Research Consultant – Clean Cut Scoping Review and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Job title: Research Consultant – Clean Cut Scoping Review and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Organisation: Lifebox

About us: Global nonprofit making surgery and anesthesia safer worldwide

Reporting to: Research Manager

Key relationships: Global Clinical Director; Research Manager; Clinical team; Program Team colleagues, and hospital team where the study will be conducted

Location: Remote, with coordination across participating study facilities

Time commitment: Deliverable-based consultancy

Duration: November 2026 – March 2027 (5 months)

Number to be hired: 1

BACKGROUND

About Lifebox

Lifebox is a dynamic global health non-profit dedicated to saving lives by improving the safety of surgery and anaesthesia around the world. Co-founded by Dr. Atul Gawande, Lifebox works to increase anaesthesia safety, reduce surgical infection rates, and strengthen operating room teamwork through tools, training, and partnerships. Since its founding in 2011, Lifebox has worked in over 116 countries and trained more than 14,400 healthcare providers, contributing to safer surgery for 248 million patients globally through practical tools, training, and system-level interventions that deliver measurable improvements in surgical safety and outcomes. This ability to translate evidence into patient-level impact at scale is a defining strength of the organisation. Lifebox is registered as a charity in Ethiopia, the UK, and the US, with over 50 staff and affiliated faculty, and an annual operating budget of US$4M–$5M supported by individual donors and foundations. Lifebox operates at the intersection of clinical excellence, system strengthening, and global health delivery, with a growing reputation as a trusted partner to ministries of health, clinicians, professional societies, and global institutions. To learn more, see: www.lifebox.org

Study Background

Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a significant cause of preventable postoperative complications, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and financial burdens on patients and health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Lifebox's Clean Cut program aims to reduce surgical site infections and improve surgical safety through a multidisciplinary, team-based approach to strengthening infection prevention practices. To further strengthen the evidence on the health and economic benefits of surgical infection prevention programs, Lifebox is undertaking a research study to assess the cost-effectiveness of Clean Cut, with particular consideration of its impact on surgical site infections, associated complications, healthcare costs, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

The research will comprise three complementary components:

• Scoping review: A review of existing evidence on surgical site infection prevention interventions, including their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in reducing SSIs, associated complications, and DALYs, as well as the economic burden of these outcomes.
• Primary costing data collection: Collection and analysis of facility- and patient-level data on the costs associated with managing SSIs and related complications, including healthcare resource utilization and costs borne by patients.
• Cost-effectiveness analysis: An economic evaluation drawing on the scoping review findings, primary costing data, and Clean-Cut implementation and effectiveness evidence to assess the economic and health benefits of the intervention.

The study aims to generate evidence to inform resource allocation, program planning, and the future scale-up of Clean Cut and other surgical infection prevention interventions in resource-limited settings. Lifebox is seeking a qualified Research Consultant with expertise in health economics, economic evaluation, and health research to provide technical leadership and support the implementation of this study.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Roles and responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultant will work closely with Lifebox's Clinical, and Program Teams to lead the technical development, implementation, analysis, and reporting of the research study.

The consultant's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Study Design and Preparation

• Lead the development and refinement of the study methodology and research protocols in collaboration with Lifebox's research manager.
• Identify relevant data requirements, sources, and gaps to inform the research process.
• Develop appropriate research tools, data collection procedures, and analysis plans.

Scoping Review

• Lead the identification, screening, extraction, and synthesis of relevant published and grey literature.
• Review available evidence on the effectiveness of SSI prevention interventions in reducing surgical site infections, associated complications, and DALYs.
• Examine existing evidence on the economic burden of SSIs and associated complications, including healthcare costs, patient-level costs, and broader economic implications.
• Review available evidence on the cost-effectiveness of SSI prevention interventions in reducing surgical site infections, associated complications, and DALYs.
• Review relevant methodologies and evidence used to estimate costs, complications prevented, and DALYs averted through surgical infection prevention interventions.
• Prepare a comprehensive synthesis of the scoping review findings.

Facility- and Patient-Level Costing Data Collection

• Lead the development of an appropriate approach for collecting and analyzing the costs associated with managing SSIs and related complications.
• Develop relevant data collection tools and provide technical guidance on their implementation.
• Coordinate and oversee primary data collection across participating healthcare facilities in collaboration with Lifebox and relevant facility teams.
• Assess relevant healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with SSI management and related complications, including costs incurred by healthcare facilities and patients.
• Provide guidance and support to data collectors and other relevant research personnel.
• Oversee data quality assurance, verification, and management throughout the data collection process.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

• Analyze the economic burden of SSIs and associated complications using primary data and relevant existing evidence.
• Incorporate available Clean Cut implementation costs and effectiveness data into the economic evaluation.
• Develop and implement an appropriate analytical approach to assess the cost-effectiveness of Clean Cut.
• Assess the economic and health benefits associated with reducing SSIs and related complications, including potential costs avoided, complications prevented, and DALYs averted.
• Interpret findings and assess their implications for resource allocation, program planning, and future implementation of surgical infection prevention interventions.

Coordination and reporting

• Lead the preparation of technical reports and research manuscripts based on the study findings.
• Present preliminary and final findings to Lifebox and relevant stakeholders.
• Incorporate feedback from Lifebox's research team and collaborators into final research outputs.
• Support the development of relevant dissemination materials, as agreed with Lifebox.
• Ensure timely submission of agreed deliverables and relevant research documentation.

Expected deliverables and payment schedule

The consultant will be engaged on a deliverable-based contract, with payments made in four installments upon satisfactory completion and approval of agreed deliverables by Lifebox.

Milestones and expected deliverables

1. Study inception and preparation: Inception report, final study protocol, and data collection tools

2. Evidence review and data collection: Data collection started, scoping review findings, progress report, and agreed progress in primary data collection

3. Analysis and preliminary findings: Completion of agreed data collection and analysis activities, preliminary economic evaluation findings, and draft technical report

4. Final reporting and dissemination: Final technical report, draft manuscript, and relevant research documentation incorporating Lifebox feedback

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Master's degree or higher in Health Economics, Public Health, or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in health economic evaluation.
• Proven experience designing and conducting health economic research, including costing studies and cost-effectiveness analyses.
• Demonstrated experience conducting systematic or scoping reviews, including literature searching, evidence extraction, and synthesis.
• Strong quantitative research and data analysis skills, including proficiency in relevant statistical or economic analysis software, with experience developing research protocols, data collection tools, technical reports, and scientific manuscripts.
• Strong understanding of healthcare delivery and health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and scientific writing skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple research activities, and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.

Lifebox is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity

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