Technical Project Lead

The purpose of this role within the relevant business unit and for HIQA as a whole:

HIQA has a statutory mandate for health information under the Health Act 2007. HIQA’s remit is to set standards in relation to data and information, monitor compliance with these standards, evaluate information, and provide advice and recommendations about deficiencies identified in respect of health information under Section 8 (1)(i, j, k, l) of the Health Act. HIQA’s health information function has been extended under the Patient Safety Act to include private hospitals and prescribed health service providers.

In addition, there have been many recent changes happening in Ireland and at a European level in the area of health information that will impact on HIQA’s work. For example, the Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024 - 2030 and the Health Information Bill which advance and support the development of an integrated health information system for Ireland. At the European level, the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation requires member states to establish health data access bodies (HDABs) to support the re-use of electronic health data.

Health Information | HIQA

The Health Information function in HIQA, working in conjunction with stakeholders, aims to drive improvements in the quality of health data and information across health and social care services to support the provision of high quality, safe and person-centred care. The teams work across the following areas:

• Producing evidence-based recommendations and guidance to inform national Health Information policy and decision-making.

• Supporting the delivery of integrated, high quality and safe care by developing evidence based health information standards, guidance and technical specifications based on well-established standards tailored to Irish / National requirements.

• Undertaking a programme of assessment of compliance against national information management and health information standards across health and social care services in Ireland.

• Developing an evidence-based data quality, utility and maturity programme to support data holder preparedness for the European Health Data Space.

As part of this programme of work, the HI Team is currently recruiting for the role of Technical Project Lead - Health Information who will be key in progressing the technical aspects of the HI team’s core programme of work. This will include ongoing work on the development of an EU-mandated national health dataset catalogue and the progression of HIQA’s review programme to assess the compliance of data holders with national standards related to health information. The successful candidate will work closely with the team to deliver on key stages of related projects. The role will require technical expertise across the following areas:

• Metadata specifications and key vocabularies

• Data quality

• Collaborating with business analysts, domain experts and other stakeholders to translate user stories, business requirements and use cases into functional and technical specifications

• Software implementation and change management processes

In addition, strong collaboration skills, project management, research, and communication skills will be essential.

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

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:

Operational Expertise

• Support the development and implementation of a national health dataset catalogue (nHDsC) for Ireland.

• Lead on the development and roll out of a coordinated programme of work to support the implementation of the technical aspects of the HI team’s work. This work includes HIQA’s Health Information review programme to assess compliance with national standards related to health information, and other programmes related to information management maturity, and data quality and utility.

• Lead on the implementation of a digital knowledge sharing platform to support dissemination of key aspects of the HI team’s programmes of work including its review programme and the nHDsC.

Evidence-based research and information analysis

• Lead on evidence reviews, including international reviews and systematic literature reviews, in relation to key technical areas of Health Information such as information governance, data quality and interoperability.

• Write, edit and quality-assure reports and presentations that present complex technical information in an easily understood and accessible format for different stakeholder groups.

• Contribute to the development of academic publications, reports and policy papers.

• Compile reports and manage, coordinate and analyse feedback from both internal and external stakeholders.

• Manage focus group participation and logistics.

Project Management

• Lead on the time-framed delivery of project outputs.

• Lead on the development of project management documentation including those related to project management, stakeholder engagement, risk management and budget management.

• Mentor and support less experienced members of the team, supporting their delivery of the HI Team’s programme of work while building their skillset.

• Oversee and ensure delivery of annual business objectives in line with agreed timelines and within budget in accordance with defined quality assurance processes.

• Contribute to core functions of the team such as corporate reports, risk register, internal audit, impact reports, annual reports, quality assurance, internal and external communications.

Stakeholder engagement, collaboration and customer focus

• Liaise with all stakeholders (internal, national and international) as required, in relation to the HI Team’s programme of work including liaison with technical IT experts.

• Represent HIQA on national and European committees as required.

• Manage public consultations as required, promoting same and ensuring adequate representation of key stakeholder groups.

• Develop and promote dissemination of knowledge resources following the development of standards, guidance, recommendations.

• Build and manage relationships, budgets and outputs with contractors, sub-contractors, collaborators and partners.

• Represent HIQA, where required, in an informed, professional and credible manner in its engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, presenting and facilitating at workshops, information sessions, lectures, training sessions, advisory groups and conferences.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Undertake other duties and responsibilities as may be determined by the relevant Manager and/or the relevant Director.

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.

• Degree qualification (minimum of Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent) in an area deemed relevant by the Authority for this role such as Health Informatics, Computer Science, Business Information Systems, Information Science or similar.

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

• Professional certification in relevant disciplines such as metadata, data governance

or

• Postgraduate qualification in area of Health Informatics, Computer Science, Business Information Systems, Information Science or similar.

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 one-year relevant experience developing health information metadata specifications and key data vocabularies.

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

• Experience in reviewing health information requirements and technical specification documents to identify the areas requiring localisation to a local context.

• Experience in collaborating with business analysts, domain experts and other stakeholders to translate health information user stories, business requirements and use cases into functional and technical specifications.

• Experience in managing all aspects of programme / project delivery, through the full lifecycle from initiation to closure.

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

Experience

• Experience in designing, implementing and maintaining metadata systems, including the EU Health DCAT-AP metadata specification.

• Experience in use of key vocabularies such as Dublin Core - DCMI Metadata Terms, Schema.org, Data Privacy Vocabulary (DPV), and Data Quality Vocabulary (DQV).

• Experience in use of terminology and classifications systems and incorporating them into technical specifications and implementation guides.

• Managing and facilitating groups.

• Managing and supervising less experienced members of staff.

• Providing constructive feedback to team members.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Healthcare information systems and applications, such as PMS, Electronic Health Records, Picture Archive and Communication Systems, and Radiology Information Systems.

• Knowledge of interface technologies such as API technologies and protocols such as RESTful APIs, JSON, XML, HTTP, OAuth, Swagger, OpenAPI.

• Knowledge of Clinical vocabularies, ontologies, mapping, transforming such as ICD-9, ICD-10, ICD-10 - AU, SNOMED, LOINC, ICPC-2.

• Knowledge of Healthcare information systems and applications, such as PMS, Electronic Health Records, Radiology Information Management Systems and Laboratory Information Management Systems.

• Knowledge of interface technologies such as API technologies and protocols.

• Knowledge of Irish health care system.

• Knowledge of National health information system.

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 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.