HTA Programme Manager

Tenure:

Permanent.

Additionally, HIQA may create a panel for future permanent and fixed-term vacancies that may arise.

Blended Working:

1–2 days a week in the office and the remainder of the working week spent working from home.

Further information can be found below in the Principal Conditions of Service under Blended Working Arrangements.

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 comprises approximately 60 analysts. HIQA works collaboratively with high-level stakeholders, with academic groups and with international HTA agencies to deliver these objectives. Methods development and academic outputs are actively encouraged, and the Directorate hosts a range of postgraduate fellowships and an active postgraduate 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 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 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 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 everyday 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.

Manager

Team Management:

▪ Set clear strategic direction and action plans for direct reports.

▪ Build team cohesion and cultivate an engaged, productive environment.

▪ Undertake regular coaching, performance feedback and development conversations with direct reports.

▪ Ensure direct reports access appropriate training and development.

▪ Plan for and manage recruitment activity and vacant roles.

▪ Manage staff retention and attrition effectively.

Operational Management:

▪ Contribute to business planning and knowledge management.

▪ Forecast and manage resources in line with available budget.

▪ Ensure that policies and procedures in area are current and adhered to.

▪ Ensure compliance with workplace health and safety standards.

▪ Meet audit requirements and ensure legislative compliance.

▪ Report on performance and relevant business measures as required.

▪ Identify risks and develop contingency plans where necessary.

▪ Identify inefficiencies and implement improvements to work practices.

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:

▪ Delivering a programme management service to support the work of the HTA Directorate.

▪ Maintaining an up-to-date programme overview in coordination with project leads and senior management.

▪ Supporting project leads to develop and implement project management plans.

▪ Managing the administration of HTA Expert Advisory Group processes.

▪ Managing programme administrators.

▪ Leading quality improvement, knowledge exchange and risk management initiatives across the Directorate.

▪ Working with the Office of the CEO and the Board Secretariat to enable an efficient approval process.

▪ Tracking performance against business plan objectives.

▪ Preparing and actioning regular corporate performance and risk reports.

▪ Coordinating the annual production of the Directorate’s Impact Report and contribution to the HIQA Annual Report.

▪ Supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of the HTA Directorate Plan 2025–2027 and subsequent iterations.

▪ Coordinating Directorate-wide events, meetings and information.

▪ Coordinating HTA Directorate participation in conferences and external meetings.

▪ Supporting collaborative projects undertaken with academic partners and international bodies.

▪ Addressing Freedom of Information requests.

▪ Assisting in the development of processes, policies and quality standards to ensure HTA and evidence synthesis work is completed in accordance with described standards and is of a high quality.

▪ Supporting the development of the Strategy, Support and Research (SSR) function within the HTA Directorate.

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

▪ Mentoring more junior members of the team as required.

▪ Providing support to other directorate staff as required.

▪ 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

Essential:

In determining your eligibility, the following are the essential qualifications that will be assessed as part of the shortlisting stage of the selection process:

▪ Degree qualification (Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent) in a discipline deemed relevant by the Authority for the post of Programme Manager.

Desirable:

▪ Postgraduate qualification in project and/or programme management.

▪ Postgraduate degree in a relevant area, such as Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Economics, Health Services Research, or in a health-related science with a high content in health services research.

Experience

Essential:

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:

▪ Minimum of three years’ experience of working on the delivery of projects and process management.

Other required knowledge and experience:

▪ Proven team working, project and programme management experience to deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines.

▪ Extensive experience of presenting information through a variety of means to a range of audiences.

▪ Direct management of others, including task allocation, task assignment, and people management.

▪ Knowledge of risk management.

▪ Knowledge of information governance requirements.

▪ Proven written and verbal communication skills.

▪ Experience of communicating effectively with a diverse range of people and positively influencing others.

▪ Experience of liaising with both internal and external stakeholders to present information and/or gather data.

Desirable:

▪ Experience of programme management in a clinical, health service research or health policy environment.

▪ Extensive experience in the use of information systems that support the delivery of project and process management.

▪ Project or process improvement experience.

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

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 (€75,448) 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:

Engineer Grade II (PPC)

€75,448 €77,172 €78,891 €80,619 €82,342 €82,801 €84,499 €86,262 €89,133¹ €92,011²

After 3 years’ satisfactory service at the maximum

After 6 years’ satisfactory service at the maximum

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 27 days, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.

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 determines 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 onboarding 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.