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.
Role: Co-National Specialty Director –Clinical Microbiology – Faculty of Pathology X2
Specialty: Clinical Microbiology
Term of Office: 3 years (renewable once, stipend related to number of trainees)
Closing date: 17 June 2026 at 16:00
The mission of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is to develop and maintain high professional standards in specialist medical practice in order to achieve optimum patient care and to promote health nationally and internationally. Through its Faculties, Institutes and Committees, RCPI has responsibility for the postgraduate education and training of doctors in Ireland in 25 specialties.
The Faculty of Pathology
The Faculty of Pathology RCPI is the national professional and training body for pathology, and works to ensure the highest standards. The Faculty is accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland and are proud to meet the strict standards required to deliver postgraduate specialist training in all the Pathology specialties.
Role Overview
The role of the Co-National Specialty Director (NSD) is to actively lead the development and delivery of postgraduate specialist training in the defined in HST Clinical Microbiology, under the governance of the Faculty.
Reporting relationships
The NSD will report through the Specialty Training Committee of the Faculty to the Director of Education and Training Chair of the Faculty. The NSD will work with Trainers and Trainees to oversee all matters pertaining to education and training in their given specialty.
Responsibilities
Governance
The NSD is the Chair of the Specialty Training Committee and is responsible for setting and leading the agenda of each meeting. A minimum of three meetings should take place each year.
Attendance at committees/events – NSDs are expected to attend:
- Specialty Training Committee Meetings
- CSCST Ceremonies
- Education and Training Committee meetings
- Annual General Meeting of the Faculty
- Other RCPI meetings as required.
Postgraduate Education & Training
Content of Training Programme
- Liaise with the Postgraduate Training and Education function to understand, implement, and feedback on the rules and guidelines for the training programme.
- Update the specialty curriculum and logbook/ePortfolio, in consultation with the Specialty Training Committee and Postgraduate Training and Education function.
- Work with the Professional Affairs function to oversee/lead on the development of courses for specialist training.
- Develop and organise Study Days across the duration of the training programme.
- Implement formative knowledge- based assessments in line with RCPI policies.
Support and Guidelines
- Provide advice, career guidance and support to trainees on issues relating to training, examination and general queries relating to the specialty.
- Be familiar with and follow delineated process for dealing with trainee/training issues as per the RCPI Grievance, Disciplinary and other related policies. Submit a written report for each issue to the Director of Training and Education and the Faculty Dean.
- Review requests for advice on career intentions e.g., this may include taking time out from the training programme, requesting transfer to another training centre or spending time abroad.
- Act as liaison between trainers and trainees.
Recruitment
- Play an active role in the recruitment and selection of candidates to the specialist training programme including reviewing training intentions and identifying available posts prior to recruitment advertising.
- Liaise with HSE NDTP regarding workforce planning and number of available posts in the specialty.
- Define criteria for short listing that is agreed by the Specialty Training Committee.
- Conduct short-listing of candidates against agreed criteria with panel members.
- Participate in all interviews for entry onto the specialist training programmes.
- Participate, where requested, in interviews for entry onto specialist training programmes of another discipline as an independent assessor.
- After consulting with the Specialty Training Committee, allocate current trainees to various centres for the training year. In this regard, NSDs must confirm to the Specialty Training Committee the number and location of clinical training posts available prior to the allocation process.
Hospital Inspections/Accreditation
- Participate in training site inspections and accreditation visits in the specialty (throughout the year) - where the NSD cannot attend an inspection they must nominate an appropriate alternate with relevant experience from the Specialty Training Committee.
Note: Alternative arrangements for training site inspections are subject to the oversight of the RCPI Director of Training Site Accreditation
- Oversee approval of posts for training and complete associated reports for review and approval by the Faculty Board.
Assessments
- Participate in annual assessments of the specialty and in the assessments of other disciplines as requested. An extern is required for Penultimate Year Assessments (PYA), and it is the responsibility of the NSD to identify an extern who is willing to participate in the annual assessments.
International Programmes
- Participate in the recruitment of international trainees.
Note: Interviews and recruitment may require overseas travel. Where possible and desirable this role will be fulfilled by an NSD. This role can be delegated to an STC member if necessary.
- Implement an integrated programme for international trainees according to the structure and curriculum as agreed between the NSD/STC, the Dean and the International Programme Manager.
- After consulting with the Specialty Training Committee, allocate international trainees to various training centres.
- Participate in the assessment of international trainees.
Professional Affairs
- As required, link and engage with Professional Bodies/Societies (where applicable), on issues relating to the specialty.
Where there are two or more NSDs, the division of responsibilities will require clarification and discussion with the Director of Education and Training. A recommended division of responsibilities is outlined below:
Specialist Division of the Register
Act as a panel member of assessors for applications for entry onto the Medical Council Specialist Division of the Register in the defined specialty, in accordance with standards specified by the Medical Council
Recommended split of NSD role:
NSD 1 (longest in post):
- Dean Specialty Training Committee meetings;
- Attend Education and Training Committee meeting;
- Lead on all aspects related to training programme (rotations etc);
- Service Level Agreement;
- Penultimate Year Assessment/external assessments
NSD 2:
- Study Day Scheduling;
- Curricular / Course Development;
- International Training
Mandatory
- Fellow of the Faculty in good standing.
- Must be a registered and active trainer on the specialty training programme in Ireland.
- Must be existing member of Specialty Training Committee prior to application.
- Must be entered on the Medical Council’s Specialist Division of the Register in the relevant specialty.
- Must be registered on an RCPI Professional Competence Scheme.
- It is expected that the successful candidate will have significant prior experience of specialist training.
- NSD performance and engagement will be reviewed annually by the Chair of the Education and Training Committee.
Nomination and Recruitment of a National Specialty Director
- The Faculty is the appointing authority for NSDs.
- Applications will be invited through the Education and Training Committee
- Where there is competition, applicants will be interviewed by a panel consisting of the Dean (or their nominee), representation from the given specialty, and RCPI management.
- If there is no competition, appointment will be confirmed following a structured meeting including representation from the executive committee.
- NSDs wishing to complete a second term must make an application to the Specialty Training Committee for approval. If competition is invited, then applicants (including existing NSDs) must interview. Final approval will be by the Dean and Faculty Board.
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.
