Role: Education Specialist
Salary: €67,000
Contract: 2 years
Closing date: 13 August 2026 at 16:00
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is seeking a Education Specialist to design, develop and continuously improve RCPI’s postgraduate training programmes.
Reporting to the Education Manager, this role leads curriculum, assessment, examinations, and educational transformation initiatives aligned with Medical Council standards and international best practice.
The Education Specialist operates with a high degree of autonomy, shaping RCPI institutional and faculty approaches to education, influencing national and international stakeholders, and ensuring RCPI remains at the forefront of postgraduate medical education.
Working closely with national clinical leads, training bodies and their education committees, the Irish Medical Council and other regulatory stakeholders, the role has responsibility for RCPI training programmes, with a direct impact on physician competence and patient safety nationally and internationally.
Key Duties Strategic Curriculum Leadership- Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing development of postgraduate curricula, including national, international training programmes and fellowship programmes.
- Define and implement competency-based approaches to education and training and lead curriculum transformation.
- Develop and oversee curriculum frameworks, blueprints, and standards linking learning outcomes, training exposures, assessment, and progression.
- Lead specialty and cross-specialty curriculum reform initiatives, including international development.
Assessment Strategy & Design- Lead the design and implementation of RCPI’s assessment strategy, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and best practice.
- Oversee professional examinations including item development, question writing, standard setting, performance analysis, and quality assurance of assessments.
- Design and implement innovative assessment approaches, including digital and workplace-based methods.
- Provide expert advice to governance and exam boards on assessment design, grading and decision-making.
Programme & System Leadership- Lead major strategic education initiatives and programmes.
- Take full ownership of programme development, from concept through pilot to operational delivery.
- Lead the design and development of education systems and platforms (e.g. ePortfolio), including long-term improvement planning.
- Define and implement processes, frameworks, and models that are adopted across RCPI programmes.
Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Influence- Engage and influence senior clinical stakeholders, faculties, training bodies, and regulatory organisations.
- Lead Postgraduate Training bodies, governance forums, and strategic working groups where required.
- Build consensus and drive decision-making on complex and sensitive educational issues.
- Represent RCPI in national and international education forums, as appropriate.
Faculty Development & Educational Leadership- Lead the design and delivery of faculty development initiatives, including assessment, curriculum, and education design workshops.
- Act as a subject matter expert in education, advising colleagues and stakeholders across the organisation.
- Mentor and support education team members and contribute to capability development within the function.
Quality Assurance & Regulatory Leadership- Engage with faculties around Medical Council accreditation processes, including preparation of submissions and responses.
- Monitor and interpret emerging national and international regulatory requirements and translate these into practice.
- Embed quality assurance and continuous improvement mechanisms across RCPI training programmes.
