The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

Posted By: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

Employed By: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

Job Title: Chief Executive

Salary: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

Contract: Permanent, Full-time

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Application Deadline: Monday 2 November 2026 at 5:00pm

Job description:

The role of the RQIA Chief Executive is a senior and influential position within the Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland. The role has considerable impact in making a difference in RQIA and across Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care system, driving forward the delivery of proportionate regulation, safety, quality, accessibility and effectiveness of care for the citizens of Northern Ireland. The Chief Executive is the

Accounting Officer for RQIA and has specific responsibilities in this regard.

The Chief Executive works closely with the Chair and Members of the Authority to develop the vision for the future strategy of RQIA, and provides strategic and policy leadership in organisational transformation and effective management across all of RQIA’s functions. S/he ensures that RQIA is well governed and discharges its functions efficiently and effectively and to the highest quality, maximising its impact through delivering constructively to the Reset programme; and ensuring that the work of RQIA aligns with, and drives, the aims of the Programme for Government in respect of health and social care.

Within an increasingly challenging and rapidly changing global, national and local context, the post holder will lead and manage RQIA’s operations, policy development and organisational transformation in an environment of conflicting demands. S/he ensures that health and social care users are fully involved and at the centre of RQIA’s design, delivery and evaluation of its functions and that a continuing open dialogue is maintained with providers, elected representatives and the public.