Chief II, Clinical Pharmacist

Role Purpose

The purpose of this role within the relevant business unit and for HIQA as a whole: The purpose of this role is to join a multidisciplinary team with responsibility for the effective implementation of HIQA’s programmes to deliver high quality health technology assessments (HTAs), other evidence-based advice and evidence synthesis outputs, and therefore to embed evidence-based methodology in the health decision-making processes in Ireland. The HTA Directorate, overall, comprises approximately 60 analysts. Methods development and academic outputs are actively encouraged and the Directorate hosts a range of postgraduate fellowships and an active post-graduate degree training programme.

The scope of the HTA Directorate’s work includes providing evidence synthesis and evidence-based advice to inform public health policy, and providing HTAs to inform decision-making on investment or disinvestment in health technologies and programmes, including decisions in relation to national screening and national immunisation programmes. Teams within the HTA Directorate also perform evidence synthesis to support the development of National Clinical Guidelines & Audit and the development of national health policy, and evidence synthesis reviews to inform decisions related to the generic justification of practices involving medical exposure to ionising radiation.

Since 31 March 2025, HIQA hosts the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), Ireland’s National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). Staff from the HTA Directorate provide the clinical, technical and administrative secretariat for NIAC to support the development of independent evidence-based advice on vaccines, immunisation and related health matters to inform health policies in Ireland, and updates to the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland.

The Clinical Pharmacist will support the NIAC Special Advisors who lead on the review and update of the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland in line with NIAC’s programme of work. The post holder will contribute to the co-ordination and co-authoring of these updates as well as assist with advice and responding to immunisation queries from healthcare professionals. The post holder will be part of a multidisciplinary team that produces evidence syntheses on vaccines, immunisation and related health topics to aid decision-making.

Working closely with the NIAC Clinical Lead and Special Advisors, the post holder will liaise with subject matter experts and work collaboratively with academic partners and with other national and international bodies involved in immunisation guideline and policy development, and immunisation programme implementation. The post holder will actively engage in the work of the HTA Directorate and of HIQA to deliver on the annual business plan in line with the strategic objectives as outlined in HIQA’s Corporate Plan.

Behavioural Expectations

The way that HIQA people are expected to work to role model HIQA values: The incumbent of this role is expected to demonstrate HIQA’s values in the delivery of every day work and interactions with clients and colleagues, by putting people first, being fair and objective, being open and accountable, demonstrating excellence and innovation and working together.

Common Tasks – Team Member

• Seek clarity on the tasks associated with own role

• Complete tasks in compliance with policies and procedures

• Adhere to relevant legislation, standards and internal audits

• Fulfil any mandatory or professional competency requirements

• Maintain confidentiality and a professional approach

• Raise any concerns in relation to workplace health and safety

• Actively identify learning needs and development opportunities

• Actively contribute as a team member

• Follow direction and take on new and different tasks

• Set and achieve performance goals that contribute to HIQA strategy

• Regularly seek feedback to meet performance expectations and goals

Role Specific Tasks

The key tasks and activities associated with the role: The nature of the tasks and activities associated with the role will vary accordingly. It will involve:

• Coordinating and co-authoring the review and update of the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland, as agreed by NIAC

• Assisting with advice and responding to immunisation queries from healthcare professionals

• Liaising with subject matter experts, applying high quality methodology using systematic search strategies, synthesis and quality assessment to produce the best evidence to inform recommendations and immunisation guidance by NIAC

• Representing NIAC in interactions with senior healthcare stakeholders nationally and internationally and furthering its strategic objectives

• Supporting NIAC in its programme of work

• Leading and contributing to the production of comprehensive evidence syntheses within defined timelines

• Developing and implementing project management plans

• Contributing to drafting and writing reports that present complex information in an easily understood and accessible format

• Contributing to the development of processes, policies, quality standards and training to ensure evidence syntheses, appraisals, immunisation query responses and guideline updates are completed in accordance with described standards and are of a high quality

• Contributing to the development of evidence synthesis methodology

• Coordinating with the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team on the publication of key documents

• Leading on or contributing to the development of peer reviewed academic publications

• Working on collaborative projects with academic partners and with other national and international bodies involved in immunisation guideline and policy development, and immunisation programme implementation

• Assisting with evidence synthesis capacity building in the wider health service

• Mentoring other staff members and supporting skills development

• Proactively engaging in performance development reviews and actively seeking out learning and development opportunities

• Managing and mentoring more junior members of the team as required

• Providing support to the Director of Health Technology Assessment and other Directorate staff

• Undertaking other duties and responsibilities as may be determined by the Director of Health Technology Assessment

The contents of any role description are not exhaustive and are intended to be indicative of the scope of the role.

