Position Details About the role: 

• The Principal Health Economist plays a critical role in providing authoritative advice and leadership to support evidence-based decision making of health funding and efficient use of available resources to maximise health benefits for all Victorians.
• This successful candidate will bring key leadership capabilities including health economics strategy, navigating new and different environments, brokering agreement across areas, communicating effectively across government, and quickly comprehending new and complex material. 
• We are seeking candidates who will contribute to a high performing culture, deliver successful outcomes, develop capability within the team and be a leader within the branch. 
• This role will lead activities that help drive the successful delivery of priority design projects that improve the way the department operates.

About us:  At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.  We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all.  How you'll make a difference:

• Provide authoritative advice on efficient design of health and care systems, the economic evaluation, health-related behaviours and the impacts of incentives, financial and otherwise, to modify these behaviours.
• Provide authoritative strategic advice and thought leadership on health economics, drawing on the expertise within the public health division for surveillance and epidemiology.
• Design, develop and lead a resource allocation framework to generate evidence-based information related to health care investment (e.g. cost benefit analysis) that meets demand/need for health care services, health promotion and prevention, ensuring alignment with government priorities.
• Develop modelling and data analysis to guide strategy and decision making on the economic return on health investment, aligned with the principles of value-based health and care.
• Lead the development and implementation of processes and systems for the effective monitoring and coordination of departmental objectives.
• Maintain an excellent understanding of issues impacting the public health system, as well as Commonwealth and State legislative and policy directions. Proactively identify opportunities and manage risk.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders and senior staff and develop innovative strategies and methods which assist the department to deliver on key policies and initiatives.
• Provide leadership, guidance and authoritative advice to internal and external stakeholders and prepare and present detailed, comprehensive reports, ministerial briefs, cabinet and agency submissions on complex policy and sensitive issues.