Job Description
Summary of roles and responsibilities
The Chief Quality Officer is an Executive Officer of the International Health Terminology
Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO, the “Association”), filling the role of Chief
Quality Assurance Officer as set out in the IHTSDO Articles of Association
The Chief Quality Officer makes a vital contribution to the work of the IHTSDO and thus,
by extension, the advancement of healthcare around the world. Working in a collegial and
collaborative manner with the other Executive Officers, the Chief Quality Officer has a
range of duties. Chief among these is leadership of the development, implementation and
maintenance the IHTSDO’s quality strategy and framework, and related policies, regulations
and processes.
An overarching requirement of all work produced by the Chief Quality Officer is that it is
consistent with, and supports achievement of, the Purpose, Objects and Principles of the
Association. As Chief Quality Officer of the Association, the position is both subject to
and will uphold:
- The Articles of Association and Regulations that arise from them, and
- Management Board policies, procedures, directions and guidelines.
Key result areas
The Chief Quality Officer, working as appropriate in consultation with others within and
outside IHTSDO, is responsible for:
- Developing the IHTSDO’s quality strategy and framework, and related policies,
regulations and processes. - Developing and maintaining the IHTSDO’s standards development and approval
process. - Facilitating the development and execution of an annual programme of work to
implement the IHTSDO quality strategy and framework, working with the Quality
Assurance Committee, support organization(s), and other IHTSDO bodies and
staff, as well as internationally distributed volunteer contributors and relevant
standards organizations as required - Identifying, prioritising, and assessing quality-related challenges likely to emerge
over a rolling 3-5 year timeframe, as well as testing options for addressing priority
issues. - Attending IHTSDO Quality Assurance Committee and Research and Innovation
Committee meetings to provide support and advice as required. - Ensuring that the Quality Assurance Committee has the necessary supporting resources
in place to effectively conduct its business in an effective and efficient
manner. - Advancing the business of the Quality Assurance Committee between meetings as
agreed (where appropriate) with the Chair of the Committee and/or the IHTSDO
Chief Executive. - Attending Association Management Board meetings to provide leadership, support,
and advice as required - Liaising with the IHTSDO Community of Practice, other partners, and relevant external
organizations to solicit input on, and promote awareness of, IHTSDO’s quality
framework and work programme - Drawing attention to and reporting on all relevant issues to the Chief Executive Officer
and the IHTSDO Quality Assurance Committee - Promoting, marketing, support building and advancement of the International
Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation
Accountability
The Chief Quality Officer reports to the Chief Executive Officer of the Association.
Working relationships
The Chief Quality Officer will develop and maintain:
- a close working relationship with the Quality Assurance Committee and all Executive
Officers of the Association - a Liaison role on behalf of the Association with any of the Association’s Support
Organisations on quality-related matters - Effective networks and relationships with other relevant parties focused on quality
aspects of health terminology or related areas of health informatics and/or information
technology.
Person Specification
The Chief Quality Officer will have the following attributes:
- Quality-Focus – A minimum of five years recent experience at a senior level demonstrating
a sound understanding of quality and risk management principles and
methodologies, as well as a commitment to, and demonstrated ability to contribute
to, the continuous improvement of SNOMED CT’s content and usability - Standards: A good level of knowledge or experience in international standards development
and approval processes. - Terminological - A good level of knowledge of and/or experience in terminology
maintenance and production processes would be an asset. - Leadership & facilitation – Recent documented evidence of the ability to take a
positive leadership role, including the ability to bring together diverse groups and
opinions to agree on coherent solutions - at national and international meetings/workshops/seminars/conferences
- among delegates and individuals drawn from diverse interest groups
- related to both technical and non-technical issues
- Personal suitability – Strong interpersonal, cross-cultural, and communications
skills with the ability to demonstrate good personal impact, drive, enthusiasm, and
commitment. Ability to work independently. Demonstrated initiative. - Project management – Knowledge of, and experience with, Project Management
methodologies - Academic – Documentary evidence of appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant
field - Language - Ability to communicate effectively in English (IHTSDO’s business language)
is essential, both verbally and in written form. Working ability in other languages
desirable but not required. - Flexibility: Willingness to participate in the work processes of a dispersed international
organization, including conference calls scheduled to accommodate global
time zones and periodic international travel is essential.