Education Specialist

About the Organization

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), established in 1654, is a postgraduate medical training college committed to equipping doctors with essential skills for optimal patient care. Through its faculties and institutes, RCPI provides specialized medical training programs, examinations, diplomas, and courses to enhance healthcare proficiency and efficiency. Additionally, it offers educational diplomas and courses tailored to a broader healthcare audience.

Role Overview

The RCPI seeks an Education Specialist responsible for designing, developing, and continuously refining postgraduate training programs. Reporting directly to the Education Manager, this role involves leadership in curriculum, assessment, examinations, and educational transformation aligned with the Medical Council guidelines and global best practices. The position requires a high degree of autonomy and influence at national and international levels, contributing significantly to physician competency and patient safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of postgraduate curricula, including national and international training and fellowship programs.
• Drive competency-based education approaches and coordinate curriculum transformation projects.
• Develop and maintain curriculum frameworks, blueprints, and standards aligning learning outcomes, training experiences, assessments, and progression.
• Manage assessment strategies ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, including examinations design, question development, standard setting, and quality assurance.
• Innovate assessment methods with digital and workplace-based approaches.
• Oversee major strategic education initiatives, leading programs from conception to operation and enhancing educational systems such as ePortfolio platforms.
• Engage, influence, and collaborate with senior clinical stakeholders, faculties, training bodies, and regulatory organizations.
• Lead committees, governance forums, and strategic groups related to postgraduate training.
• Provide faculty development through workshops, mentorship, and subject matter expertise in education.
• Ensure robust quality assurance and adherence to regulatory accreditation processes, embedding continuous improvement in training programs.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Postgraduate degree in Education, Health Professions Education, Psychology, or a related field.
• At least 4-5 years of substantial experience in education design, curriculum development, and assessment.
• Proven experience leading strategic education initiatives or programs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of quality assurance, regulatory frameworks, and assessment methodologies.
• Exceptional skills in stakeholder engagement, communication, data interpretation, and strategic decision-making.
• Experience managing complex projects autonomously, designing new systems or processes, and handling multiple high-impact workstreams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in postgraduate medical or health professions education.
• Experience with competency-based curricula, ePortfolio systems, or digital education innovation.
• Research and analysis skills in quantitative and qualitative data.

Competencies

• Planning and Organizing
• Relationship Management and Stakeholder Engagement
• Results Focus
• Leadership and Autonomy

Benefits and Additional Information

• Annual leave of 21 days plus an additional 3-4 college days and long service leave.
• Supportive leave policies including maternity, sick, parents, and parental leave.
• Employee Assistance Program with Spectrum Life and annual flu vaccinations.
• Flexible hybrid working model: a 35-hour workweek combining remote and onsite work.
• Defined contribution pension scheme with initial 1.5% employee contribution and matching employer contribution, with increases after 18 months.
• Flexible benefit entitlement of €1,500 pro-rata upon successful probation completion.
• Life assurance coverage at four times annual salary.
• Continuing professional development opportunities, including study leave and access to internal learning management systems.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion with Silver accreditation from Investors in Diversity and inclusive workplace culture.
• Reasonable accommodations are available during application, interviewing, and employment; confidentiality assured.

Contract Details

This is a two-year contract position based in Dublin, Ireland, with a salary of €67,000 per annum. The closing date for applications is 13 August 2026 at 16:00.