Senior Research Economist

Job Posting Organization:
The Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Founded with the mission that every individual, regardless of their identity or circumstances, should have the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life, the Foundation emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the global populations it serves. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage without premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The Foundation is committed to fostering an environment that supports both personal and professional growth for its employees.

Job Overview:
The Senior Research Economist position is a full-time, limited-term role lasting 11 months, focused on leading and executing high-impact analytical work in health economics. The role emphasizes cost-effectiveness analysis, bundled interventions, and health system optimization, particularly in the context of women's health and primary health care. The successful candidate will be responsible for applying rigorous quantitative methods to inform decision-making in health systems and service delivery. This position requires a hands-on approach, where the candidate will manage the entire analytical process from conceptualization to communication of results, while also contributing to the development of modeling approaches for optimization and prioritization in constrained health systems. The role is designed for someone who can translate complex research questions into structured analytical strategies that consider epidemiological dynamics, costs, and health system constraints.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Research Economist will lead the design and execution of health economics analyses to inform prioritization of interventions and health system strategies, particularly in women's health. Responsibilities include developing and applying cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) frameworks, conducting modeling approaches such as scenario analysis and simulation, and translating high-level research questions into structured analytical approaches. The candidate will also manage end-to-end analytical workflows, including data cleaning, validation, integration, and results generation. They will work with diverse health and data system inputs, conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to refine research questions and interpret findings. The role requires producing high-quality analytical outputs and ensuring all analyses are well-documented and reproducible.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a PhD in a quantitative field such as health economics, economics, statistics, epidemiology, or data science. A minimum of five years of post-PhD experience in applied quantitative research in global health economics or related areas is required. Strong expertise in health economic methods, particularly cost-effectiveness analysis and resource allocation, is essential. Advanced programming skills in R and/or Python are necessary, along with a proven ability to independently design and execute complex analyses. Experience with health and data systems, including integrating and analyzing data from various sources, is also required. Candidates should have experience applying quantitative methods to health systems strengthening and service delivery, ideally including women's and maternal health.

Educational Background:
A PhD in a quantitative field such as health economics, economics, statistics, epidemiology, data science, or a related discipline is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding and applying complex quantitative methods in health economics and policy analysis.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of post-PhD experience in conducting applied quantitative research in global health economics or related fields. Candidates should have a strong track record of applying health economic methods to policy-relevant questions and experience in managing complex analytical projects from inception to completion.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is implied as it is the primary language of communication within the organization. Additional language skills may be beneficial, particularly in languages relevant to the regions where the Foundation operates.

Additional Notes:
This is a limited-term position for 11 months, and relocation assistance will not be provided. The salary range for this role is between $190,100 to $294,700 USD, with specific adjustments for high-wage markets like Seattle and Washington D.C., where the range is $209,100 to $324,100 USD. The Foundation emphasizes a balance between competitive pay and its mission-driven goals. New hires typically fall within the range minimum and midpoint, with actual placement depending on job-related skills and experience. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, and the Foundation is committed to providing an inclusive hiring experience, accommodating candidates with disabilities or medical conditions.