Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Advisor, Health Taxes - US or UK
at Resolve to Save Lives
🏢 About Resolve to Save Lives
Resolve to Save Lives is a unique global public health organization focused on measurable impact, aiming to prevent 100 million deaths from cardiovascular disease and improve epidemic preparedness. Unlike many NGOs, they combine technical expertise with practical implementation, working directly with governments in low- and middle-income countries to create sustainable health systems. Their evidence-based approach and focus on scalable solutions make them particularly attractive to professionals who want to see tangible results from their work.
About This Role
This Senior Advisor role serves as the organization's primary technical authority on health taxation, providing strategic leadership for the global health taxes portfolio with focus on tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food taxes. You'll shape RTSL's work across current geographies while exploring expansion to new countries, with particular emphasis on strengthening implementation in Zambia and elevating lessons learned on tax administration. This position directly contributes to preventing non-communicable diseases through fiscal policy, making it highly impactful for global public health.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing progress on Zambia's health tax implementation with local partners, providing technical guidance to government officials in another country via virtual meetings, and developing strategic recommendations for expanding RTSL's health tax portfolio. You'd likely spend time analyzing tax administration data, preparing briefing materials for fundraising efforts, and collaborating with public health colleagues to ensure tax policies align with health objectives.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Resolve to Save Lives Is Looking For
- A professional with 10+ years in tax policy or public finance who has designed and implemented tax systems, particularly with strong tax administration and enforcement experience
- Someone with substantial experience working directly with government counterparts in low- and middle-income countries, understanding the practical challenges of implementation
- An expert who can bridge technical tax knowledge with public health objectives, ideally with experience in tobacco, alcohol, or unhealthy food taxation
- A strategic leader with an advanced degree in law, public policy, economics, or public finance who can serve as the organization's primary technical authority
📝 Tips for Applying to Resolve to Save Lives
Highlight specific examples of tax design and implementation work in low- and middle-income countries, particularly focusing on tax administration challenges you've addressed
Demonstrate your understanding of how health taxes (tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy food) specifically contribute to public health outcomes, not just general tax policy expertise
Show familiarity with RTSL's existing work in Zambia and other geographies by referencing their publications or initiatives in your application materials
Emphasize your experience working directly with government counterparts, as this role requires substantial government engagement and technical assistance
Quantify your impact where possible (e.g., 'increased tax compliance by X%' or 'contributed to Y% reduction in tobacco consumption through tax policy work')
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience with tax administration and enforcement in low- and middle-income country contexts', "Examples of successful government engagement and technical assistance you've provided on tax policy matters", 'How your background bridges tax policy expertise with public health objectives, particularly regarding tobacco, alcohol, or unhealthy food taxation', 'Your strategic thinking about scaling health tax interventions based on lessons learned from previous implementation work']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → RTSL's specific health tax initiatives in Zambia and other current geographies (check their publications and country-specific work)
- → The organization's 'Prevent Epidemics' and 'Prevent Cardiovascular Disease' programs to understand how health taxes fit into their broader strategy
- → Recent RTSL publications or position papers on health taxation, particularly any authored by their current health tax team
- → The leadership team's background and publications to understand the organization's technical approach and priorities
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Presenting only high-income country tax experience without demonstrating understanding of low- and middle-income country contexts
- Focusing solely on tax policy theory without showing practical implementation and administration experience
- Failing to connect tax expertise to public health outcomes specific to tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food taxation
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Resolve to Save Lives!