Senior Director, Health Research & Innovation Academy

About the role

The Senior Director will lead THRIA, a pioneering institution at the intersection of applied health research, workforce capability, and system innovation for Saudi Arabia’s largest health insurer. The role combines personal research excellence with the responsibility to shape and operationalise a national research agenda that influences health policy, payer strategy and system transformation.

Key responsibilities

• Define and drive THRIA’s research agenda across health policy, value‑based care, population health and health financing.
• Ensure scientific rigor of all research activities and translate findings into actionable policy and payer recommendations.
• Build and maintain partnerships with Saudi and GCC institutions, international research networks and advisory bodies.
• Oversee the development of the Academy Engine, including six schools covering population health, value‑based care and related domains.
• Lead grant acquisition efforts and act as principal investigator on funded projects.
• Represent THRIA in national and international forums, contributing to guideline development and health system reforms.

Required profile

• PhD in Health Policy, Health Economics, Public Health, Health Systems or a closely related field (post‑doctoral training preferred).
• Active publication record with 15‑20 peer‑reviewed papers, including first‑author and corresponding‑author work; h‑index appropriate to career stage.
• Experience as principal investigator on government, institutional or international grant‑funded research.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into policy or operational impact.
• Familiarity with Saudi and GCC health‑system dynamics (highly preferred).
• Editorial or peer‑review experience for recognised health‑policy or systems journals.

Required skills

• Health policy analysis
• Value‑based healthcare methodology
• Population health management
• Health financing and insurance market design
• Health‑systems transformation frameworks
• Grant writing and research project management
• Advanced research methodology and statistical analysis