Co-Vice Chair of the Scottish Medicines Consortium

Co-Vice Chair of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) (Ref: 242348)

Secondment until 31 March 2029

8 Hours per Week (0.2 WTE)

Commensurate with existing salary

Edinburgh/Glasgow: Hybrid working will apply for the foreseeable future

The purpose of SMC is to improve healthcare through health technology assessment of new medicines, with the provision of advice to Health Boards on their clinical and cost-effective use. SMC is part of the Evidence and Digital Directorate of Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

The SMC Co-Vice Chair provides leadership for a national Committee whose decisions influence access to new medicines and patient care across NHSScotland. SMC analyses information supplied by pharmaceutical companies on the health benefits of the medicine and justification of its price, as well as information from clinical experts and patient group partners on patients lived experience. The post-holder will be responsible for effective leadership of an SMC Committee to ensure that medicines that are good value for money are accepted for routine use as quickly as possible so that they can benefit patients.

The Co-Vice Chair has a key role in influencing and informing the development of new medicines policy for the NHS in Scotland.

We are seeking an outstanding healthcare professional to provide leadership to SMC and NHSScotland in the evaluation and managed introduction of new medicines by doing the following.

• supporting the chair of the SMC Committee to ensure that the committee reaches robust decisions based on thorough appraisal of all relevant data and evidence
• deputising for the SMC Chair in their absence
• influencing SMC methods and policy as part of the SMC Executive
• supporting strategic partnerships with stakeholder groups in Scotland including Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees, clinicians, the pharmaceutical industry and patient groups
• undertaking meetings with representatives of pharmaceutical companies as required
• representing SMC, as part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, at national and international groups
  
  

All Candidates Should Have

• professional credibility within and beyond their professional field
• experience of effectively chairing complex multidisciplinary groups
• experience of working in a complex, emergent environment
• proven ability to lead, influence and motivate at national level
• the ability to communicate complex issues to differing audiences
• a detailed knowledge of medicines regulation and health technology appraisal and a sound knowledge of health technology assessment, including the principles of health economics
• practical relevant experience by membership of an ADTC, NDC, SMC or equivalent body is highly desirable
  
  

The Co-Vice Chair must be a practicing and registered healthcare professional, subject to appraisal and revalidation with the relevant professional body and hold a substantive NHS post.

The Co-Vice Chair is responsible to the Director of Evidence. Secondees also have professional accountability to the relevant Professional lead within HIS.

Any individual wishing to pursue this opportunity as a secondment must first seek the support of their line manager.

For further information on the role, please contact Yvonne Semple, Chief Pharmaceutical Adviser via email, .

Closing Date: Midnight on 29th March

It is anticipated that interviews will be held on 22nd April.