The primary purpose of the role is to lead and undertake health-focused review and evidence synthesis projects for a wide range of clients.
Types of projects include:
Systematic reviews of the clinical effectiveness and safety of medicines, devices, digital technologies, and diagnostics
Reviews of economic, quality of life, and resource use studies
Scoping reviews to inform project or research prioritisation
Burden of illness reviews
Rapid reviews and best evidence syntheses
Landscape and gap analyses
Horizon scanning and early evidence generation
Reviews to inform network meta-analyses and indirect treatment comparisons
This post will report to one of the Project Directors within YHEC’s Review and Evidence Synthesis work stream. The successful candidate will work within and across multidisciplinary project teams. YHEC staff include experienced health economists, information specialists, evidence synthesis researchers, systematic reviewers, qualitative researchers, medical writers, statisticians, and research support staff. YHEC also maintains and collaborates with a vibrant network of experienced associates and technical experts from external partner organisations.
Main Duties:
The Senior Research Consultant will contribute to the performance and profitability of YHEC Ltd in the following key areas.
Project Work / Management:
Lead and effectively manage projects to deliver outputs that meet the project objectives within the planned timeframe and budget
Act as the project lead on a wide variety of review and evidence synthesis projects. In particular, you will be required to:
Develop project protocols
Collaborate with Information Specialists on evidence retrieval
Screen search results
Conduct data extraction
Assess study risk of bias
Narratively synthesise data
Produce formal reports to stakeholders
Lead and manage the submission of publishable outputs
Manage project teams and contribute to the training of junior staff
Provide internal expertise on evidence synthesis and systematic review methods.
Liaise with health economics staff on model development
Liaise with statisticians and other technical experts, as required, to coordinate the delivery of statistical analyses including network meta-analysis.
Maintain professional development through methods research and develop journal articles.
Business Development:
Income generation by identifying opportunities and leading the preparation of proposals / tenders for YHEC to carry out review projects
Marketing of YHEC, including attending and presenting at national and international conferences and preparing marketing material
Tender / proposal presentations to potential clients
Leading or co-leading the development, organisation and delivery of training events
Client Management:
Ensure client expectations are managed from proposal to completion
Attend client meetings and maintain good working relationships with all clients
Prepare progress reports and make presentations to clients
Personal Specification:
Essential skills and attributes are:
A post-graduate degree in a relevant health-related subject. A first degree in a relevant subject and significant experience gained in a research and/or consultancy environment will be considered.
A strong interest in the evaluation of health care and the NHS.
An understanding of the healthcare regulatory and market access processes
An understanding and clinical study design and/or evaluation methods
Significant experience of playing a lead role in evidence synthesis, systematic review, or guideline projects, including delivering tasks to tight deadlines.
Prior experience of working in applied healthcare research.
Ability to lead, manage and take responsibility for multi-disciplinary project teams.
Great interpersonal skills / communication skills and an ability to communicate new and complex information effectively, both verbally and in writing.
A high level of attention to detail and accuracy and a commitment to high quality research.
Ability to multi-task and prioritise work depending on client deadlines.
Willingness to engage in continuing professional development, methods research and to contribute to peer-reviewed journals.
Desirable, but not essential, skills and attributes are:
Experience of delivering commercially-focused research services.
Experience with advanced quantitative analyses, such as network meta-analysis and metaregression
Experience or interest of automation methods and tools to support evidence synthesis
Candidates may be required, on occasion, to travel for business purposes (e.g. to client meetings or conferences) although this is not expected to be a significant part of the role
The salary will be within the range £38,000 to £50,000 plus bonus. There is a performance related pay scheme in operation at YHEC linked to the financial performance of the company and subject to performance; the post holder can expect a substantial annual bonus. The post holder will be eligible to join the York Health Economics Consortium Group Pension fund.
Annual leave entitlement will be 30 days per year, plus bank holidays.
