SCOPE / PURPOSE OF JOB:
This role will lead the design, implementation and scale-up of community-based patient navigation under the National Patient Navigation Programme (NORA).
The position focuses on strengthening access to early detection and timely cancer care, particularly for underserved populations, through coordinated community and health system approaches.
The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, refining, and integrating programme strategy into operational models that are scalable, data-driven and aligned with Ministry of Health priorities. This includes integrating community outreach, patient navigation workflows, and digital platforms to improve efficiency, visibility and outcomes, while ensuring robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, and evidence generation.
This is a leadership role that requires strong systems thinking, the ability to operate across complex, multi-stakeholder environments and the capability to translate implementation into high-quality evidence and publications. The role requires the ability to work with evolving programme models, and to systematically refine and align these models for scale within the Ministry of Health system.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategy and Programme Development
- Lead the design and refinement of community and health systems navigation models aligned with NORA objectives
- Translate strategic priorities into operational plans with clear milestones and measurable outcomes
- Identify opportunities to strengthen early detection, referral pathways and continuity of care
2. Implementation and Scale
- Oversee and guide implementation of community outreach and navigation activities through Deputy HOD and project managers across multiple sites.
- Ensure models are adaptable across different states, populations and health system contexts with clear documentation of variation and standardisation
- Develop approaches that support national scalability beyond pilot settings
3. Data, Evaluation and Implementation Science
- Design and lead monitoring frameworks to track programme performance, including timeliness, adherence and patient outcomes and system level indicators
- Lead the development of study questions, analytical frameworks, and evaluation strategies aligned with programme implementation
Lead implementation research and ensure programme data is translated into high-quality publications, policy briefs, and evidence outputs to support scale-up
4. Digital Integration
- Work with internal digital health teams and external vendors to integrate digital navigation tools into workflows
- Ensure alignment between community processes and digital systems for tracking, reporting and decision support
- Support adoption and usability of digital platforms among navigators and stakeholders
5. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
- Build and maintain relationships with Ministry of Health, hospitals, community organisations and donors
- Align programme activities with national health priorities and policies
- Represent CRMY in external engagements related to navigation and community outreach
6. Team Leadership and Capacity Building
- Lead, mentor and guide the Deputy HOD and project managers, ensuring alignment between strategy, implementation, and data-driven evaluation. Strengthen capability in implementation, data use and programme delivery
- Foster a collaborative and accountable team culture
7. Resource and Financial Oversight
- Manage programme budgets and ensure efficient use of resources
- Contribute to grant development and sustainability planning
- Align programme priorities with available funding and future opportunities
8. Research and Knowledge Generation
- Define and lead a research agenda aligned with NORA implementation and scale
- Identify priority research questions in areas such as access, timeliness, adherence, and health system performance
- Design and oversee studies, including implementation and operational research
- Lead and coordinate development of manuscripts, policy briefs, and dissemination outputs
- Build collaborations with academic, clinical, and policy partners to strengthen research output
- Position CRMY as a leader in cancer navigation and implementation science through sustained publication
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
- Degree in public health, behavioural science, implementation science or a related field. Postgraduate qualification (MPH, MSc, PhD) is strongly preferred
- At least 7 to 10 years of experience in programme design and implementation, and evaluation, preferably in health systems or community-based programmes
- Demonstrated experience in designing studies, leading analyses, and contributing to or leading publications
- Experience working with government, healthcare providers and community stakeholders in Malaysia
- Strong systems thinking with the ability to integrate existing models and translate them into scalable frameworks
- Strong experience in monitoring and evaluation, implementation science, and data-driven decision making
- Ability to work across disciplines including clinical, community and digital teams
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities
