Health Systems Governance Hub Lead, Principal Consultant

The Health Practice at Oxford Policy Management is currently seeking a Health Systems Governance Hub Lead on a fixed-term basis. 

The position will be located in OPM's UK office.

We are an international development consultancy working to improve lives through sustainable policy change in low- and middle-income countries. Our vision is for fair public policy that benefits both people and the planet.

Through our global network of offices, we work in partnership with national stakeholders and decision makers to research, design, implement and evaluate impactful public policy. We draw on our local and international sector experts to provide the very best evidence-based support. We deliver projects with expert knowledge and experience, and can be relied upon for excellence in all aspects of project delivery. We work collaboratively, with ambition, to help deliver impactful public policy that will bring about lasting change.

The HSG Hub Lead plays a pivotal role in advancing the objectives of the Health Practice and wider OPM by spearheading initiatives in Health Systems Governance (HSG). This role encompasses a range of responsibilities, including:

• Hub Management: Overseeing the operations of the HSG Hub, including performance management of team members, recruitment and retention activities, development of the Hub's strategic direction and capacity statements in alignment with organizational goals, and ensuring the successful achievement of both financial and non-financial objectives of the Hub while exemplifying and promoting OPM's core values.
• Programme leadership and management: This involves leading the execution of complex technical assistance (TA) and consultancy projects, programmes and frameworks, while ensuring adherence to established standards of excellence.
• Business Development and Leadership: Driving the success of the Health Practice through strategic prepositioning and bidding and securing new opportunities in HSG.
• Rendering Technical Assistance (TA): Delivering high-level technical expertise to enhance health systems governance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This may include TA support for strengthening health policy frameworks, enhancing regulatory systems, developing robust public finance management capabilities, conducting health systems performance assessments, and designing impactful capacity-building initiatives.
• Thought Leadership and Knowledge Transfer: Establishing the HSG Hub as a center of thought leadership in health systems governance, fostering an environment of continuous learning and knowledge sharing both within the Hub and across the broader Health Practice and organizational framework.

As a HSG Hub lead of the Health Practice, you will be responsible for:

• Hub Leadership:
  • Manage the HSG Hub within the Health Practice, which includes overseeing team members, recruiting and retaining staff, and developing strategic initiatives in line with OPM and Health Practice objectives. Also, execute responsibilities under the guidance of the Practice Lead in accordance with an established annual performance agreement, aiming to meet or exceed the Hub's targets.
  • Ensure the successful achievement of both financial and non-financial targets, while embodying and promoting OPM's values and practices.
  • The HSG Hub Lead is expected to expand OPM's health initiatives in countries where OPM operates, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and beyond.
• Rendering Technical Assistance (TA): Deliver targeted TA and consulting services to foster system-level, institutional, and organizational development, ensuring alignment between strategy, structure, processes, and culture to optimize health sector outcomes. Key focus areas include:
  • Policy and Strategic Planning: Collaborate with national, regional, and local governments in LMICs to formulate comprehensive health sector, primary health care (PHC), and human resources for health (HRH) policies and strategies.
  • Business Cases Development: Assist development partners in crafting compelling business cases for complex, multi-year implementation programs.
  • Performance Assessments: Lead comprehensive performance evaluations at institutional and health system levels, including PHC and secondary care in LMICs.
  • Political Economy Analysis (PEA): Conduct in-depth PEA utilizing politically informed methodologies and tools to identify reform needs and contextualize future interventions.
  • Private Sector Engagement: Drive initiatives that promote effective private sector involvement in health, enhancing government capabilities and systems to facilitate governance, while promoting awareness and utilization of the WHO Private Sector Engagement Framework (2024).
  • Concurrent Learning and Adaptive Management: Establish frameworks for concurrent learning and adaptive management throughout project implementation, while building adaptive management capacities in partner countries.
  • Capacity Building Initiatives: Design and lead capacity-building programs aimed at healthcare leaders and managers, as well as public and private health agencies, to enhance transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency in the health sector.
  • Public Finance Management (PFM): Provide strategic support for PFM initiatives in LMICs, ensuring sustainable and effective financial practices.
  • Promoting Transparency and Accountability: Advocate for the establishment of more open and inclusive societies by strengthening citizen engagement in public sector governance, working collaboratively with civil society, the private sector, media, and communities to amplify their voices within political and administrative systems.
• Project Acquisition and Bidding: Lead the pursuit of small, medium, and large-scale projects in the realm of HSG by effectively collaborating with OPM’s Bid, Finance, Legal, HR, and Implementation Teams. Proficiency in technical writing is essential.
• Project Management: Oversee medium to large-scale HSG projects executed by the Health Practice and OPM country teams, ensuring alignment with OPM's systems and procedures.
• Intellectual Capital Development: Participate in activities aimed at enhancing the Practice’s intellectual capital in relevant fields, as designated by the Practice Lead. This may involve delivering seminars on HSG projects, publishing research in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting at conferences.
• Market Development: Support market development initiatives within designated areas by cultivating strong relationships with clients, potential partners, and competitors. Actively engage in exploring new avenues for work and building connections through existing and new networks.
• Collaboration and Compliance: Foster effective collaboration across teams within the HSG Hub, Health Practice, and at the organizational level. Ensure that all HSG Hub members adhere to internal policies, processes, and procedures, particularly concerning reporting, HR, and financial management systems.

