Job overview

Topic Adviser

NICE is seeking to appoint a Topic Adviser to its guideline committee on the assessment and management of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/Metabolic dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (NAFLD/MASH).

The Topic Adviser will work in collaboration with NICE staff, the Chair and the Committee to develop a guideline on NAFLD/MASH on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The Topic Adviser will provide expert knowledge on NAFLD/MASH and act as a source of advice to the guideline Chair and NICE staff in the review of evidence. This includes providing input to the early development of the scope, assisting with queries, contribute to discussions at the committee meetings and quality assuring the content of the guideline.

We are looking for a practicing healthcare professional with demonstrable relevant experience and clinical care knowledge in the field of NAFLD/MASH. 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, ideally with experience of guideline development processes, an understanding of systematic reviewing, critical appraisal methods and the role of health economics in supporting decision-making.

Interviews are tentatively scheduled to take place in early February 2025.   

Closing date: Midnight 20 January 2025.

Main duties of the job

Committee members agree to:

·      set aside enough time to attend committee meetings and use their personal and professional knowledge to inform the development of the guidance. For more guidance on the time required, see the ‘Time commitment’ section below.

·      raise any concerns about process or details in the draft guidance with the committee, and try to resolve these issues within the committee, with support from NICE staff

·      contribute positively to the work of the committee and to developing the guidance

·      take full account of the evidence in developing recommendations

·      consider the analysis and interpretation of evidence prepared by the evidence review team

·      act in a professional manner, show good manners and be courteous to colleagues and staff at all times (committee members should behave in a polite, efficient and respectful manner and without bias or favour, using the highest standards of conduct expected in public life and service while on NICE duty)

·      be impartial and honest in conducting their duties for NICE, use public funds entrusted to them to the best advantage of NICE, and avoid deliberately damaging the confidence of the public or stakeholders in NICE

·      ensure strict adherence to NICE's Principles and Equality policy.

·      read and adhere to NICE’s policies on hospitality, declarations of interests and travel and subsistence.

Working for our organisation

Topic Advisors employing organisations are normally reimbursed for the time advisors work for NICE. Please see reimbursement policy linked in information for applicant document.

NICE will also pay reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including train fares and hotel costs when necessary, for attending committee meetings.

Other expenses:

NICE recognises that in some circumstances individuals will need to arrange for carers or support workers to accompany them to a meeting, or to take over unpaid caring responsibilities while they are at a meeting – this includes childcare or care of a family member with a disability or other additional needs.  Please refer to NICE’s non-staff reimbursement policy.  

Time commitment: 

Committee members are expected to attend approximately 8 or 9 (depending on the scope size) day-long committee meetings over 12 months during the guideline development. Our committees have been meeting virtually using online software since the COVID-19 pandemic. We will review this regularly but currently anticipate a small number of meetings may be held in person.

Committee members will have to spend time reading substantial committee documents, helping to produce consultation documents and respond to stakeholder responses to the consultation documents.