Principal Adviser - Health Policy and Research

Principal Adviser - Health Policy and Research

SPC - Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Suva, Fiji

The role – Principal Adviser – Health Policy and Research take a leadership role in advancing public health policy development and implementation, leading health operational research and driving the production and dissemination of high-impact research to inform evidence-based decision-making across the PHD, and at the national and regional level. Specifically, this role involves developing regional frameworks, coordinating national and regional policy formulation, conducting in-depth policy and regulatory gap analyses, and leading key operational research initiatives across PHD division and at the regional level in collaboration with health and non-health sectors, and policy makers in the region.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Lead health policy development and implementation

• Take the lead in driving public health policy formulation across PHD and in the Pacific region in key areas including NCDs, diseases surveillance, health information systems, health and climate resilient programs, clinical services, and laboratory systems, ensuring alignment with regional health priorities and global standards.
• Lead in supporting PICTs in adopting and implementation regional frameworks, guidelines, and strategies for public health policy.
• Provide leadership in working with government counterparts in PICTs to strengthen public health policy through stakeholders’ consultations and facilitation, including working with civil society, SPC divisions, development partners and communities.
• Oversee policy reviews and gap analyses to identify priority areas for policy enhancement, ensuring consistency with national and regional goals.
• Build strategic partnerships and collaborate across sectors, such as health, education, trade, agriculture, and environment at the national and regional level through the Pacific Heads of Health, Health Ministers and Forum Leaders meetings.

Lead operational research on public health for evidence-based policy

• Lead the coordination and implementation of operational research initiatives across SPC’s public health programmes, ensuring they address priority health issues.
• Take the lead in translating research findings into evidence-based policies, ensuring results are incorporated into public health programme strategies and technical documents.
• Develop and lead the implementation of a regional operational research agenda, prioritizing areas including NCDs, infectious disease, climate change impact on health, and health system strengthening.
• Foster high-level partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and development partners to support collaborative research and capacity building.
• Lead the development of manuscripts and submission of research findings to peer-reviewed journals in collaboration across SPC programmes, PICTs and partner institutions.

Capacity building, resource mobilisation and technical assistant

• Lead resource mobilisation efforts by identifying funding opportunities and preparing proposals to support operational research and operational research initiatives.
• Advocate for increased investment in public health research and policy through high-level policy dialogues and ministerial meetings.
• Develop resource materials, toolkits, and training modules for policy development and analysis and operational research.
• Strengthen research and policy development capacity by providing technical assistance, training, and mentorship to national health teams.
• Facilitate workshops and regional forums to build skills in public health research, policy analysis, and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Support the development of national operational research frameworks and ethical oversight mechanisms.

Coordinate and facilitate knowledge sharing

• Facilitate the dissemination of research findings through policy briefs, technical reports, scientific publications, and presentations at regional and international forums.
• Develop platforms for sharing best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in public health policy and operational research across PHD and PICTs.
• Promote the use of evidence and research data in advocacy and policy dialogues with governments and regional bodies.

Contribute as an active member of the Public Health Division

• Contribute to the development of annual work plans and budgets for public health programmes.
• Contribute to programme performance monitoring and reporting on progress towards regional health goals.
• Support programme monitoring and reporting by tracking progress against work plan indicators and evaluating outcomes.
• Facilitate the development of information, education, and communication (IEC) resources and ensure regular updates of technical content on the division’s platforms.
• Promote collaboration and harmonization across PHD programmes by sharing information, building partnerships, and participating in cross-programme initiatives.

Key selection criteria:

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with a strong policy and research component in Public Health, Health Policy, Health System or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• Demonstrated track record of at least 10 years in leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs across sectors, including drafting policy briefs, guidelines, or legislation, with expertise in policy analysis tools, and regulatory frameworks.
• At least 10 years extensive experience and expertise in designing, conducting, and leading operational research initiatives in public health, with a strong focus on translating research findings into evidence-based policies.
• A strong track record of publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals, drafting technical reports, and producing policy briefs for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and collaborate with government agencies, academic institutions, development partners, and regional organisations to advance public health goals.
• Experience in developing and delivering training, mentoring national health teams, and strengthening institutional capacities for policy development and research.
• Strong knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, with experience in tracking progress against health indicators and reporting to stakeholders.
• Knowledge of policy advocacy processes with a proven ability to navigate political landscapes and work effectively with colleagues and stakeholders from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Willingness to travel frequently (up to 30% of the time) within the Pacific region and internationally.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

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