The Medical Council is seeking to appoint a Head of Risk, Compliance and Assurance at Assistant Principal Officer level. The successful candidate will lead and coordinate the organisation-wide approach to risk management and compliance.
About the Medical Council:
The Medical Council is the body responsible for the regulation of register medical practitioners in Ireland under the Medical Practitioner's Act 2007 (as amended).
Our primary responsibility is to protect the public by setting, monitoring and maintaining the:
standards of education and training for registered medical practitioners
standards for the maintenance of professional competence
standards of professional conduct for registered medical practitioners.
Maintaining the register of medical practitioners, establishing procedures and criteria for registration and the issue of certificates of registration and renewal.
Managing complaints made about doctors to ensure that the public is protected and that doctors are fit to practise.
As part of its continued development, the Medical Council is committed to strengthening governance, organisational resilience and continuous improvement to support the delivery of its strategic objectives and public protection mandate.
About the Office of the CEO (OCEO)
The OCEO is a strategic function of the Medical Council overseeing the integration of internal governance, risk management and assurance. Its primary role is to ensure the organisation is well-governed, strategically aligned, operationally resilient, and fully accountable, acting as the nexus for high-priority, cross-departmental initiatives.
About the Risk, Compliance and Assurance Team
The Risk, Compliance and Assurance function, located within the OCEO, underpins effective governance, organisational resilience and informed decision making across the Medical Council.
It is responsible for the oversight of risk management, compliance, assurance activities and the promotion of a strong, positive risk culture.
The Head of Risk, Compliance and Assurance leads a specialist team that works closely with senior leaders to enhance governance, strengthen compliance, and elevate assurance practices across the organisation.
The role delivers independent oversight of governance, risk, compliance and assurance. It is a key strategic leadership position responsible for embedding a proactive risk culture, strengthening governance, and enabling informed organisational decisionmaking. The position offers the opportunity to shape organisational strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide strategic leadership for risk, compliance and assurance by leading the Medical Council's Risk, Compliance and Assurance Frameworks. Ensuring they remain robust, fit for purpose, and aligned with regulatory requirements, best practice, and organisational objectives.
Strengthen governance and reporting by overseeing governance of the Risk Registers and deliver high quality risk reporting and insights to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Audit and Risk Committee, and Council, including updates on emerging risks and serious incidents.
Embed a proactive risk and quality assurance culture. Champion a positive, forward looking risk culture and foster quality assurance, structured review, and continuous improvement across the Medical Council and the OCEO.
Lead and develop the Risk, Compliance and Assurance team, strengthening capability, engagement, and succession planning.
Collaborate with Directorates to share insights, lessons learned, and good practice, driving continuous improvement of risk and compliance frameworks and supporting delivery of the Medical Council's Statement of Strategy.
Shape the organisational transformation and strategic delivery. Act as a strategic partner to the CEO and leadership team in advancing strategic priorities and the organisational transformation programme through the lens of right touch regulation.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders and professional bodies to inform and strengthen the Risk, Compliance and Assurance function.
Essential Criteria:
Candidates must, on or before the closing date for applications, have experience in:
Risk management, governance, compliance, assurance, audit or a related discipline.
Advising and influencing senior leaders, boards, committees or equivalent governance bodies.
Developing, implementing or overseeing governance, risk, compliance or assurance frameworks.
Leading people, projects or organisational initiatives.
Supporting organisational change through a risk-informed, "right touch" approach.
Essential Knowledge and Skills:
Strong strategic leadership capability.
Strong understanding of risk, regulatory compliance, and governance framework, with ability to translate requirements into effective practice.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to influence, challenge constructively and build effective relationships at all levels of an organisation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
Ability to build and develop high-performing teams.
Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a dynamic environment.
Demonstrated ability to support organisational change and continuous improvement.
High levels of integrity, judgement and professional credibility.
Desirable Knowledge and Skills:
Hold a relevant third-level qualification in business, governance, law, public administration, risk management, finance or a related discipline.
Experience working within a public sector, statutory, healthcare or professional regulatory environment.
Knowledge of governance requirements applicable to public bodies, including public sector governance frameworks.
Professional qualification in risk management, governance, compliance, audit or a related discipline.
Experience operating within a governance, assurance, risk or compliance function at a senior level.
Details of this Appointment:
Position Type: This appointment will be offered on a full-time permanent basis. A 6-Month probationary period applies to this appointment.
Salary: Starting salary will be at €83,113, which is the first point of the Assistant Principal Officer PayScale.
If you are currently a serving civil or public servant, your entry point to the PayScale may be higher based on your current salary.
There will be salary increment each year in line with the Assistant Principal Grade PayScale and subject to satisfactory performance, until the maximum point on the scale has been reached. The rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.
€83,113, €86,173, €89,277, €92,390, €95,499, €97,292
€100,4271 (LS1 After 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum)
€103,57622 (LS2 After 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum)
Annual Leave: 30 working days plus public holidays
Hours: 35 hours per week, Mon-Fri.
Location: The Medical Council's offices are located at Kingram House, Kingram Place, Dublin 2. We operate a hybrid working model with both remote working and a current requirement for on-site attendance of two days per week.
Pension: The Medical Council offers a pension through the Public Sector Scheme. Contributions to the scheme will commence on joining the organisation. Candidates currently working in the Public or Civil Service may transfer their pension.
Rewards/ Benefits:
Dedicated Wellbeing Group and Wellbeing Initiatives, Employee Assistance Programme, Training and Development, Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, TaxSaver Travel Tickets, Bike to Work Scheme, Subsidised Flu Jabs, Paid Exam Leave & Study Leave, Income Continuance Scheme, Civil Service Credit Union, Annual Salary Increment.
Recruitment Process:
The selection process may include one or more of the following stages:
Shortlisting of applications
Competency-based interview
Presentation exercise
Reference checks
Pre-employment screening
The Medical Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates based on the information provided in their application.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
The Medical Council is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.
Further Information:
For further information on the Medical Council and the work we do, please visit our website.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Apply by: 16/07/2026
Expected Interview Date: 28/07/2026