Qualifications/experience:

This position requires a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of health systems governance, excellent leadership skills, and a commitment to improving health outcomes in diverse context.

Professional/Technical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Professional Knowledge
• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., Public Health, Medicine, Health Management) preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in health systems governance (HSG), including strong technical writing skills.
• Proven consulting experience with measurable achievements in global health, HSG, and health systems strengthening (HSS).
• Project Management and Client Delivery
• Extensive project management experience, including oversight of complex technical assistance (TA) and consultancy projects.
• Strong skills in managing client relationships and fostering effective teamwork.
• Demonstrated skills in managing staff and consulting teams
• Acquisition and Bid Management
• Successful track record in securing donor-funded development projects through competitive procurement.
• Demonstrated experience in writing compelling technical and financial proposals.
• Core Consulting Skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a collaborative approach to teamwork.
• Strong networking abilities and an aptitude for relationship-building.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.
• Experience working in developing or transitional economies.

Behavioral Competencies

• Problem Solving: Enthusiastic about addressing challenges and dedicated to continuous improvement; fosters a culture of learning and problem-solving within the team.
• Results-Oriented: Exhibits a proactive, solutions-focused approach; effectively balances multiple priorities through planning and delegation, ensuring accountability to meet deadlines.
• Inspirational Leadership: Passionate and resilient in pursuit of goals; maintains positivity and supports team members in overcoming challenges.
• Sound Judgment: Comfortable making clear decisions amid uncertainty, drawing on available knowledge and expertise to evaluate options and select optimal approaches.
• Effective Communication: Listens actively, conveys ideas clearly, and values inclusive dialogue; encourages feedback and collaboration.
• Collaboration: Works effectively within and across teams, networks, and with external partners to achieve shared goals; promotes a culture of collaboration within the HSG Hub.
• Developing Others: Identifies team members' strengths and provides coaching, support, and growth opportunities to develop their skills.

• We enable colleagues’ capacity to grow professionally through enhanced learning resources, opportunities to work cross functionally, and space to engage with a range of internal and external industry events.
• Our non-hierarchical culture values support, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and a rich diversity of perspectives.
• We provide an exceptionally generous annual leave entitlement and a hybrid working model to encourage and enable healthy work/life balance.
• Wellbeing resources including a global Employee Assistance Programme and access to the UnMind app.
• Competitive salary and contributory pension scheme.

We are strengthened by the diversity of colleagues across our global business and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace for all. 

Our recruitment practices reflect our ambition to make the international development sector more inclusive and firm belief that our work delivers the best outcomes when we actively include a diversity of perspectives and experiences. 

If you share our vision for fair public policy that benefits both people and planet, we would love to hear from you.   We review and interview applicants on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply by way of CV via our careers site at the earliest.   We may close this advertisement before the published closing date, should a suitable candidate be identified.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role and candidates must have a pre-existing right to work in country for their application to be considered.

Oxford Policy Management is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of the business.  Should you require adjustments to make the application process more accessible please contact us via: recruitment@opml.co.uk