The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care. Founded in 1654, the college supports doctors to enhance their skills, competencies, and professionalism throughout their working lives.
Through its Faculties and Institutes, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, offers medical training programmes, examinations, diplomas, and educational courses to equip doctors with the skills and knowledge they need to care for patients and run safe and efficient healthcare systems. It also offers a range of educational diplomas and courses for learners in the wider healthcare sector.
The Health Service Executive (HSE), in collaboration with the postgraduate medical training colleges, established the National Clinical Programmes to design and support optimal clinical care across the public health service through transformation programmes based around specific population, specialty and disease groups e.g., older people, neurology, diabetes. These national programmes are led by a Clinical Lead and managed by a Programme Manager. They work through HSE multi-disciplinary working group(s) and are supported by Clinical Advisory Groups within the medical training colleges.
Within RCPI this role will report to the Manager, Clinical Programmes, Healthcare Leadership. The Programme Manager will support the Clinical Lead and Training Lead in the development and delivery of the programme of work including reporting on its progress to the National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Acute Operations, who reports to the National Clinical Director of Integrated Care within the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE.
Position:
Role: Programme Manager, National Endoscopy Programme
Department: Clinical Programmes, Healthcare Leadership
Salary: Aligned to health sector pay scales Grade VIII
Duration: 2-year fixed term contract
Closing date: 14 October 2025 at 12:00
National Endoscopy Programme:
Established within the Acute Hospitals Division within the HSE in 2017, the National Endoscopy Programme has recently moved to the Clinical Design and Innovation function within the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer. The programme aims to:
* Strengthen clinical governance for endoscopy services across all public hospitals
* Increase the capacity of endoscopy services to meet current and future demand
* Establish and deliver national training programme for endoscopy
* Support improvements to validation and scheduling of endoscopy procedures
* Support the roll out of referral pathways for endoscopy including eReferral
* Support endoscopy units to engage with the JAG accreditation process
* Support the development and expansion of the National Bowel Screening Programme in public hospitals
The National Endoscopy Programme works closely with a range of stakeholders including clinical leads for endoscopy in each health region, endoscopy nurses, BowelScreen, the National Treatment Purchase Fund, the Endoscopy National Quality Improvement Programme, the Irish Cancer Society and it will also work with other clinical programmes.
Post Summary
The main responsibilities and duties of the Programme Manager for the National Endoscopy Programme are:
Programme Planning
* Consult and engage with relevant stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify opportunities for service improvement innovations and designs. This programme will prioritise engagement with frontline endoscopy services across the health regions to track and monitor key performance metrics and to support optimal delivery of care.
* Work with Clinical Lead, working group, Endoscopy Programme Clinical Advisory Group and National Director for Integrated Care structure to identify and agree programme priorities.
* Develop and manage to completion programme plans, work-streams, key milestones, deliverables within programme management resource requirements.
* Champion quality improvement at a national, regional and local level in collaboration with others, across the patient's integrated pathway.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communications
* Identify and engage with relevant stakeholders, including patients /service users and advocacy groups to enable co-design and evidence informed delivery of agreed outputs, outcomes and benefits.
* Support the Clinical Lead(s) and other programme subgroups in the consultation, development, recording, approval and communication of all aspects of programme work, including key documents such as models of care, pathways, protocols, policies, procedures and so forth.
* Responsibility for the planning and preparation, including all administrative support duties and follow up of programme meetings (internal and external), workshops and conferences etc.
* Responsibility for drafting of all correspondence in line with HSE and RCPI systems policies and procedures for issue to senior management for required approval and sign-off.
* Manage all programme related internal and external communications including, briefing papers, Parliamentary Question responses, government department requests, HSE Senior management briefings/updates etc.
* Work with allied Clinical Programmes and relevant services in HSE and RCPI to identify and avail of synergies and shared opportunities for innovation.
Programme Governance & Reporting
* Work within shared governance structures of the Clinical Programmes and Clinical Advisory Groups across HSE and RCPI.
* On behalf of the Clinical Lead(s) manage assigned programme planning, corporate reporting, reviews, benefits realisation, risks and issues, change requests, dependencies and resource planning for delivery of work-packages.
* Work with Clinical Lead(s) and National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead (NCAGL) to manage funding and external resources allocated to relevant programmes and ensure that costs incurred are within approved allocation and monitored against plans.
* Ensure all programme related documents and outputs which require approval are progressed in accordance with appropriate governance models, governing policies and legislation.
* Work with the Clinical Lead(s) and healthcare colleagues to collect, evaluate, document and communicate clinical and service evidence and best practice both internationally and locally to inform service design.
* Prepare evidence informed business cases and funding applications.
