Job Opportunities in Nigeria

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the commencement of its African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) project in Abuja, Nigeria. It will provide world-class care to both low and high-income patient groups across the continent. The AMCE in Partnership with King's College Hospital London will be located in Abuja, which is a hub for travel in Nigeria and West Africa, enabling it to attract patients across the region.
The African Medical Centre of Excellence will be implemented in four phases over a six-year period, starting with a 170-bed specialist hospital before expanding to a 500-bed facility. The centre will have the potential to provide services to over 200,000 patients in Nigeria and a further 150,000 patients from neighbouring West African countries within its first five years of operation.
The clinical areas the centre will specialise in are Cardiology, Haematology and Oncology. A range of businesses providing relevant health support will support this facility and provide commercial services to its patients and staff, thus creating a healthcare ecosystem sustainably designed to deliver long-term value to its community and region.
This is an outstanding initiative and creates a unique opportunity to be involved in the opening chapter of this exciting project that is set to make a decisive impact on non-communicable disease care across Nigeria and West Africa. The AMCE will benefit millions of people in Abuja and over the wider regions of West Africa. The institution will act as a beacon of healthcare in Africa and will be the employer and healthcare provider of choice across the region. What makes this facility even more special is its very close partnership with King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Job Summary
The post holder will be providing leadership and operational support related to the planning, development, evaluation of clinical governance, patient safety and other statutory functions of AMCE. They will play a key role in the evaluation and scrutiny of quality standards and contribute to making recommendations to the Quality and Patient Safety Sub-committee of the AMCE board about areas which need further evaluation or improvement.
The Director of Patient Safety and Quality is a key executive role dedicated to advancing the hospital’s commitment to high-quality patient care and safety. This position involves the strategic oversight and management of all quality improvement and patient safety programs within the hospital.
The Director is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategies that enhance clinical outcomes, reduce risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards and accreditation requirements. This role requires extensive collaboration with medical staff, administration, and external regulatory bodies to promote a culture of safety, accountability, and excellence.
The Director of Patient Safety and Quality also leads efforts in data analysis, risk assessment, and the development of best practices and protocols to prevent medical errors and adverse events. The position demands strong leadership in driving continuous improvement initiatives, managing the accreditation processes, and fostering transparent communication across all levels of the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership:

• Lead the Patient Safety and Quality team, including quality improvement specialists, patient safety officers, and data analysts.
• Act as the primary advocate for patient safety and quality, influencing hospital policies and clinical practices.
• Foster a just culture of continuous improvement and learning across AMCE.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and excellence in patient care.

Strategic Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive patient safety and quality improvement strategy, aligning with the hospital's mission and goals.
• Monitor data / intelligence on quality to identify trends and performance profiles, working closely with the operational teams to ensure that intelligence is acted upon in driving improvement at AMCE.
• Identify and prioritize areas for improvement based on data analysis, patient feedback, and regulatory requirements.
• Set and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of safety and quality initiatives.

Governance

• Ensure compliance with national and international standards for patient safety and quality care, including those from The Joint Commission and other accrediting bodies.
• Oversee the hospital’s accreditation processes, ensuring ongoing compliance and readiness for assessments.
• Implement and monitor clinical guidelines, protocols, and best practices to enhance patient outcomes.

Other Responsibilities

• Offer advisory expertise to senior members/managers in relation to any issues relating to on-site facilities.
• Provide regular updates to management and the board.
• Lead root cause analyses and develop action plans for incidents affecting patient safety.
• Manage the hospital’s patient experience program, including the collection and analysis of patient feedback.
• Oversee clinical audit programs to ensure adherence to quality standards and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Keep abreast of publications and regulations that directly impacts on the delivery of the AMCE objectives.
• Support in providing strategic oversight of proactive patient safety initiatives in conjunction with the clinical and non-clinical teams.
• Undertake highly sensitive and confidential investigations/reviews on behalf of the AMCE, analysing and interpreting complex data sets and seeking to minimise reputational risks with a focus on improvement and learning.
• Ensure staff are kept updated regarding regulatory issues, new statutes/ guidelines and safety/quality activities including patient safety, quality, infection prevention and control.
• Act with integrity and discretion always when dealing with issues of professional and personal conflict with and amongst senior colleagues, ensuring that clinical governance and patient safety standards and requirements are paramount and human resources policies are adhered to.
• Work collaboratively with the executive directors in having oversight and driving improvement in terms of Joint Commission International (and any other relevant regulatory bodies).

