Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers conduct and evaluate research, produce reports for decision making, as well as develop and manage health-care policies and programs.
People in this occupation work for:
- Government departments and agencies
- Consulting companies
- Universities and other educational institutions
- Research institutes
- Health-care organizations
- Community agencies
- Professional associations
- Non-governmental organizations
- International organizations
- Advocacy organizations
- Regulatory bodies
Job Titles
Duties
In general, health policy researchers, consultants and program officers:
- Help develop government health policy
- Provide advice to senior managers and officials on issues including health care strategy, health promotion, regulation, standards and financing
- Design and manage health projects or programs
- Maintain, update and manage health information databases
- Collect and analyse statistics provided by private and public health-care organizations
- Monitor and evaluate health-care programs delivered by government or private organizations
- Assess compliance with health standards and identify corrective action if necessary
- Offer consulting services to private or public sector clients
- Respond to internal and external health information requests
- Produce newsletters, magazines and other informational documents
- Present the views of an association or organization to government officials, the media or the public
Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers may specialize in a specific health policy area such as Aboriginal family health, community health or addictions research.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,705% Employed Full Time
63%Work takes place in an indoor office setting.
Career Pathways
Progression to managerial positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers must complete a bachelor's degree or college diploma in health science, public health, public administration, recreation or hospital administration or social science. Several years of experience in the health field as a health care professional or as a community or social service worker is also usually required.
A graduate degree in health, public health, social science or administration may also be required.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,705Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 135 | 3.6% |
| Kootenay | 60 | 1.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,155 | 58.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 55 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | 25 | 0.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 310 | 8.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 960 | 25.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,780Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 90 | 1.3% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 1.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,070 | 1.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 0.4% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 170 | 1.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 410 | 1.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,030 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 260 |
| Public Administration | 220 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 110 |
| Educational Services | 80 |
Resources
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Canadian Public Policy Network (CPPN/RCPP)www.cppn.ca/