Non-specialist Chair - NICE topic committees in Virtual inVirtual PUBLISHED THU 13 FEB 2025 Jump to job information section

We are seeking to recruit a number of Chairs for topic committees to work in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Over the next 12 months, we are expecting to start work on topics across our 4 high priority suite areas - Cancer, Women's & reproductive health, Cardiometabolic conditions and Mental Health. There may also be some topics outside of these areas.

Chairs are appointed to work on different topics and allocation to topics will be discussed post appointment.

We are looking for skilled and experienced leaders with a track record of chairing national or high profile multi-professional committees or working groups. We welcome your application irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity, gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, personal circumstance, or if you are from a marginalised or underrepresented group. Strong interpersonal skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills are required, along with an ability to communicate complex issues to differing audiences.

Applicants should have a commitment to evidence-based medicine or practice, ideally with experience of NICE guideline development.

The primary role of the Chair is to chair the committee and not to provide knowledge of the topic. Specialist knowledge is provided by other committee members and a Topic Adviser, if appointed.

The Chair ensures that the committee takes full account of the evidence in developing recommendations and considers the analysis and interpretation of the evidence prepared by the evidence review team. The Chair must therefore establish trust and mutual respect among members of the committee and give opportunities for all members to contribute to its discussions and activities.

While all committee members must ensure appropriate consideration of the implications of guidance for equality, this is a particular responsibility for the Chair.

The Chair should also offer committee members feedback and comment on their contribution to the committee, on an annual basis, for revalidation purposes or personal development.

About us

Act in accordance with the principles of the NICE Code of Conduct

Participate in NICE committee Chairs training

Participate in the recruitment of committee members including shortlisting and interviewing applicants (virtual)

Work with the Topic Adviser and developer staff to develop the scope of the guidance

Help plan, chair and maintain the focus and smooth running of committee meeting

Agree draft agendas with NICE staff and ensure that committee meetings achieve their aims by keeping to the agenda

Ask for Declarations of Interest from committee members at each meeting, identify any conflicts and handle these as they arise in line with NICEs policy

Facilitate committee meetings to achieve consensus in relation to the evidence base, provide appropriate practice interpretations where possible and formulation of concise action-orientated recommendations.

Facilitate topic groups of committee members on specific questions as required.

Facilitate discussion at committee meetings about topic development and writing of recommendations, ensuring all members are involved in discussion and encouraged to express their views

Keep group discussion unified and avoid disruption by sub-conversations or dominance by any group members

Encourage constructive debate, without forcing agreement and prevent repetitive debate

Summarise the main points and key decisions from discussions at committee meetings

Assist in resolving concerns or disagreements between committee members

Work with the Topic Adviser and Topic Lead to ensure appropriate governance of committee meetings and topic materials, such as accurate sets of meeting minutes, recording and assessing the impact of declarations of interest, ensuring confidentiality, etc.

Sign-off all meeting minutes once approved by the committee

Work with the Topic Adviser, the Topic Lead and other members of NICEs topic team between meetings to ensure timely delivery of high-quality systematic reviews and health economic content

Take responsibility with the Topic Adviser and Topic Lead for quality assuring drafts of the guidance and contributing to the writing of the final guidance documents.

Represent the committee at other meetings (such as those organised by NICE and relevant medical Royal colleges), if required