Analytical & Judgmental Skills

• Support and oversee research governance processes with the AMCE Executive Director of Quality to ensure that the AMCE promotes and supports best research practice amongst staff in line with Africa/national research governance frameworks.
• Promote effective utilisation of research and the development of research programmes within commissioned services to stimulate innovation and service improvement, liaising as appropriate with research networks.
• Plan, develop and evaluate methods and processes for gathering, analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information.
• Deliver projects to comply with key performance indicators.
• Support the coordination of Research and Development initiatives, delegating as appropriate.
• Support the Executive Director of Quality in the delivery of shared corporate objective responsibilities such as the Board Assurance Framework and the Risk Register.

Equality and Diversity

• Act as lead for Equality & Diversity in the department to ensure the development and effective implementation of a strategy, set of policies, procedures and monitoring and control systems are in place.

Personal and Staff Development

• Work with HR to undertake recruitment, retention, performance management and development of staff in the team.
• Work with the Recruitment Manager to establish connections with appropriate local, international and online communities to nurture a pipeline of talent to support the growth of the company.
• Responsible for development of high potential employees, providing a structured approach to mentoring and developing critical talent at all levels of management.

Communications And Working Relationships

• Collaborate with clinical and administrative leaders to integrate safety and quality practices into all aspects of care delivery.
• Communicate with patients, families, and staff about safety initiatives, quality improvements, and the hospital's commitment to high standards of care.
• Engage with external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies and accreditation organizations.
• Establish credibility throughout the organisation and set an example as a proactive senior leader and change agent who earns respect by demonstrating a sound understanding of the departments’ objectives and goals.
• Collaborate with the COO and divisional Heads to determine short and long term needs of the departments.
• Develop and present updates to the Board of Directors.

Line Management

• Supervise the Patient Safety and Quality team, providing guidance, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
• Manage the department's budget and resources, ensuring efficient use and allocation.
• Provide strong leadership to develop, coach and ensure a high performing team.
• Establish the department goals, objectives and operating procedures.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Report to the Chief Medical Officer and participate in the hospital’s executive leadership team.
• Contribute to strategic decision-making and policy development, ensuring patient safety and quality considerations are central to all hospital operations.
• Provide solutions and services to the business that retain and increase a competitive advantage within the sector.
• Evaluate, select, and implement new technology/ systems needed to support the organization in reaching its strategic objectives.

Confidentiality
The post holder must be aware that Confidential Information and data to which the post holder will have knowledge and access to in the course of their employment with the AMCE is to be kept confidential, and this confidentiality is a condition of employment. The duty to maintain confidentiality continues even when the post holder is no longer employed.
This information is not to be shared with anyone outside of the AMCE under any circumstances, except to the extent necessary to fulfil any duties and responsibilities required within the role. Furthermore, upon termination with the AMCE Abuja, the post holder will return to the AMCE all confidential information held.
General
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well-being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of AMCE together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients, staff and visitors.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
All employees must hold an AMCE email account, which will be the AMCE's formal route for email communication. You are therefore required to check this regularly and to deal with such communication promptly.
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role. These requirements are set out in the AMCE Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures, which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.
Requirements:
Qualification

• Degree in Health care related field, Healthcare administration, Nursing, or a related field.
• Masters in Healthcare quality, Patient safety or Healthcare administration, or other related field is preferred.
• Professional Certification in Patient Safety or quality Improvement such as Certified Professional in Patient Safety or Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.
• Educated to masters level
• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• Project Management Qualification

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years experience in healthcare quality and patient safety with progressive leadership responsibilities
• Proven experience working in a complex project and obtaining Joint Commission International Accreditation or equivalent
• Experience managing issues and identifying any potential risk to strategy
• In-depth professional knowledge in a number of disciplines such as financial management, performance management, information systems, staff management acquired through training and experience over extended period
• Extensive experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.
• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate and present on highly complex, sensitive and/or contentions matters and difficult situations.

Management and Leadership

• Inspirational and visible leader, with first class communication skills, capable of engaging audiences at all levels
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve business outcomes through partnership at all levels
• Well-developed management skills, with the ability to build and lead large teams
• Highly effective influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to develop partnerships and alliances across a diverse range of stakeholders
• Politically astute and resilient, with the ability to manage conflict and ambiguity
• Outcome focused, with the capability and tenacity to drive the agenda forward
• Financially literate and commercially astute, with a sophisticated understanding of commercially orientated performance and financial management including contract management
• Shares the AMCE’s vision and values
• Commitment to clinical governance / improving quality of patient care

Personal Attributes

• Professional attitude towards work
• Shares the AMCE’s vision
• Proactive and organised
• Commitment to clinical governance / improving quality of patient care
• Has personal and professional credibility and commands the respect of colleagues peers is supportive and approachable and capable of inspiring confidence in staff members
• Commitment to caring for others
• Ability to adapt to living in a new country and new culture accordingly
• High levels of honesty and integrity

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Application Deadline: 18/10/2024