Senior Health System Planning Consultant

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too. 

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Program:

Realistic health system planning is key to achieving sustainable improvements in health outcomes. With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), R4D is conducting a landscaping review of countries’ current health system design and planning practices. This exercise will serve to identify best practices and lessons learned in both low-income and high-income settings and provide recommendations on how to improve planning processes in line with realistic resources and population needs. The landscape review will explore key themes such as whether and how health system planning aligns with strategic plans, the extent to which planning is integrated into annual budgets, how often health sector planning decisions are made, and how responsibilities are shared across government entities.

Opportunity:

 R4D is seeking a Senior Health System Planning Consultant to provide technical guidance on the landscaping design, implementation, and analysis. This is a remote consultancy that is anticipated to start immediately.

Level of Effort:

The estimated period of performance is 4 months (December 2024 – March 2025). This consultancy is expected to require a maximum of 15 days of work throughout the period of performance.

Responsibilities:

The consultant will work closely with the R4D team to:

·     Working closely with the R4D team, lead development of a preliminary typology of health system design and planning processes to guide subsequent data collection, analysis and interpretation of findings.

·     Co-lead development of research analysis and synthesis plan. Guide and support synthesis of results from desk-based literature review and stakeholder/key informant interviews.

·     Attend regular check-ins with the R4D core team every 1-2 weeks, providing both expert guidance on research design and analysis and mentoring support for mid-career staff in their engagement with health system stakeholders, key informants, and funders.

·     Attend meetings with BMGF as needed (approximately 1 per month), supporting the team’s articulation of research design, analysis methods, and conclusions. 

·     Source global evidence and best practices where possible.

·     Review and provide constructive and strategic feedback on final deliverables.

·     Other responsibilities as mutually agreed upon between the consultant and the R4D team

Deliverables:

The consultant will work closely with the R4D team throughout the life of project, and will be expected to contribute to project deliverables, including:

·       Inputs to and reviews of typology of health system design and planning

·       Inputs to research and analysis/synthesis plan for lit review and key informant interviews

·       Inputs to key informant interview guide

·       Inputs to and reviews of final report and slide deck

Qualifications:

·       Doctoral (research-oriented) degree in a relevant field (economics, political science, health policy, public health, or similar)

·       20+ years relevant work experience in leading and implementing health-related research and policy reform initiatives, including national-level health system design and planning challenges

·       Demonstrated experience (including consultancies) working in the international health sector in collaboration with senior/executive-level government representatives and donors, including in limited-resource environments

·       Experience in providing technical assistance in health system strengthening and coaching/mentoring of health system-focused research teams

·       Demonstrated fluency in qualitative and quantitative analysis,

·       Excellent verbal and written communication skills

·       Professional fluency in English

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should send the below materials to Katie Shepard (kshepard@r4d.org) and Emma Brainerd (ebrainerd@r4d.org) by November 25, 2024. The team will contact candidates with any additional questions or requests for information.

·       Resume/CV

·       Cover letter  

·       Daily rate

·       Samples of relevant work

Please include "Health System Planning Consultant – Your Name" in the subject line of the email.

Results for Development is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering

and nurturing an energetic, collaborative and diverse workforce. R4D provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.