AMCE: Clinical Director of Oncology, AMCE

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) commenced the construction of its African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) project in Abuja, Nigeria. It will provide excellent healthcare to both low and high-income patient groups across the continent. The African Medical Centre of Excellence 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 will be 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.

The Opportunity

As the Clinical Director of Oncology service, you will be tasked with the responsibility of providing the department with strong clinical leadership, whilst also being responsible for the day to day operations within the department which may include clinical research and help to all other supporting services.

The post holder will be in charge of fulfilling a wide variety of roles, which will include the oversight of department operations, providing expertise to both the internal department and wider organisation, whilst also making sure that the department practice is complying with the relevant legislations.

The Director of Oncology will lead by example, demonstrated through their high level of performance, being able to drive the department with a clear strategic plan. The ideal candidate will be someone that is seen as a leader to patient care providers in the wider organisation, being able to assist with all internal staffing concerns, collaborating with stakeholders of all levels and resolving both patient and staff management issues promptly.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate previous exceptional leadership within a Clinical Oncology Director position, meeting the required standards to achieve ‘excellence’ in that position. It is essential that the post holder is able to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders making sure that they are clear and concise with the information they are providing. The post holder will be someone that is seen as a ‘problem solver’, providing solutions to any potential complications that may have arisen in the department concerning both staff and patients from an operation and clinical standpoint, ensuring that these are resolved in an efficient manner.

Key Responsibilities: 

Leadership

• Lead by consistent ethical and professional behaviour, with uncompromising commitment to patients
• To effectively lead the team, directing staff to ensure that resources are managed effectively to through planning with the wider team
• To take responsibility for the review of clinical procedures, with a focus on continuous improvement of services
• To be the first point of contact for staff, patients and the wider organisation in regards to any Clinical Oncology expertise that may need to be given
• To lead in the explanation of any changes to processes within the department,  ensuring that all staff are aware of this and are able to adapt
• Provide leadership around job planning and productivity within the department
• Ensure and cultivate a culture of integrity, transparency and respect, as per AMCE values, throughout the Department

Strategic Development 

• To work with the Head of Nursing and other senior leads in the department to provide effective clinical leadership to the directorate and help ensure the  development of high quality clinical services
• To work with the Head of Nursing and senior leadership team to develop relationships, services and clinical pathways that aim to improve quality of service
• To ensure that regular appraisals of staff within the department are carried out to ensure that there is a long term plan in identifying and achieving objectives which fall in line with those of both the individual and organisation
• To regularly monitor and review clinical practices within the department, seeking change if there is any that needs to be made
• To make sure that the strategic plan of the clinical department is a realistic one that takes into account any financial/resource constraints
• To monitor and assess performance of senior and nursing staff within the Oncology department, making sure that these fall in line with standards of the organisation, identifying any potential methods of improvement where necessary

Governance 

• Ensure correct governances arrangements, which include the management of finance and regulatory activity where appropriate
• To ensure that all clinical practice complies with the statutory regulations that are in place
• Participate in clinical audit, incident reporting and analysis to ensure resulting actions are implemented

Other Duties

• To participate in any research findings that may improve the clinical delivery of the department, relaying this information to the C Suite to see if any of these findings can be implemented
• Where necessary, be able to explain clinical information to patients and external staff regarding any treatment/findings, demonstrating clear and concise interpersonal skills
• Continuing personal professional development if needed

Equality and Diversity

• Act as lead for Equality & Diversity in the Oncology 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

• Coordinate and facilitate consultations with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements to ensure improvements and any necessary systems implementations to help the meet the Oncology departments strategic objectives
• 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 Oncology Operations objectives and goals
• Collaborate with the Head of Nursing and CNO to determine the short and long term needs of the Oncology department
• Develop and present Oncology department updates to the Board of Directors
• In conjunction with the Head of Nursing and CNO, lead on quality improvement and Innovation within the Oncology department

Line Management

• Develop and maintain the Oncology department with the appropriate mix of business knowledge and technical skills required to achieve strategic objectives and ensure the core functions of the Oncology department are reliable, stable and efficient
• Provide strong leadership to develop, coach and ensure a high performing team
• Establish the department goals, objectives and operating procedures

Organisational Responsibilities

• Work with the senior management team to horizon scan for new Oncology technology or sector related improvements
• 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 organisation in reaching its Oncology 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 and staff.
• 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