JOB PURPOSE
Under the General Direction of the Chief Technical Director, Policy, Planning & Development, the Principal Director, Research and Policy Development is required to provide guidance, leadership and monitoring of all activities related to the research, formulation and amendment of health policies and legislation in alignment with the Ministry’s mandate, strategies programmes and projects to support the Ministry of Health and Wellness, its Agencies and Department.
KEY OUTPUT
- Cabinet Submissions;
- Ministry Papers;
- Reports on steering committees and reviews on policy recommendations;
- Policy evaluation reports;
- Secretariat support to policy initiatives of the Public Health System;
- Policy Design;
- National Consultation reports on Policy reform;
- Policy databank for the Public Health System;
- Preparation of Ministry Papers Stakeholder Relationships established and maintained;
- Costed Health & Wellness plans, programmes and project proposals reviewed;
- Financial data and Health & Wellness Economic analyses provided;
- Corporate/Operational Plans and Budgets developed and managed;
- Annual/Quarterly/Monthly performance Reports prepared;
- Individual work plans developed;
- Staff Appraisals conducted.
Key responsibility areas INCLUDES:
Technical/Professional Responsibilities
- Oversees the application of economic theories, models and principles to health & wellness planning;
- Reviews the application of economic analysis and evidence to health & wellness policy issues and approves recommendations made for the most feasible, impactful and sustainable methodologies;
- Reviews actual and projected costs of all health & wellness plans, programmes and project proposals for submission to local bodies and International Development Partners (IDPs);
- Oversees the analysis the relationship of the Health & Wellness budget to Gross National and Domestic Products, National Budget, total recurrent and capital expenditures and inflation;
- Leads the implementation of policy research and analysis activities to identify, evaluate and critically analyse highly complex and politically sensitive issues and concerns affecting policy outcomes to deliver effective policy resolutions in the Jamaican Health systems and allied sectors;
- Participates in the identification and initiation of appropriate legislative changes to facilitate the growth & development of the Health and Wellness sector;
- Leads the technical team in the research of local, regional and international trends in Public Policy for the Health sector and makes recommendations for policy review/development where necessary;
- Provides technical advice to the CTD to facilitate negotiations with donor agencies and partners as required to execute programmes;
- Participates in the formulation of the national public policies to support the work of the Health and Wellness functions for sustainable growth and development;
- Participates in the preparation of briefs/responses for delivery/presentation;
- Reviews existing policies and make recommendations for policy changes where necessary to maintain currency and relevance to the strategic objectives of the Ministry and international standards;
- Participates in the review of Briefs on draft bills and reports for submission to Cabinet and selected inter-ministerial committees or before Parliament;
- Prepares relevant Cabinet Submissions and Notes on technical related matters as required;
- Leads the development, review, integration and implementation of policies and plans across all Health and Wellness Sector levels;
- Ensures there are mechanisms in place to entrench a strategic, coherent and policy driven approach to Health and Wellness development;
- Ensures the Ministry’s Corporate Plans are consistent with the government’s Policy Directives;
- Provides technical advice and other input for the development of policies;
- Oversees the generation of research to inform policy initiatives;
- Participates in the establishment of Health &Wellness projects to ensure policy alignment;
- Participates in the assessment of the corporate and operational plans for Divisions/Units to ensure policy alignment;
- Oversees the development of publications and the provision of quality Health & Wellness research to the sector;
- Gives required professional assistance and advice to the Ministry’s Departments and Agencies.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Health and Wellness sector plan and related policies are coherent, integrated and developed according to agreed quality standards;
- Sound advice provided to inform the policy process;
- Projects reviewed, analysed, prioritised and institutionalised in accordance with agreed standards;
- Expert advice on Health and Wellness sector plans provided;
- Comprehensive reports, briefs and position papers on Health and Wellness developed in a timely manner;
- Comprehensive planning framework developed;
- Costed health & wellness plans, programmes and project proposals prepared and submitted in accordance with agreed standards and timeframes;
- Financial and budgetary reports prepared in accordance with agreed standards and timeframes;
- Financial data and analysis provided in accordance with agreed standards and timeframes;
- Efficient and effective project performance management system for the Branch developed and implemented;
- Institutional and individual capacity within the Branch developed and maintained;
- Budgets managed effectively and efficiently;
- Efficient communication and comprehensive knowledge management systems in place;
- Effective system for resource allocation and utilisation developed and implemented;
- Human Resource Management and Development plans for staff of the Branch developed and implemented in keeping with agreed standards.
Minimum Required Education and Experience
- Master’s degree in Health Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies, Statistical Research or equivalent discipline;
- At least seven (7) years’ experience in Public Policy Development and Analysis, Planning and Research or related area in the private or public sector, with at least four (4) of which are at a senior management level.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness thanks all applicants for their interest, but only those shortlisted will be contacted.
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