Health Economist


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	£46,310 to £52,113 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	London, E14 4PU
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	19 Oct 2026
Closing date:	2 Nov 2026

Apply for this job

Summary

Your main responsibilities will include: Provide analysis and insight: You will apply economic techniques to estimate, analyse and communicate the costs of interventions or health threats to the UK. This includes carrying out cost-benefit, cost-of-illness and cost-effectiveness analysis, but may also extend to ad-hoc pieces of work to support decision-making. You are open to learning more about health security, climate threats and public health in general from other experts while demonstrating the value of economics. You will need to develop clear high-quality analysis, make recommendations and communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, including senior audiences. Lead a research programme. You will apply existing methods and identify new approaches to provide insight to difficult health questions. You will demonstrate an ability to manage projects and stakeholders across an organisation, and bring a strong intellectual curiosity with an interdisciplinary approach. There will be scope for the postholder to shape this work according to their interest, while also meeting the likely future demands of the organisation. It could include looking at how health security interacts with the wider economy or looking at new ways to value resilience. Build the Economic profession at UKHSA: All the while, you will be at the forefront of building the role and reputation of the economic profession within UKHSA in general, and providing leadership on economics. Working with experts across multiple fields, you will showcase the value of economics to all colleagues as well as contributing to building an inclusive and welcoming community of economics. Recent project examples for the team include: Estimating the burden and cost of infections and infectious diseases on NHS hospitals from routine administrative data Supporting the Agency during Spending Review through developing evidence on the Agencys Value for Money Preparing a business case for pandemic preparedness to support allocation of resources. In addition, you will also be central to building our understanding of how infectious disease and other hazards interact with the wider healthcare system and economy. You will support the Agencys and Cabinet Offices Risk Assessments and planning by estimating the potential economic impact of different health threats. Finally, as UKHSA has a responsibility to respond to mitigate the impact of health security threats, you may also feed into responses in the event of major public health incidents. This is not an exhaustive list. Essential criteria A first or second class honours degree in economics or related field (or equivalent qualification); or a postgraduate degree in a relevant numerate discipline (or equivalent qualification) Ability to effectively communicate the results of analysis to senior stakeholders and decision makers Good interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships Excellent presentation skills Desirable criteria Knowledge of health economics and experience in applying it to provide insight into health problems. Ability to work at pace to deadlines across multiple projects Experience with developing Green Book-compliant business cases including knowledge of best practice. Experience in cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis, particularly relating to health interventions Selection process This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria. Stage 1: Application & Sift You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed4 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of: an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a 1000 wordsupporting statement. This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledgeprovide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please beadvisedyou will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV. HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over1000words. Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of: Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: A first or second class honours degree in economics or related field (or equivalent qualification); or a postgraduate degree in a relevant numerate discipline (or equivalent qualification) Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment. Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams. Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview. Interviews will be held week commencing 16th November 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Location This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Core HQ in London (Canary Wharf). We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) on-site. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Eligibility criteria Option 1 - External Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Security clearance level requirement Part 1 Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed. Part 2 Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. Salary information If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. Please note: The Digital and Data Directorate, where this role sits, is reviewing its Target Operating Model. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future changes. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Apply for this job