JOB PURPOSE
Under the leadership and direction of the Principal Director, Research and Policy Development, the Senior Policy Analyst, manages evidence-based research and analysis mechanisms to inform the development of policy initiatives and programmes, to support the advancement and application of processes, systems, legislative instruments, tools, procedures, standards and guidelines in the whole Jamaican Health & Wellness landscape.
KEY OUTPUTS
- Complex Health & Wellness policy issues/problems researched, analysed and reviewed
- Evidence-based Health & Wellness policy options and recommendations developed
- Health & Wellness stakeholders engaged
- Cabinet Submissions, correspondence, written reports, publications, and briefs prepared and submitted
- Ministry Papers
- Expert policy advice and technical information provided
- Annual/Quarterly/Monthly/Periodic Reports prepared
- Staff appraisals conducted
- Individual Work plan developed
KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS
Management/Administrative Responsibilities
- Contributes to the development of the Branch’s Strategic and Operational Plan and Budget;
- Develops Individual Work Plans based on alignment to the Branch’s Plan;
- Prepares reports and project documents as required;
- Prepares and delivers Public Policy presentations related to Health & Wellness Management as needed;
- Maintains customer service principles, standards and measurements;
- Identifies and incorporates the interests and needs of customers in business process design.
Technical/Professional Responsibilities
- Researches, analyses and reviews a range of complex Health and Wellness Policy issues and identify emerging issues;
- Assimilates a wide array of data, policies and project information to identify key issues;
- Manages the resolution of complex and conflicting policy issues to identify the optimal long-term health & wellness strategy and options;
- Develops evidence-based Health & Wellness Policy options, and recommend solutions to resolve problems and mitigate policy risks;
- Contributes to the development of cost-benefit and risk models to ensure policy decisions are based on a strong and rigorous evidence base;
- Researches, develops and implements procedures to improve policy compliance and controls, applications and practices of the GOJ health & wellness approaches throughout MDAs;
- Manages high-level consultations and negotiations with key health sector stakeholders, MDAs and non-governmental agencies to ensure required subject area data is available and well-integrated to produce high quality and evidence-based advice;
- Contributes to the development of internal control mechanism to guide the management of business processes under the purview of the Branch;
- In collaboration with the Legal Services Units of the AGC, contributes to the revision and amendments of Health & Wellness related Acts and Regulations by providing proposals and recommendations;
- Provides expert health & wellness policy advice to the Permanent Secretary, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Technical Director & other Head of Entities;
- Builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, facilitating their engagement in, and contribution to, the identification and development of policy solutions and policy assessment tools;
- Monitors, evaluates and report on the development and/or implementation of policies and health policy assessment tools to identify issues and ensure the achievement of desired outcomes;
- Mentors and guides Policy Analysts and support staff, ensuring compliance with governance and quality requirements, to successfully deliver policy priorities and initiatives;
- Works with relevant MDAs, industry and academia to research and understand potential issues in the health system in a GOJ context, and assesses and supports work by those actors to address these issues;
- Prepares Cabinet Submission, notes, correspondence, written reports, publications, and briefs, that are informative and aligned with MOHW’s requirements, in response to MDA’s and/or GOJ requests.
- Prepares Ministry Papers and other reports;
- Keeps informed of developments both locally and internationally regarding public policy and health policy/management issues to help the Ministry operate with initiative and innovation.
Human Resources Responsibilities
- 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 Branch and recommends, promotion, and leave in accordance with established human resource policies and procedures;
- Provides leadership and guidance to direct reports through effective planning, delegation, communication, training, mentoring and coaching;
- Facilitates welfare and development of staff in the Branch;
- Establishes and maintains a system that fosters a culture of teamwork, employee empowerment and commitment to the Branch’s and organization’s goals;
- Prepares and conducts presentations on role of Branch for the Orientation/Onboarding programme.
