Head of Sector (Healthcare)

Our client is the local member organisation for an international not-for-profit standards body, supporting more than 4,000 members in Ireland. These standards underpin identification, barcoding and traceability systems used across more than 20 sectors worldwide, improving efficiency, safety and visibility. As a small, agile team of around 20 people in Ireland, our client offers a collaborative environment where ideas are heard, contributions are recognised and individuals can directly influence outcomes.

This role is strongly involved in digital strategy for hospitals and other healthcare settings, aimed at improving patient safety, increasing operational efficiencies and freeing up clinical time. It uses barcode scanning and unique identifiers to enhance the traceability of items used in patient care, ensuring safer care and reducing risk. This approach enables hospitals to track items from supplier to patient, providing real-time visibility and supporting better inventory management and decision-making.

It is driven by the requirements of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), which mandates unique device identification and traceability for medical devices throughout the supply chain.

Purpose of the role

To lead Ireland’s strategic engagement across the healthcare sector by building influential relationships, representing the organisation with senior stakeholders, identifying opportunities to advance the adoption of the standards, and ensuring those standards are embedded within healthcare programmes, systems, and processes. The role is responsible for positioning the organisation as the trusted partner for connecting accurate, standards-based data across healthcare supply chains and care pathways, supporting improvements in patient safety, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the role is central to the delivery of our clients 2026–2028 Irish strategy, Trusted Data, Transforming Outcomes.

The role has one direct report, the Healthcare Manager, and delivers impact primarily through sector influence, strategic partnerships, and cross-organisational collaboration.

The person

We are looking for a senior leader with strong people skills and proven experience in building trusted relationships, who turns that trust into real outcomes. They listen closely to members and stakeholders, shaping their approach around what the sector genuinely needs. They will bring drive and passion to the role, combining strategic thinking with a bias for action and taking ownership from the outset.

The ideal person shall have full working rights for Ireland with long tenure in previous roles with strong examples of how they have influenced organisations to adopt new, beneficial technologies. You must be in a position to travel regularly to conferences across Ireland & internationally, as required. You will also be very comfortable at leading steering groups and chairing meetings with their members and stakeholders within the whole Healthcare Sector – Hospitals, Pharma, Medical Device and Distribution organisations. Ideally you will have experience from both Private & Public Healthcare organisations.

Role/Responsibilities:

Sector Leadership and Influence

• Build and maintain strong senior relationships across the healthcare ecosystem, including the HSE, healthcare providers, pharma, medical device manufacturers and sector associations

• Position our client as a credible, practical and trusted standards partner

• Influence senior decision-making to ensure the standards are understood and embedded in digital health programmes and procurement

• Represent our client at national healthcare conferences, sector events and relevant working groups, including as a speaker or chair where appropriate

• Develop and grow partnerships across healthcare providers, industry and solution partners, including the Solution Provider Programme for healthcare

• Engage and influence senior policymakers and representative bodies to strengthen awareness, alignment and support for the standards

Standards Adoption and Impact

• Facilitate our clients Healthcare Working Groups as a collaborative platform to support all stakeholders implementing Scan4Safety

• Support the practical adoption of the standards in healthcare organisations, identifying and addressing barriers to implementation

• Lead senior engagement with the HSE across programmes such as Health Identifiers and Scan4Safety, ensuring the standards are included in Digital for Care programme design

• Work with members and stakeholders to demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes from standards adoption

• Actively contribute to and leverage the global network, bringing international best practice into the Irish healthcare system Member and Service Development

• Use sector insight to shape relevant, practical member services and training programmes

• Oversee all healthcare-related member enquiries and support

• Drive sustainable growth in membership, services and sector adoption, demonstrating clear value to members and stakeholders

• Identify new opportunities for services to members, including innovative approaches aligned with evolving sector needs, in coordination with wider Ireland colleagues

• Translate member needs into actionable initiatives

• Work closely with the Marketing Team to develop and execute a healthcare content strategy across all channels Strategy, Budget and Team Delivery

• Develop and deliver the strategic plan for healthcare sector engagement, translating Ireland’s 2026–2028 strategy into clear sector priorities and milestones

• Provide regular updates to the CEO and Board of Directors on progress against the healthcare sector strategic plan, including key milestones, risks and outcomes

• Manage the healthcare budget and revenue, ensuring resource optimisation and best-in class service delivery

• Contribute to KPIs including adoption rates, membership growth and service development

• Work directly with the Healthcare Manager, providing clear direction, support and accountability, and contributing to broader organisational leadership, performance and culture as part of the Senior Leadership Team


Education/Experience

Essential

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Healthcare, or a related field

• Significant senior leadership experience, with a proven track record of building trusted relationships and turning that trust into delivered outcomes

• Ability to establish trust quickly and align colleagues, members and partners at senior and executive level

• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical, results-driven plans

• Outcome-focused with a hands-on delivery mindset, bringing energy and a strong work ethic to achieving milestones

• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, confident representing the organisation externally and translating complex concepts into clear, practical messages for clinical and non-clinical audiences alike

• Strong planning, time management and organisational capability

• Working knowledge of data standards, traceability and interoperability in a sector context

• Open to and engaged with AI and digital tools as enablers of smarter, more efficient ways of working

• Collaborative and professional, with a genuine commitment to our clients purpose and public-good mission, and a strong sense of doing the right thing for patients, members and the wider healthcare sector

Desirable

• A postgraduate or Master’s qualification

• Prior healthcare sector experience, with exposure to both public and private sector environments

• Experience building the case for change and securing buy-in to progress initiatives through to full implementation

• Experience in digital transformation, data standards or interoperability

• Commercial awareness balanced with a member-value and public benefit orientation

• Committed to ongoing professional development and continuous learning


Travel Requirements

This is a Dublin-based role with hybrid working options. The role requires travel across Ireland and occasional international travel, including to global and European events.

For further information please contact: Karen Shiel on 087 745 2487 or send application in confidence to [email protected]