Location: Remote (global applicants welcome)
Contract Type: Part-time (approximately 60% FTE)
Application Deadline: 5 pm BST Monday 1 September 2025
Start Date: 1 November 2025 (negotiable)
Remuneration: Commensurate with experience and responsibilities
About IHEA
The International Health Economics Association (IHEA) is a global professional organization dedicated to increasing communication among health economists, fostering research excellence, and advancing the field worldwide—especially in low- and middle-income countries. Through our biennial congresses, special interest groups, mentoring programs, and collaborative initiatives, we support thousands of members in their work to improve health systems and health policy through robust economic analysis.
The Opportunity
IHEA is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven Executive Director (ED) to lead and manage the association. This is a pivotal role, working closely with the Board of Directors, the association management team, and members located around the world to implement IHEA’s strategic vision, strengthen its operations, and ensure the continued excellence of its programs and governance.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Implementation & Member Engagement
Drive the execution of IHEA’s strategic plan, identify and develop new initiatives to support members, and provide oversight to Special Interest Groups and initiatives such as the mentoring and fellowship programs and awards. - Congress & Events Management
Lead the planning and delivery of IHEA’s biennial congress, including site selection, coordination with the scientific committee, and logistical oversight of pre-congress sessions. - Organizational Operations
Oversee day-to-day operations in collaboration with the association management team, including membership systems, communications, and technology tools. - Governance & Financial Oversight
Ensure strong governance practices, support the work of the Board and committees, manage the organization’s budget and finances, oversee audits, and support fundraising efforts.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for a collaborative and effective leader with:
- A postgraduate degree (Master’s or higher) in health economics, public health, economics, or a related discipline (PhD desirable).
- Substantial leadership experience in a non-profit, academic, or professional association setting.
- Proven ability to manage complex programs, facilitate decision-making, and work with volunteer boards or committees.
- Demonstrated financial literacy, including budget planning and oversight.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage globally across cultures and time zones.
- A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in health economics.
Why Join IHEA?
This is a unique opportunity to lead a vibrant international association and contribute meaningfully to the global advancement of health economics. The role offers flexible remote work, engagement with a worldwide community of researchers and policymakers, and the chance to shape the future of the discipline.
How to apply
Please submit the following to:
Kara Hanson (Kara.hanson@lshtm.ac.uk), President, IHEA by 1 September 2025
- A CV
- A cover letter outlining your interest in the role and setting out how you meet the person specification.
- Contact details for 2 referees.
If you wish to discuss the role in advance of applying please contact Kara Hanson (kara.hanson@lshtm.ac.uk).
IHEA Executive Director Job Description 2025
The Executive Director (ED) is appointed by the Board, and engaged as a contractor through an agreement with IHEA’s Officers/President, on a 3 year fixed term (renewable) basis. They work closely with the Association Management Company, contracted by IHEA, who provide support for association activities including financial and events management. Appropriate tasks are delegated to the association management team.
The ED has three primary areas of responsibility:
- Implementing IHEA’s strategic plan to further the mission of the association
- Overseeing the administrative operations of IHEA
- Ensuring good governance and financial management in IHEA
Specific responsibilities and tasks:
Implementing IHEA’s strategic plan to further the mission of the association
- Generate and evaluate new opportunities to further the mission of IHEA, particularly activities to benefit members between congresses, for Board consideration. Input should be secured from the Board and/or relevant Committees and may require direct consultation with members.
- Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
- Provide advice and support to IHEA members wishing to propose a new SIG
- Review and comment on SIG two-year plans
- Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of SIG activities
- All day-to-day support to SIGs (e.g., for webinars, maintaining webpages, creating blogs etc.) to be provided by other members of the association management team
- Awards and prizes:
- Oversee the Student Prize and Arrow Award processes; other members of the association management team to provide most of the support directly to award/prize committee chairs (e.g., transferring submitted papers, preparing newsletter announcement, sending prize/award to winners, etc.)
- Support the Wagstaff Award committee: assessing eligibility of applicants (focus of research, career stage, LMIC status, etc.); communication with applicants to be undertaken by other members of the association management team
- Other non-congress activities:
- Mentoring program – support Capacity Strengthening Committee and association manager in systematizing key elements of the program (mentor-mentee matching approach; dates for all key tasks on program)
- Fellowship program – support Capacity Strengthening Committee in screening applicants for eligibility and preparing applicant information for committee review
- Manage IHEA sessions at annual ASSA/AEA – identify Board members to review abstracts, construct sessions and identify discussants and chairs
- Congresses:
- Oversee the process of identifying sites for the biennial congress including the call for expressions of interest, advising IHEA members preparing proposal to host a congress, and summarizing proposals according to the criteria agreed by the Board. The selection of each congress site is the responsibility of the Board.
- Oversee negotiation of venues and facilities for congresses and approve associated contracts.
- Provide extensive support to the Chairs of the Congress Scientific Committee (SC), particularly in relation to:
- Drafting of abstract submission form, contracting with abstract system provider and ensuring abstract submission system fully functional before launching
- Facilitating the establishment of the Scientific Committee (call for expressions of interest and selection of SC chairs, Program Chairs and Review Panel)
- Ensuring appropriate allocation of all abstracts to reviewers
- Updating drafts of communication with reviewers and Program Chairs on guidelines for their activities in consultation with SC Chairs (e.g., guidelines for review scoring and acceptance and to avoid implicit bias, clear instructions on how to use abstract system)
- Supporting SC chairs in finalizing moderators for each session, promoting diversity and inclusion
- Preparing program structure and supporting SC chairs in detailed program scheduling
- Assisting with requests for changes to the program
- Oversee pre-congress sessions, including:
- Determining fees for sessions, according to size of venue, and to ensure full cost-recovery
- Drafting call for proposals
- Reviewing proposals in consultation with local organizing committee
- Ensuring pre-congress session details uploaded onto online program and individual session logistics requirements are accommodated
Overseeing the administrative operations of IHEA
- Work closely with association management team to ensure clear delineation of responsibilities for upcoming activities, and that all activities are completed in a timely manner.
- Oversee membership system properly maintained and reminders for renewal when membership expires.
- Engage with management team on communication strategy and ensure regular updating of website and communication with members through newsletter and social media
- Regularly engage with book-keeper to ensure that QuickBooks ledgers accurately maintained and updated on a monthly basis, and a quarterly financial report produced.
Ensuring good governance and financial management in IHEA
- Ensure that the Bylaws, policies, committee terms of reference and guidelines are kept up to date and are complied with
- Facilitate Board and Presidential elections
- Maintain open and transparent communications with the Board to allow Board Directors to have such communication with members. This includes ensuring regular updates via e-mail on key developments between Board meetings, a brief quarterly report, and responsiveness to queries and requests from Board members. Some of this may be undertaken by the broader management team (e.g. compiling data requested by a Board member or circulating updates to the Board), but the ED must ensure that this happens.
- Prepare a reflective review of the functioning of IHEA and performance in pursuit of its mission, for discussion at the biennial face-to-face Board meeting.
- Prepare agendas, and background notes to facilitate informed decision-making, for Board and Committee meetings, in consultation with the President or Chair of the relevant Committee.
- Ensure good records are maintained of all meetings and decisions of the Board and related Committees. Explicit action items should be noted, and ED has overall responsibility for ensuring that action items are carried out. The ED is not responsible for taking minutes of meetings but must review them to ensure they are accurate before circulation to the Board or relevant Committee.
- Have overall responsibility for the finances of the organization, ensuring that appropriate accounting records are maintained, are accurate and are audited (or reviewed by an auditor) annually in compliance with appropriate legislation in the countries in which financial affairs are conducted.
- In conjunction with the Treasurer and financial management team, prepare an annual operations budget and biennial congress budget, that are in line with the IHEA finance policy, for approval by the Finance Committee and the Board.
- Review and approve all invoices before payment, ensuring that they are in line with the budget; the Treasurer must approve payment of invoices for ED fees.
- Fundraise for IHEA activities, particularly the biennial congress.
- Produce an annual report on IHEA income and expenditure, including a narrative on variations relative to the budget and causes for such variations, for consideration by the Finance Committee and Board prior to the audit.
- Oversee the preparation of documentation for the annual audit, carefully review the audited financial statement and forms to report to the relevant tax authority, liaise with auditor to ensure accuracy in final draft, and submit these reports to the Finance Committee and Board for approval.
- In conjunction with the Treasurer and Finance Committee, routinely assess the financial goals, performance and current financial position of the organization.
- Work with the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee to foster a culture of respect, understanding and acceptance. This includes providing oversight to the appropriate collection and use of information from members and congress participants
Person Specification: Executive Director – IHEA
E: Essential D: Desirable
| Essential qualifications and knowledge | |
| Postgraduate degree (Master’s or higher) in health economics, public health, economics, or a related field. | E |
| In-depth knowledge of the field of health economics and a strong understanding of the role and mission of IHEA. | E |
| Demonstrated understanding of non-profit governance, strategic planning, and organizational development. | E |
| Familiarity with financial management, including budgeting, reporting, and audit processes. | |
| PhD in health economics, public health, economics or related field. | D |
| Experience | |
| Proven senior leadership experience, preferably in a non-profit, academic, or professional association setting. | E |
| Successful track record in: Implementing strategic plansLeading complex multi-stakeholder projectsManaging teams and collaborating across remote team | E |
| Experience in organizing large-scale conferences or events, including scientific programming and logistics. | D |
| Demonstrated experience in committee engagement, particularly with volunteer-led boards or working groups. | D |
| Previous involvement in fundraising or securing sponsorship for events or organizational initiatives. | D |
| Experience supporting global networks. | D |
| Skills and abilities | |
| Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines. | E |
| Financial management, including use of accounting software such as QuickBooks, and experience with budget development and review. | D |
| Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders across cultures and regions. | E |
| Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with Board members, committees, and external partners. | E |
| Experience of using digital tools and platforms (e.g., abstract management systems, CRM/membership databases, virtual meeting platforms, web content systems). | D |
| Ability to analyze complex information and distil key messages to support decision-making. | E |
| Skilled in facilitating meetings, preparing clear and concise reports and background papers. | E |
| Ability to represent IHEA with credibility and diplomacy in public and professional settings. | E |
| Personal attributes | |
| Commitment to the mission and values of IHEA, including promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in global health economics. | E |
| Strategic thinker who is also detail-oriented and capable of executing day-to-day tasks | E |
| Self-motivated and proactive, with a strong sense of initiative and accountability | E |
| Highly collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable working in a virtual, international environment. | E |
| Demonstrates the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct. | E |