CHIEF PATHOLOGIST
PATHOLOGY QUEENSLAND
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
QUEENSLAND HEALTH
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Aboriginal Traditional Owners and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, people, consumers, and staff, past and present, on whose land we provide health services.
Executive Summary
- Executive Leadership role
- Clinical Leadership of Pathology Queensland
- Competitive Remuneration Package
The Queensland Government Department of Health (Queensland Health) has a diverse set of responsibilities, and a common purpose of providing highly effective health system leadership. The Department is responsible for the overall strategic leadership and direction of the public health system in Queensland.
Pathology Queensland (PQ) provides diagnostic pathology services to all Hospital and Health Services (HHS) across metro, regional and remote Queensland, offering laboratory services in the disciplines of anatomical pathology, chemical pathology, haematology, immunology, microbiology, and genomics. PQ also provides an invaluable service to Queenslanders by supporting a coordinated response to incidents and disasters.
The Chief Pathologist, Pathology Queensland (Chief Pathologist) is part of the Executive Team and provide clinical leadership for a high performing organisation to provide world class pathology services to Queenslanders in the face of a challenging financial outlook, ever increasing demand, a continuing focus on the safety and quality of healthcare and rapidly evolving disruptive technologies. The Chief Pathologist will also provide strategic professional oversight of all public sector pathology laboratories throughout the State, ensuring that the goals and quality standards of the organisation are maintained including the provision of best practice diagnostic services and high quality teaching and research.
The Chief Pathologist will also take ownership of the quality and safety agenda within Pathology Queensland, including the establishment, oversight and ongoing evaluation of an effective clinical governance framework and the review and management of significant clinical incidents and complaints.
Additionally, the incumbent will ensure, through the Medical Directors, that effective professional leadership arrangements are in place for all medical staff, including arrangements for professional supervision, teaching, performance management, workforce planning, and clinical research activities.
For a confidential discussion, please contact Principal Consultant, Sarah Buckler PSM:
M: +61 (0)429 486 740
QUEENSLAND HEALTH
The Department of Health (the Department) has a diverse set of responsibilities, and a common purpose of providing highly effective health system leadership. The Department is responsible for the overall strategic leadership and direction of the public health system in Queensland. We strongly believe in the need to work with people that value the goals of our organisation and who will thrive in our workplace.
VALUES
These five values underpin behaviours that will support and enable better ways of working and result in better outcomes for Queenslanders.
QUEENSLAND PUBLIC HEALTH AND SCIENTIFIC SERVICES
Queensland Public Health and Scientific Services (QPHASS) under the leadership of the General Manager brings together key system support functions and the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases and public health risks in Queensland – Leading the statewide planning and coordination of programs and services to prevent, or control, health-related diseases, hazards and harmful practices and enhance protective health factors to promote the overall health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
The General Manager QPHaSS reports to the Chief Operating Officer through the Board of Management and is a member of Queensland Health Executive Leadership Team. QPHaSS has a 2022-23 operational budget of around $823 million, 2,639 FTE and a scope of service that covers the whole State across our four key pillars:
Pathology Queensland (PQ)
- A statewide comprehensive diagnostic pathology service, providing tailored services and support to HHSs based on clinical need.
Forensic and Scientific Services
- Providing comprehensive forensic, public health and environmental science testing, analysis, and solutions. FSS Investigates and responds to public health threats, epidemics, civil emergencies, criminal investigations and coronial enquires.
Biomedical Technology Services
- Providing Biomedical Engineering, Medical Physics and Radiology Support expertise, advice and information management to support health technology safety, quality and regulatory compliance, and the delivery and coordination of technical services.
Public Health
- Communicable diseases - Providingleadership in the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases in Queensland.
- Health Protection - Safeguarding the community from potential harm or illness caused by hazards and harmful practices, and enhancing the protective elements of water quality, fluoridation, food safety, radiation safety and chemical safety.
- Health regulation - Providing strategic advice on matters related to private facilities, medication management services, Schools of Anatomy, medicines including medicinal cannabis, blood, human tissues and related products, pharmacy ownership and healthcare legislation policy and regulation.
- Cancer Screening - Developing, leading and governing the effective cancer screening programs and strategies (bowel, cervical and breast cancer related) in Queensland.
PATHOLOGY QUEENSLAND
Pathology Queensland (PQ) provides diagnostic pathology services to all Hospital and Health Services (HHS) across metro, regional and remote Queensland, offering laboratory services in the disciplines of anatomical pathology, chemical pathology, haematology, immunology, microbiology, and genomics. PQ also provides an invaluable service to Queenslanders by supporting a coordinated response to incidents and disasters.
Pathology Queensland:
- has laboratories located within 35 Queensland Health hospital facilities, providing 24/7 service every day of the year.
- employs approximately 2000 staff including specialist pathologists, registrars, scientists, technicians, laboratory assistants, and operational and support staff, across Queensland.
