[Hiring] Health Innovation Lead @Relief International

Role Description

We are currently recruiting a Health Innovation Lead to join our Quality, Impact and Innovation Department. This is a remote, 12-month position open to candidates based in any Relief International country of operation within 3 hours of CET time zone.

This role is classified as requiring advanced pre-employment checks.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and lead Relief International's global health innovation agenda. The Health Innovation Lead will drive practical, evidence-based innovation to address some of the most pressing health and health-system challenges facing communities in fragile, conflict-affected and resource-constrained settings.

• Identify real-world problems and find practical, scalable solutions that improve health outcomes, access, quality, efficiency, and resilience.
• Collaborate closely with country teams, communities, academic institutions, governments, private-sector actors, donors, and research partners.
• Report to the Director of Quality, Impact and Innovation with significant autonomy to shape strategy, develop partnerships, mobilize resources, and establish Relief International as a recognized leader in health innovation.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of Relief International's Health Innovation Strategy.
• Create a focused portfolio of evidence-based innovation opportunities aligned with organizational and country priorities.
• Identify and prioritize health and health-system challenges where innovation can improve outcomes, quality, equity, efficiency, and resilience.
• Design, adapt, and oversee innovation initiatives using an evidence-based approach.
• Scan global evidence, technologies, products, and service-delivery models to identify innovations for low-resource and humanitarian contexts.
• Generate evidence on effectiveness, feasibility, cost, acceptability, equity, and scalability.
• Lead resource mobilization efforts and contribute to the development of innovation-focused concept notes, proposals, and strategic partnerships.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with ministries of health, donors, research institutions, innovators, private-sector organizations, and implementing partners.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and hands-on support to country teams.
• Promote cross-country learning, knowledge sharing, and thought leadership.

Qualifications

• Advanced qualification in Public Health, Global Health, Health Systems, Health Policy, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience working in global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and/or fragile, conflict-affected or humanitarian settings.
• Strong expertise in health systems strengthening.
• Proven ability to identify complex health-system challenges and develop practical, context-appropriate solutions.
• Experience identifying, adapting, testing, and scaling health innovations.
• Demonstrated experience designing or overseeing evaluations, implementation research, pilots, or evidence-generation initiatives.
• Strong track record in partnership building, donor engagement, and resource mobilization.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience with digital health, AI, diagnostics, health technologies, implementation science, operational research, or health economics would be highly desirable.

How To Apply

To apply for this post, click on the Apply button in the job advert page. You will be asked to upload a CV and Cover Letter. The cover letter should be one page and explain why you are interested in this post with Relief International and how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the role.

Closing Date

October 16, 2026.

As a humanitarian organization, Relief International is committed to safeguarding all those we come into contact with through our work. We are committed to the core humanitarian principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Relief International expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct.

Recruitment to all roles in Relief International includes a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualification checks.

Due to the nature of this role, we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and the role might be filled and closed before the closing date. Early applications are encouraged.

Relief International countries of operation include: UK, France, Kenya, Türkiye, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

If you are shortlisted, salary will be discussed at HR interview stage. If successful, national terms and conditions will apply.