* Contribute to the development of Annual Reports, Service Plans and Operational Plans as required.
The post holder may be required to perform other duties, as appropriate to their post, and which may be assigned to him/her and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. The reform programme underway in Health Services may impact on this role, and the job description may be reviewed. The Programme Manager may be reassigned to other programmes /projects.
Requirements:
Requirements:
The successful applicant will have the following experience to be eligible to apply for the role:
* At a minimum hold a primary third level degree/ equivalent qualification. A clinical / healthcare background is preferred but not essential.
* Have experience of co-ordinating strategic programmes and related work-streams in a healthcare related environment or other complex service delivery organisation.
* Have experience of establishing and leading on the development of initiatives, from concept to programmes plans, on a cross-organisational and/or cross-functional basis, as relevant to the role.
* Have experience in working collaboratively with multiple internal and external stakeholders in assimilating and analysing complex information to make ensuing recommendations.
* Have the requisite clinical, managerial and administrative knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
Eligible staff seeking secondment from the HSE or Section 38 organisations should only apply subject to having their line manager's approval and confirmation from the service manager that they will be released from their post if successful. Secondment policies of the HSE will apply.
Competencies
Professional Knowledge & Experience
* Experience of leading service improvement in a clinical/complex setting to successfully deliver the agreed outputs, having full ownership of all stages of the improvement cycle.
* Ability to collate and summarise evidence from a wide range of sources.
* Ability to translate complex information into accessible language.
* Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to implement evidence-based care.
* Significant understanding of the health care system and its component parts including sites of care, delivery models, and the roles of various providers and health care professionals.
* The ability to lead on engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
* An understanding of the Irish health service and health service reform.
Critical Analysis & Decision Making
* Anticipate problems, identify risks and consider the impact of decisions before taking action, recognising when to involve other parties appropriately.
* Think broadly and longitudinally, constantly assessing and anticipating the needs of the patient and his/her environment.
* Ability to assimilate and analyse data and information, identify the range of options available and provide recommendations as appropriate.
Managing & Delivering Results (Operational Excellence)
* Use of innovation in the design and delivery of services.
* Clear and succinct report writing skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
* Ability to prioritise and organise a variety of tasks and to manage competing demands.
* Ability to take personal responsibility to initiate activities, deliver work to a high standard and through to conclusion.
* Interest and passion in being part of a vehicle for change towards the ultimate delivery of better patient outcomes.
Leadership & Direction and Working with and through Others
* Strong teamwork skills including the ability to build and maintain relationships in a complex multidisciplinary team/ multi-stakeholder environment.
* Able to visualise and communicate changes required to achieve organisational priorities.
* Negotiation and influencing skills in a complex environment – facilitating consensus.
* Effective conflict management skills.
Building and Maintaining Relationships – Communication
* Proven interpersonal skills to facilitate working effectively in teams, while having the ability to give constructive feedback.
* Excellent communication skills.
Personal Commitment and Motivation:
* Be driven by the values, aims and ethos of the HSE and RCPI.
* Interest in engaging with and delivering better outcomes for service users.
* Capable of optimally managing competing demands.
Other information:
Why work with us
At the RCPI we value our employees and believe our talented team is the foundation of the Colleges success. That is why we aim to provide them with support and a range of benefits and services to create a work-life balance that suits you.:
Leave: We offer 21 days annual leave with an additional 3-4 college days as well as long service leave to all employees. We also provide support for staff with Maternity, Sick, Parents, and Parental leave.
Wellbeing: AnEmployee Assistance Programme with Spectrum Life is available to all staff members as well as annual flu vaccine.
Flexible Hybrid working model: The RCPI offer a flexible 35-hour-a-week hybrid working model for all employees from their start date, giving staff the autonomy to work from home combined with time spent onsite.
Pension: A defined contribution pension scheme of 3.33% Employee contribution and 6.66% RCPI contribution is offered to every employee upon completion of probationary period.
Flexible Benefit: Pro-rata €1,000 annual flexible benefit upon completion of a successful probatory period.
Life Assurance: 4 times your annual salary.
Learning & Development: We offer CPD options including study leave and unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning.
Diversity and Inclusion: RCPI recognises the importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We were recently awarded a Silver accreditation from Investors in Diversity. We are an open and inclusive organisation that celebrates and welcomes diversity. We lead initiatives that support, promote and demonstrate a culture of mutual respect, inclusivity, and diversity, as outlined in our Diversity and Inclusion policy.
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is an inclusive employer and in line with our policies you are invited to disclose any reasonable accommodations you require for applying, interviewing or working with RCPI. Please be assured this information will be treated as confidential and not used for the purpose of selection. If you have any queries, please contact Suzann Donnelly