Qualifications

The qualifications that are essential to effectively meet the requirements of the role: In determining your eligibility the following are the essential qualifications that will be assessed as part of the shortlisting stage of the selection process:

• Registered as a Pharmacist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) or entitled to be so registered.

The qualifications that are desirable to effectively meet the requirements of the role:

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant area, such as Medicines Information, Clinical Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy, Public Health, Health Services Research or a related healthcare area.

Experience

The experience that is essential to effectively meet the requirements of the role: In determining your eligibility the following are the essential knowledge and experience that will be assessed as part of the shortlisting stage of the selection process:

• A minimum of five years’ post-registration hospital pharmacy or medicines information experience

Other knowledge and experience that are deemed necessary for the role:

• A high standard of administrative, managerial or business ability

• Experience in clinical pharmacy practice, clinical guideline development and/or medicines information query management

• Knowledge of the healthcare system in Ireland and an understanding of the role of evidence synthesis to inform health policy and health service decisions

• Experience in writing and editing documents and/or reports

• Experience of interacting with senior national and/or international stakeholders

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience of presenting information through a variety of means to a range of audiences

• Knowledge of risk management

• Knowledge of information governance requirements

The experience that is desirable to effectively meet the requirements of the role:

• Practical experience of evaluating and interpreting complex scientific literature on health interventions

• Experience of systematic review of clinical literature

• Experience of implementing quality assurance processes for evidence synthesis

• Experience of direct management of others, including task allocation, task assignment, personnel management

• Experience in leading and managing teams to deliver complex projects within tight timelines to a high quality

• Strong academic publication record

Principal Conditions of Service

Probation A probationary period of six months applies to this position.

Pay Candidates will be appointed on the minimum point of the salary scale (€82,791) and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines. The rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation.

The incremental progression for this scale is in line with Government pay policy. The salary scale for this position is as follows:

PHARMACIST, CHIEF II €82,791 – €88,390 – €91,661 – €95,706 – €100,025 – €104,496

Entry will be at the first point of the scale. An exception may occur where an appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay scale. In this case the appointment may be assimilated to the nearest point of the advertised salary scale with their incremental date adjusted accordingly.

Please note the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Superannuation Pensionable public servants (new joiners) recruited on or after 1 January 2013 will be members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

Please note that the Single Public Service Pension Scheme applies to all pensionable first-time entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks.

In certain circumstances, for example, where the public servant was on secondment or approved leave or remains on the same contract of employment, the 26-week rule does not apply.

The legislation giving effect to the Scheme is the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

For those who are not subject to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (e.g. those transferring from other public service employment where the break in service, if any, is less than 26 weeks), the terms of the Health Information and Quality Authority Superannuation Scheme will apply.

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 30 days per annum.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 per week.

The appointee may be required to work additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties subject to the limits set down under working time regulations.

Blended Working Arrangements

HIQA has introduced blended working to offer more flexible working arrangements to all employees. We aim to strike a balance between being flexible, efficient, and resilient by facilitating blended working where practical, while enabling onsite interaction, collaboration, and support as required.

All roles in HIQA have been assessed under the criteria of business needs and role suitability for blended working. This determined the proportion of time that employees will spend working in HIQA offices and working from home, depending on their role.

Depending on the role, there may be a requirement to attend the office for more than the allocated number of days for training and on-boarding purposes at the start of your employment and during the probation period.

A review of our blended working model confirmed that this model is working well in HIQA therefore we are now moving from Interim Blended Working to a long-term Blended Working Model. Our existing policy and documentation will be revised and updated once the framework for the Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act is published.

Our model is in line with the Civil Service Framework for Blended Working in Ireland. Further guidance on HIQA’s Blended Working Policy, which includes eligibility criteria, will be issued to successful candidates. This is an opt-in policy and details on how you can apply will be issued to you before you start.

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