to evaluate treatment pathways and changes to those pathways.
• Deliver analyses that align with the strategic direction of the Welsh Government.
• Deputise and present at meetings for The Head of Health Economics, Advanced Analytics and Policy Modelling and other members of the SEA senior management team when required.
• Attend Health Technology Wales board meetings and represent Welsh Government
• Chair Public Sector Health Economics group
• Line manage other staff within the team.

What the organisation will expect

• You will have the ability to work under pressure, be flexible, proactive and self-motivated. You will have the ambition to lead and motivate a team to successfully deliver within a challenging, pressured and fast-paced environment.
• You will be able to take an innovative approach, looking for opportunities to do things differently and responsive enough to adapt and develop new options as things change. You will be adaptable, flexible, open to, and accepting of change affecting you and your area of work and deal with that change efficiently and professionally.
• As an effective Civil Servant, you will have an understanding of the political landscape and the role that Ministers play in setting the agenda for your business area; an understanding of how to get things done with regard to governance and financial management processes; an ability to manage risk, making informed decisions with little or no guidance; and be able to clearly communicate at all levels, including with senior stakeholders and Ministers.

What your team will expect

• You will value diversity and inclusion, creating an environment where individuals feel safe to challenge, share ideas and express concerns
• You will be a role model, who is able to motivate and inspire others, establish a vision and bring others on board, providing clear direction and priorities for the team, ensuring that every member understands their contribution to achieving objectives, and feel capable of fulfilling their role.
• You will support the development of others, demonstrating an understanding of the importance of learning, planning for and providing opportunities and encouragement for individuals to develop, as well as investing time for your own development.

What key stakeholders will expect

• You will be able to use sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide credible advice and guidance to both internal and external stakeholders.
• You will understand the importance of building and maintaining constructive relationships, both within and outside Welsh Government. You will have strong influencing skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships that both challenge with support, and build trust and mutual respect across organisational boundaries
• You will be able to use creative thoughts to develop recommendations, and take advantage of opportunities to work collaboratively across boundaries.

Benefits

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme
• 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
• training and development opportunities
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Smart Working flexible working arrangement
• Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:	3 stage process
Stage 1	Application Form
Stage 2	Other Assessment
Stage 3	Interview

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.