Launch of National Director of Public Health recruitment campaign

The HSE is launching a recruitment campaign for the future National Director of Public Health in Ireland.

The National Director of Public Health will report to the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer and will be a “system leader with responsibility for protecting and improving the health of the Irish population”.

The post holder will provide strategic and clinical leadership to modernise, enhance and reform the delivery of public health services and develop a shared vision and strategy for the specialty into the future.

According to a HSE statement, this is the first of 84 consultant posts in public health medicine to be recruited by December 2023, as part of a programme to deliver a fundamentally reformed, consultant-delivered public health service.

It is also the first specifically designated consultant level position in public health medicine ever to be recruited in Ireland.

This new service delivery model will “radically change” the governance and operating structure within the HSE public health function, introducing a more “fit for purpose national and area management structure and establishing strong clinical leadership across each of the domains of public health practice”.

This future model seeks consultants in public health with the capability, autonomy, authority, accountability and multidisciplinary teams to deliver an “agile, dynamic, intelligence-led public health medicine service to protect the population from health threats, promote population health, improve health services through facilitating healthcare design and tackle inequalities in health”, outlined the HSE today.

Applications for the National Director of Public Health open at 3pm today (10 September 2021) and close on 30 September 2021.

Further information on this post including eligibility criteria, pay and benefits and a comprehensive job description is available on www.publicjobs.ie, where all upcoming consultant in public health medicine opportunities in Ireland will be advertised in due course.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: “This is an exciting day for the future of public health in Ireland. The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the value we place on our public health experts and the important work they have always done to protect us from disease, prolong life and promote and protect health through their commitment and dedication to our health care system.”

HSE CEO Mr Paul Reid stated: “Our public health doctors have been at the forefront of our Covid-19 pandemic response. The launch of this campaign marks a significant milestone, establishing consultant in public health medicine posts for the first time in Ireland and giving due recognition for the contribution of this specialty to the health of our communities.”

HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry added: “This is a high profile opportunity to lead a dynamic public health service within the HSE. I look forward to working with our public health leaders to ensure that Ireland emerges from the pandemic with a public health service and workforce aligned with international best practice.”