- Conducts staff performance appraisal for direct reports
- Prepares individual workplan in alignment with Operational Plan of Branch
Other Responsibilities
- Performs all other duties and functions as may be required from time to time.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Complex health & wellness policy issues/problems researched, analysed and reviewed in keeping with evidence-based approaches, standards and timeframes;
- Evidence-based health policy options and recommendations developed according to agreed standards and timeframes;
- Health & Wellness stakeholders engaged in a harmonious manner, agreed standards and timeframes;
- Cabinet Submissions, correspondence, written reports, publications, and briefs prepared and submitted in keeping with agreed standards, formats and timeframes;
- Ministry Papers prepared and submitted in keeping with agreed standards, formats and timeframes;
- Expert policy advice and technical information provided are evidence-based and provided according to agreed standards and timeframes;
- Work plans conform to established procedures and implemented accorded to establish rules;
- Reports are evidence-based and submitted in a timely manner;
- Monitors the performance of staff and facilitates the timely and accurate completion of the staff annual performance appraisals and other periodic reviews;
- Confidentiality, integrity and professionalism displayed in the delivery of duties and interaction with staff.
AUTHORITY
- Recommends improvements to the Public Policy issues concerning Health & Wellness Management;
- Develops and presents Health & Wellness policy proposals;
- Engages a range of related stakeholders;
- Recommends leave and other Human Resource actions.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONTACTS
Internal Contacts
| CONTACT (TITLE) | PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATIONS |
| Director, Research & Policy Development
|
|
| Executive Management/Divisions |
|
| General Staff |
|
External Contacts
| CONTACT (TITLE) | PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATIONS |
| Ministries/Departments/Agencies | Establish professional networks and relationships to maintain currency of issues, share ideas and learnings, and collaborate on common responses to emerging and/or developing public policy issues;
Conduct training on new policies, programmes, standards, procedures, etc.; as well as refresher training. |
| Cabinet Office | Monitor and facilitate the progress of policies through decision making processes |
| Policy Technical Committees, Technical Working Committees, inter alia. | Foster effective proactive relationships with other stakeholders, in particular community and/or industry groups for whom policy impacts are most critical. |
| Health Sector stakeholders | Foster effective proactive relationships with other stakeholders, in particular community and/or industry groups for whom policy impacts are most critical. |
| Other Stakeholders, example: Professional Bodies, Academia, etc. | Foster effective proactive relationships with other stakeholders, in particular community and/or industry groups for whom policy impacts are most critical. |
| General Public | Receive and share information on Health & Wellness policy initiatives through consultation. |
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Core
- Excellent interpersonal and team management skills;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
- Strong leadership skills;
- Strong customer relations skills;
- Excellent planning and organizing skills;
- Excellent judgment and decision-making skills;
- Ability to influence and motivate others;
- Proficiency in the use of relevant computer applications.
Technical
- In-depth knowledge of the development, analysis, revision and implementation of policies, procedures, guidelines, programmes and legislation;
- In-depth knowledge of policy evaluation frameworks;
- Good research skills;
- In-depth knowledge of the Health & Wellness environment, principles and practices;
- Strong ability to synthesize multiple ideas and complex information into a coherent summary, as in reports and briefing notes, and to make cogent recommendation for the modification or creation of legislation, policies and programmes;
- Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver presentation with tact, clarity, enthusiasm and accuracy to widely varied audiences;
- A high level of initiative and self-motivation;
- Demonstrated interpersonal and negotiation skills;
- Aptitude for developing and maintaining collaborative relations with team members both within and outside the Ministry, and for functioning effectively on inter-ministerial and multi-sectoral committees and working groups;
- Familiarity with procedures, policies and legislation governing the machinery of government;
- Knowledge of the Government processes, including policy development, financial planning, performance management systems and basic theories, principles and methods of analysis;
- Knowledge of computerized systems and software, with an emphasis on the MS Office suite and projects.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Master’s Degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, Management Studies, Public Sector Management, Public/Business Administration, Education Management or a related discipline;
- Four (4) years’ experience in a Public Policy or Public Sector Management environment, with at least two (2) years in management capacity.
OR
- Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, Management Studies, Public Sector Management, Public/Business Administration, Education Management or a related discipline;
- Six (6) years’ experience in a Public Policy or Public Sector Management environment, with at least two (3) years in management capacity.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB
- Work will be conducted in an office outfitted with standard office equipment and specialized software. The environment is fast paced with on-going interactions with critical stakeholders and meeting tight deadlines, which will result in high degrees of pressure, on occasions. May be required to travel locally and overseas to attend conferences, seminars and meetings.