Senior Scientist - Health Systems Research

About the role

The SAMRC's Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU) is appointing a Senior Scientist on a one-year contract to support the ALIGN project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The role generates and translates high-quality health systems research to inform policy and strengthen health system decision-making locally and globally, while contributing to research capacity development, collaboration, innovation and the SAMRC's transformation agenda.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct and support scoping, rapid and systematic reviews across clinical effectiveness, safety, health economics, qualitative evidence and health system strengthening.
• Support the design and implementation of health policy analysis and/or health systems research studies using recognised frameworks.
• Translate research into manuscripts for journals, policy briefs and reports, and present at scientific meetings and conferences.
• Develop capacity by supervising Masters' students, facilitating workshops and mentoring.
• Contribute to the Unit's scientific life through journal clubs, research days and similar activities.

Required profile

• Master's degree in public health, clinical epidemiology or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in a health research environment, with proven ability to synthesise and appraise evidence for healthcare research, policy or practice.
• At least two lifetime publications (ISI journal articles, editorials, book chapters or technical reports), with at least one as first or senior author.
• Knowledge of systematic reviews and/or other health systems research.
• Has successfully co-supervised or is supervising at least one post-graduate student to graduation.
• Experience translating research findings into public understanding, policy and practice.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Required skills

• Systematic review and health systems research methods.
• Advantageous: experience summarising systematic or scoping reviews for health policy, registration with a professional body, stakeholder liaison, knowledge of health governance and political economy analyses, familiarity with financing, service delivery, human resources and essential medicines supply systems, and proficiency in English.