Chief Medical Officer (HPC/MO 8)

The Chief Medical Officer functions as the Chief Technical Director and Advisor to the Permanent Secretary and has responsibility and oversight of the health status of the country; contributes to the country’s National Development Plan; leads the development and maintenance of a strategic framework for the provision and delivery of health care services nationally.

Location: Technical Services Division, Ministry of Health

Salary Range: $5,010,000 – $5,955,316

Qualification and Experience

• MBBS;
• Post graduate training in Public Health and Epidemiology;
• Post graduate training in Management Studies;
• Minimum of ten (10) years experience as a practicing medical practitioner at least five of which should be at a senior management level

Special Conditions

• Required to travel oversea
• On-call for emergencies 24/7

Key Responsibility Areas

Management/Administrative

• Provides technical advice to the Minister and Permanent Secretary on health care issues and represents the Ministry/Minister at Local, Regional and International meetings and conferences.
     
• Provides leadership in the development of new health care policies, makes recommendations on existing policies to maintain relevance to the strategic objectives of the Ministry, and alignment with international standards, regulations and treaties to which Jamaica is a signatory.
     
• Provides technical advice to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government as stipulated in the relevant Acts.
     
• Leads the development of the National Health Policies annual operational plan for the division, ensuring synergy and cooperation between the various departments/units. Leads the development and ensures the implementation of a monitoring framework to enable the effective reporting on communicable, non-communicable and re-emerging diseases from the public and private health organizations/personnel nationally.
     
• Oversees the development and ensures implementation of protocols, guidelines, operational systems and procedures to guide the operation of National Strategic Plan.
     
• Ensures effective collaboration with other Government departments/agencies for National Health Care delivery.
      Continuously scans the global health environment and evaluates new and emerging health practices; develops appropriate mechanism to respond or introduce these technologies.
      Establishes partnerships with local and international bodies to support the delivery of health care services and programmes locally and ensures adherence to established partnership agreements and technical co-operation.
      Establishes and maintains amicable relations with regional and international health organizations including, but not limited to, World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), and the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI, CAREC).
     
• Prepares and submits reports, position papers, and any other relevant documents for and on behalf of the Ministry/Country to international health organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), World Health Organization (WHO), donor organizations, and any other relevant body as required.
   
• Ensures ethical research so that no harm is brought to the population.
     
• Establishes mechanisms to monitor the importation, use and reporting of dangerous drugs and radiation sources within health and other institutions and ensures the timely preparation and submission of reports to the International Convention on Dangerous Drugs and the International Atomic Energy Commission.
     
• Collaborates with relevant public and private sector agencies on public health issues in keeping with the Public Health Act, Medical Act, International Health Regulations and Regional Policy e.g. CCHIII

Health Promotion and Prevention

• Oversees the policy development and the implementation of the Ministry’s health promotion and prevention programmes, to support health education for the population.
• Collaborates with public and private sector bodies and non-governmental organizations for the development and implementation of special projects/ programmes, in related health areas which impact on the delivery of national health care.
• Establishes the surveillance system for containment of new and re-emerging communicable and non-communicable diseases.
• Provides guidance/advice for the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health education programmes to inform the public on health issues and promote healthy lifestyles.
• Guides the implementation of policies and programmes for the provision and maintenance of national health care within the framework of the Government’s strategic objectives, and in keeping with international health organizations guidelines; provides technical advice to other ministries, departments and agencies of Government on health care and related matters.

Health Services

• Develops a strategic framework for the development and implementation of health programmes across the life course and other related programmed.
• Establishes policies and procedures for health service delivery, and ensures that synergies exist between service delivery, monitoring and evaluation within health institutions

Health Standards and Regulations

• Leads the development of protocols, standards and regulations, to govern the operations of public and private sector health institutions and the practices of health care providers/givers.
• Leads the development and ensures the implementation of appropriate monitoring mechanisms to support established standards and regulations.
• Coordinates the development of regulatory boards/bodies as stipulated by the relevant Acts.

Disaster Management and Emergency Medicine

• Collaborates with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to formulate disaster management plans and for the health sector.
• Ensures the effective communication and dissemination of disaster management programmes to relevant authorities/personnel within the health sector.
• Provides guidance and advice on systems to regulate and monitor the delivery of emergency medicine by the private sector.
• Provides advice on programmes to continuously improve the delivery of emergency medicine nationally.
• Collaborates with the International Disaster Preparedness in post disaster management.

Human Resources

• Monitors and evaluates the performance of direct reports, prepares performance appraisals and recommends and/or initiates corrective action where necessary to improve performance and/or attaining established personal and/ or organizational goals.
• Participates in the recruitment of staff for the Technical Services and recommends transfer, promotion, termination and leave in accordance with established human resource policies and procedures.
• In collaboration with the Human Resource Department, develops and implements a succession planning programme for the Division to facilitate continuity and the availability of required skills and competencies to meet the needs of the Division.
• Provides leadership and guidance to direct reports through effective planning, delegation, communication, training, mentoring and coaching.
• Ensures the welfare and developmental needs of staff in the Division are clearly identified and addressed.
• Establishes and maintains a system that fosters a culture of teamwork, employee empowerment and commitment to the Division’s, organization’s, national goals.

Other

• Leads/participates in internal and external cross-functional committees and represents the Ministry on public and private sector boards and committees as directed.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as may be determined by the Minister of Health or the Permanent Secretary.

Authority

• Recommends hiring, termination and retirement of direct reports
          
• Approves the importation of dangerous drugs for medicinal purposes
          
• Recommends sanctions for breaches of established health standards and regulations
          
• Recommends policy changes

Required Skills/Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to use initiative
• Sound Technical knowledge
• Excellent negotiation and persuading skills
• Proficient in the use of relevant computer applications
• Excellent planning and organizing skills
• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills
• Excellent analytical skills

Salary

Salary range $5,010,000 – $5,955,316 per annum and any allowance(s) attached to the post.

Note

Interested persons may apply in writing, accompanied by resumes along with the names and addresses of two (2) referees.

Applications must be submitted no later than February 29, 2016

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Contact

Senior Director

Human Resource Management & Administration

Ministry of Health

10a Chelsea Avenue, Kingston 5

Base Salary: Undisclosed