Job summary
We are looking
for a full time Licensing Committees Manager to support the delivery of our
full range of licensing committees and related work. This is an exciting
opportunity for someone who is quality focused and a natural problem solver who
wants to make a real and tangible difference to our work and the lives of
patients.
Main duties of the job
The HFEA
licences all fertility clinics and research projects in the UK, through three
different licensing mechanisms the Licence Committee, the Executive Licensing
Panel and a Licensing Officer. There are also appeals mechanisms for the
decisions made by our licensing committees. In addition, the HFEAs Statutory
Approvals Committee considers applications for treatment using mitochondrial
donation, for genetic conditions for which PGT-M (preimplantation genetic
testing) can be carried out, and special directions for the import and export
of gametes and embryos.
The right
candidate will have solid prior experience of managing and minuting formal
committees and panels, ideally in a licensing, governance or other quasi-legal
setting, and may have worked in another regulator or similar public body. You
will also have experience of line managing and developing staff.
As well as an
awareness of legal risks and the nature of quasi-legal decision making, you will
have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to
engage sensitively with senior staff, board members and colleagues to
proactively problem solve and deliver a high-quality service. You should also
have the skills and resilience required to keep calm in stressful situations
and work under pressure, and to make reasoned judgements in high risk
situation.
Interviews are likely to take place on Wednesday 16th April at Redman Place, London.
About us
The HFEA is
the UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice in
fertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinics
carrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.
This post is
offered as either office based (in which case you will need to attend the
office at least one day per week or home based (in which case office attendance will be specified by
your line manager based on business need). Our office is in Stratford, east
London, in attractive new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park, alongside
several other health Arms Length Bodies. In addition to flexibility and hybrid
working we offer generous annual leave and pension arrangements.
The HFEA is a
member of the Community Race and Work Charter and the Disability Confident
Charter. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive working
environment that is free from any form of discrimination. We recognise that
there are real benefits of having a diverse community of staff and aim for our
workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society. Additionally,
we adopt a culture that hopes to attract and retain talented individuals that
want to work with us.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Working closely with the Head of Licensing, the Licensing
Committees Manager will lead the operational delivery of the HFEAs statutory licensing
function, which is an essential part of how we regulate fertility clinics and
human embryo research centres. The post-holder will have responsibility for
ensuring that each licensing meeting runs smoothly in accordance with HFEA
procedures and will provide daily direction and management to the small team of
Committee Officers. This includes ensuring that committee members are well
supported, that key performance indicators are met consistently and that our
licensing activities fulfil the HFEAs statutory obligations.
Duties
Lead the operational delivery of the HFEA licensing
function, with a focus on ensuring that support for meetings is of the highest
quality, that minuting performance is monitored and reported through corporate
systems, and that licensing decisions are robust, consistent and accurately
recorded. This will include:
Ensuring
licensing committees and Chairs are well supported and receive high quality
papers.
Attending
meetings of the various committees as required.
Providing
secretariat support to the various committees in the absence of the committee
officers.
Establishing
and maintaining templates and standard practices for all licensing documents
issued, including minutes, licences, special directions and notices.
Establishing
and maintaining precedent libraries to assist consistent decision-making.
Monitoring
and reporting KPIs.
Line manage and develop the licensing Committee
Officers.
Lead the servicing of occasional
representations hearings and appeals.
Lead on ensuring up to date and appropriate licensing
practices and tools are in place, including standard operating procedures and
quality assurance measures.
Ensure that licensing records are accurately
maintained and regularly audited.
Work closely with the Board Governance
Manager and Head of Licensing to ensure that terms of office are managed and
that new licensing committee and panel members, and their advisers, are
appropriately trained and inducted before taking up their roles.
Build and maintain effective relationships
with key stakeholders and colleagues, such as committee members and the
Compliance team, to ensure the efficient running of licensing activities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Working closely with the Head of Licensing, the Licensing
Committees Manager will lead the operational delivery of the HFEAs statutory licensing
function, which is an essential part of how we regulate fertility clinics and
human embryo research centres. The post-holder will have responsibility for
ensuring that each licensing meeting runs smoothly in accordance with HFEA
procedures and will provide daily direction and management to the small team of
Committee Officers. This includes ensuring that committee members are well
supported, that key performance indicators are met consistently and that our
licensing activities fulfil the HFEAs statutory obligations.
Duties
Lead the operational delivery of the HFEA licensing
function, with a focus on ensuring that support for meetings is of the highest
quality, that minuting performance is monitored and reported through corporate
systems, and that licensing decisions are robust, consistent and accurately
recorded. This will include:
Ensuring
licensing committees and Chairs are well supported and receive high quality
papers.
Attending
meetings of the various committees as required.
Providing
secretariat support to the various committees in the absence of the committee
officers.
Establishing
and maintaining templates and standard practices for all licensing documents
issued, including minutes, licences, special directions and notices.
Establishing
and maintaining precedent libraries to assist consistent decision-making.
Monitoring
and reporting KPIs.
Line manage and develop the licensing Committee
Officers.
Lead the servicing of occasional
representations hearings and appeals.
Lead on ensuring up to date and appropriate licensing
practices and tools are in place, including standard operating procedures and
quality assurance measures.
Ensure that licensing records are accurately
maintained and regularly audited.
Work closely with the Board Governance
Manager and Head of Licensing to ensure that terms of office are managed and
that new licensing committee and panel members, and their advisers, are
appropriately trained and inducted before taking up their roles.
Build and maintain effective relationships
with key stakeholders and colleagues, such as committee members and the
Compliance team, to ensure the efficient running of licensing activities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Legal or governance qualification or corresponding prior experience in a legal, licensing or governance role
Knowledge & skills
Essential
- Good working knowledge of regulation and wider corporate governance practices and public sector transparency requirements
- Awareness of legal risks and the nature of quasi-legal decision making
Managing work
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
- Ability to make reasoned judgments in high risk situations
- Ability to keep calm in stressful situations, managing more senior colleagues sensitively yet robustly
Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing (and minuting) formal committees and panels, ideally in a licensing or similar statutory setting
- Experience of working within a legislative framework
- Experience of liaising with senior staff and board members
- Experience of line managing and developing staff, including remote workers and non-office based staff
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to coach and improve others in this area
- Experience of running a robust quality assurance system
Desirable
- Experience of managing a licensing, governance or committees team
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Legal or governance qualification or corresponding prior experience in a legal, licensing or governance role
Knowledge & skills
Essential
- Good working knowledge of regulation and wider corporate governance practices and public sector transparency requirements
- Awareness of legal risks and the nature of quasi-legal decision making
Managing work
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
- Ability to make reasoned judgments in high risk situations
- Ability to keep calm in stressful situations, managing more senior colleagues sensitively yet robustly
Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing (and minuting) formal committees and panels, ideally in a licensing or similar statutory setting
- Experience of working within a legislative framework
- Experience of liaising with senior staff and board members
- Experience of line managing and developing staff, including remote workers and non-office based staff
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to coach and improve others in this area
- Experience of running a robust quality assurance system
Desirable
- Experience of managing a licensing, governance or committees team
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