- supports more than 450 point-of-care testing devices, extending access to pathology results in remote locations and after hours with testing at the patient’s bedside.
- is involved with 70 per cent of all medical decisions and in all cancer diagnoses.
- is critical to the delivery of positive patient outcomes and plays a key role in delivering on Queensland Health’s commitment to achieve good health and well-being for all Queenslanders.
- works alongside clinicians to better understand diseases, enable earlier diagnosis, inform treatment options and monitor disease progression.
- provides specialised testing services for samples referred from public and private pathology providers within Queensland and from interstate.
Role Specification
The Chief Pathologist is accountable to the Executive Director for clinical governance and the quality and safety agenda within Pathology Queensland. This includes supporting and enhancing an effective clinical governance framework and the review and management of significant clinical incidents and complaints.
The Chief Pathologist is accountable for the recruitment and performance of the Discipline Leads that set the direction for each pathology sub-specialty and the Laboratory Medical Directors who are clinically accountable for the performance of their respective Laboratories.
The role is also accountable for ensuring that Pathology Queensland is an employer of choice for both consultants and registrars and that is recognised for the strong working partnerships with its scientific and support staff. The Chief Pathologist is also expected to play a leadership role in embedding a culture of research within Pathology Queensland and in supporting the broader HHS research agenda.
The role is part of the PQ Executive Leadership team and as such contributes to corporate strategy, policy and professional standards. The role works particularly closely with the Statewide Clinical Operations Manager which holds accountability for the operational delivery of quality and research activities.
The Key Result Areas and Responsibilities for the Chief Pathologist include:
- Adhere to defined service quality standards, health and safety policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken to ensure high quality, safe services, and workplaces.
- Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in accordance with the Queensland Public Service values.
- Strategic Accountabilities
- Service Accountabilities
- Clinical Governance and Risk
- Quality
- Education and Research
- Clinical Practice (Optional)
- Professional Behaviour and Communication
View the comprehensive Key Result Areas and Responsibilities in the Role Description here
1. STRATEGIC THINKING: A detailed understanding of the strategic challenges facing pathology services in the short and medium term. A high-level ability to develop and drive the implementation of sustainable and innovative solutions to these and other organisational challenges related to the role.
2. PEOPLE LEADERSHIP: A values-driven, decisive, transparent, and inclusive leadership style that values and promotes the contribution of peers and subordinates in the development and implementation of solutions to organizational challenges and goals.
3. COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: Excellent interpersonal, communication, influencing and motivational skills and an ability to role model professional and expected behaviours and build strong peer relationships.
4. QUALITY AND SAFETY: Demonstrated depth of knowledge and experience of Pathology clinical governance and quality requirements and the ability to apply this knowledge to local health service needs and the broader health service needs of the people of Queensland, including:
a. An expert understanding of the principles and practical requirements of clinical governance, and the role that it plays in the effectiveness of the overall governance framework of a health service organization.
b. The ability to identify, mitigate and manage clinical risks and issues across a network of laboratories.
c. An understanding of the complexities affecting performance in Pathology practice including government regulations/policies, key industry trends, reform agendas, continuous quality improvement initiatives.
5. PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP: Demonstrated ability to provide appropriate, authoritative advice tailored to the needs of a wide range of stakeholders. This includes Government and other elected members of parliament, the senior health executive service, HHS leaders and clinicians, Peak Bodies, PQ staff, the media and the public.
6. CLINICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION: The ability to play a lead role in the development, implementation and governance of an effective clinical research and development strategy for PQ, including knowledge of how to foster its ongoing success.
View the full scope of these in the Role Description.
Mandatory requirements for this position are:
- A medical qualification and a tertiary qualification in a pathology discipline with 10 years or more Specialist Pathologist experience.
- Fellow, or eligibility to be a Fellow, of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA).
- Registered or able to be registered as a Specialist Pathologist without conditions with the Medical Board of Australia (AHPRA).
Further qualifications such as a Master of Business / Health Administration or Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administration are desirable.
The Chief Pathologist reports directly to the Executive Director, Pathology Queensland.
- Annual Budget: $41
- Staffing: 16 Direct Reports
- Financial delegations: Band 5 financial delegations
The total remuneration package range is from $431,884 to $531,677 inclusive of:
- Base salary: $210,332 - $266,667
- Super: 11.5%
- Allowances
Major challenges and opportunities currently associated with the role include:
- Cultural change and leadership of clinical and medical staff to deliver high quality diagnostic services
- Regional service delivery and distributed leadership model across Queensland
- Create and sustain high levels of public confidence in the clinical and diagnostic services provided by Pathology Queensland.
- Manage clinical risk and governance across highly distributed service delivery model.
Service Location: Brisbane
Classification: MMOI – MMO2 (L18-27)
This position is permanent fulltime position
The closing date for applications is Friday, 17 January 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H24_4545
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Natasha Tirado: M: +61 (0)468 301 310 / E: [email protected]
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Sarah Buckler
HardyGroup Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)429 486 740
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