HEOR Consultant

Overview of the role

Consultants have a key role within the HEOR practice. They are expected to take on different levels of responsibility and types of work depending on their skills, the size and complexity of projects and the other resources available in the team so a flexible, enthusiastic and professional approach is essential. There are also opportunities to develop specialist expertise eg in modelling or retrospective data analysis, and to coach others at the same time as learning from those with different areas of knowledge. Consultants are expected to contribute to business development, mainly by producing proposals in response to RFPs.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

A good knowledge of HEOR methods and approaches plus a working knowledge of consulting methodologies and general business practices is required. Also understanding of the health care sector and the pharmaceutical market, gained through the delivery of consulting engagements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

General

• Carry out work relating to the HEOR business areas (health economic modelling, HTA submissions, value communication, market access strategy and outcomes research) to a high standard which meets or exceeds client expectations.
• Support more senior staff on specific business initiatives as required
• Work without supervision independently and/or as part of a project team on defined tasks.
• Contribute to the recruitment process as appropriate, including participating in interview panels for Analysts.

Business development / internal initiatives

• Review and analyse client requirements or problems in order to help develop proposals for HEOR projects.
• Produce drafts of proposals based on client RFPs and supporting information.
• Participate in internal initiatives eg internal disseminations, and make oral presentations to IMS colleagues if required.

Project management / Client liaison

• Assist with overall project management and client management.
• Attend client and other external meetings in the home base country and elsewhere in Europe and the US, normally accompanied by a colleague.
• Manage specific project work streams independently.
• Make oral presentations to clients.

Product-specific

Health economic modelling

• Produce draft analysis plans for simple health economic models and provide significant input to their further development.
• Input to the development of complex health economic models.
• Review literature to source the required inputs (costs and clinical) to health economics models and analyses. Input this data to models if necessary.
• Produce support materials for completed economic models, e.g. reports and training programmes.

HTA submissions

• Coordinate the development of submission documents for national and international HTA, market access and reimbursement organisations (NICE, SMC, PBAC etc).
• Write chapters for submission documents and/or review chapter drafts as necessary.

Literature and data review

• Develop search strategies for structured and systematic literature reviews, negotiating with clients if needed to ensure that scope is within the agreed range.
• Manage the full review process (abstract review, paper selection and data extraction).
• Write and review literature review reports.
• Manage and carry out grey literature reviews
• Conduct meta analyses and indirect comparisons with support from specialists within the HEOR team. Produce reports from the results.

Medical writing for value communication

• Develop the structure of and write clinical and economic chapters for product value dossiers and value communications support material for clients, including the development of value messages.
• Coordinate and supervise the work of analysts on writing projects, including briefing on requirements and reviewing draft documents.
• Draft abstracts, posters and manuscripts for publication based on economic models, literature reviews, meta-analyses and other HEOR work. Manage the submission process.

Retrospective data analysis

• Contribute substantially to the development of the methodology section of statistical analysis plans. With guidance, write methodology and results sections of final reports.
• Participate in methodology and/or results discussions and presentations for the client.

Market access strategy

• Carry out research and produce reports for projects delivering strategic advice to clients on pricing, reimbursement and market access.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, TECHNICAL AND PERSONAL SKILLLS

Essential qualifications

• BA/BSc in science, economics or a related discipline
• Postgraduate qualification in economics, health economics, health services research or a relevant related area.

Essential experience

• Post graduate work experience in a related area such as economics, health economics, statistics, psychology or science

Desirable experience

• Experience of working in health economics/outcomes research/health services research. It is expected that two years work experience would be required to gain the necessary breadth and depth of experience.

• Experience in undertaking economic analysis in one of the following environments:

• Pharmaceutical or other Healthcare Industry
• Academic Organisation   
• Health Technology Assessment Group
• Health Services Research

Essential general technical skills and knowledge

• Numerate and good quantitative skills - able to work in Excel to at least Intermediate level and able to provide evidence of this applied in work or academic setting
• Competency in using Word and PowerPoint and an interest in learning relevant decision-support and statistical packages
• High level of literacy – able to appraise evidence critically and write reports and manuscripts in clear, concise language as required by the type of work.
• Ability to quality check own work so that drafts are delivered with only minimal minor typographical errors
• Good understanding of outcomes research and/or economic theory and the ability to apply this in practice

Desirable general technical skills and knowledge

• Good understanding of and interest in the international health care environment
• Commercial awareness and good understanding of the health technology and pharmaceutical industry, gained through experience
• A good knowledge of consulting methods, tools and techniques, related to these areas

Essential personal skills and behaviours

• Fluency in English (spoken and written); strong business/scientific written English
• A commitment to working collaboratively and effectively with others in and across the team to accomplish goals
• A commitment to timely internal and client communication; with clients, IMS project managers and team members, IMS colleagues and others
• Good team-based interpersonal skills but also an ability to work independently
• A pragmatic and logical problem solving approach to projects
• Strong attention to detail on all project deliverables even under time pressure.
• A good understanding of project management with proven time management and personal organisational skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• An ability to build strong business relationships