Job Title: Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer

Summary of roles and responsibilities

The Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer is an Executive Officer of the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO, the “Association”), filling the role of Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer as set out in the IHTSDO Articles of Association.

The Chief Implementation and Innovation 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 Implementation and Innovation Officer has a range of duties. Chief among these is leadership of IHTSDO’s efforts to accelerate and improve the implementation of SNOMED CT and other terminological products, both now and in the future.

An overarching requirement of all work produced by the Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer is that it is consistent with, and supports achievement of, the Purpose, Objects and Principles of the Association. As Chief Implementation and Innovation 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

As Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer you will have responsibility for supporting member countries in the uptake and adoption of SNOMED CT, creating solutions to overcome barriers and contributing to the development of tools that support implementation.  This will include designing and defining ways to measure and then achieve sustained annual growth in the breadth and depth of use of SNOMED CT in member countries.

The Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer, working as appropriate in consultation with others within the IHTSDO, particularly the Committee Chair , CEO and Management Board Chair, and senior stakeholders externally is responsible for:

• Developing and continuously improving an implementation strategy for the IHTSDO, as well as related frameworks, policies, regulations and processes.
• Developing and regularly improving a implementation strategy for terminologies with a 5-10 year time horizon and work with both internal and external partners to ensure its implementation.
• Facilitating the development and execution of an annual programme of work to implement the IHTSDO implementation strategies, working with the Implementation and Innovation Committee, support organization(s), and other IHTSDO bodies and staff, as well as internationally distributed volunteer contributors and relevant standards organizations as required
• Provide expert technical leadership to those wishing to implement SNOMED CT, particularly through the Members Forum and the Affiliate Forum.
  
• Identifying, prioritising, and assessing implementation-related challenges likely to emerge over a rolling 3-5 year timeframe, as well as facilitating the development and testing of options for addressing priority issues.
• Attending IHTSDO Implementation and Innovation Committee, Affiliate Forum, Members Forum, and other meetings to provide leadership, support and advice as required.
• Ensuring that the Implementation and Innovation Committee has the necessary supporting resources in place to effectively conduct its business in an effective and efficient manner.
• Advancing the business of the Implementation and Innovation 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 implementation and innovation strategy and work programme.
• Drawing attention to and reporting on all relevant issues to the Chief Executive Officer and the IHTSDO Implementation and Innovation Committee.
• Promoting, marketing, support building and advancement of the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation.
• Contributing to the work of IHTSDO generally, close cooperation with other officers, annual work plan and business planning.

Accountability

The Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer reports to the Chief Executive Officer of the Association.

Working relationships

The Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer will develop and maintain:

• a close working relationship with the Implementation and Innovation 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 implementation-related matters
• a broad-based understanding of implementation developments and challenges on a global scale
• effective networks and relationships with other relevant parties focused on implementation and innovation aspects of health terminology or related areas of health informatics and/or information technology, including the research community.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The Chief Implementation and Innovation Officer will have the following attributes:

• Engagement and diplomatic skills -the ability to develop durable and productive relationships with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and colleagues.  The ability to handle complex, challenging and controversial issues in a professional and adept manner.
• Outstanding Communication Skills – the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences with impact, precision and skill.  You will need to demonstrate the ability to work effectively across a myriad of cultural and international settings as you act as a senior ambassador for the organisation.  Experience in communicating with clinicians and in clinical environments would be an asset.
• Interpersonal Skills – a high level of interpersonal skills at all levels including the experience of managing staff and professionals with the ability to demonstrate an effective management style, good personal impact, drive, enthusiasm and commitment
• Implementation-Expertise –Recent experience at a senior level demonstrating a sound understanding of the opportunities and challenges for the implementation of SNOMED CT or related terminologies, as well as a commitment to, and demonstrated ability to contribute to, the continuous improvement of the usability of SNOMED CT on a global scale
• Quality-Focus – A commitment to, and demonstrated ability to contribute to, the continuous improvement of SNOMED CT’s usability and implementation resources
• Domain Knowledge – A good level of knowledge of and/or experience in international standards development and approvals processes; terminology maintenance and production processes; and/or research methodologies and practices in health informatics 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
• Project management – Knowledge of, and experience with, Project Management methodologies
• Academic – Documentary evidence of appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant field
• Language Skills– Ability to communicate effectively in English (IHTSDO’s business language) is essential, both verbally and in written form. Working ability in other languages desirable.
• 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.