Chief Examiner

Irish College of GPs; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Irish College of GPs is recruiting a Chief Examiner who shares leadership of MICGP examinations with the Deputy Executive Director for Assessment. The role oversees clinical and QA matters in Ireland and Malaysia, ensuring examinations are fair, valid, and aligned with standards.

You will work with the Clinical Team and Examinations Panel to design, develop, and deliver MICGP assessments, and participate in training, governance, and policy development to support high-stakes examination

Qualifications

• Be an active general practitioner in Ireland.
• Hold MICGP qualification and be in good standing.
• Be registered with the Irish Medical Council on the Specialist Division.
• Have 7 years full-time postgraduate medical experience in general practice in Ireland.
• Hold a part-time clinical appointment equivalent to at least four sessions per week.
• Significant experience in medical education, examinations, and assessment.
• Experience in leadership within a high-stakes, complex environment.
• Strong understanding of governance, quality assurance, and risk management.
• Proven ability in strategic planning and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure examinations are fit for purpose, rigorous, and fair.
• Oversee development, maintenance, and performance review of question banks.
• Approve examination questions and clinical cases.
• Oversee the ratification of examination results with input from key stakeholders.
• Lead examiner workshops and the annual examiner training.
• Contribute to strategy, policy, and multi-year planning for EA SC.
• Manage governance, conflicts of interest handling, and risk registers.
• Collaborate with accredited programmes to align assessments with curriculum.

Skills

General practitioner

MICGP qualification

Irish Medical Council Specialist Div.

Professional Competence Scheme

Examinations leadership

Quality assurance

Strategic planning

Education

MICGP qualification

Irish Medical Council Specialist Division

Professional Competence Scheme enrollment

Postgraduate medical education experience

Job description

Job Title

Chief Examiner

Reporting to

Executive Director for Training and Assessments

Base

Remote and/or 15 Hogan Place, Dublin 2

Contract type

Fixed term contract for 3 years

Hours of Work

1.5 days / 10.5 hours per week (1 day protected time, 0.5 day flexible)

Closing date for applications

Friday 25th September 2026

For any informal enquiries about this role please contact [e-mail]

About The Irish College Of GP’s

The Irish College of GPs is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. Please visit our website for more information: Irish College of GPs

Job Purpose

The Chief Examiner shares leadership duties with the Deputy Executive Director for Assessment for all matters related to MICGP examinations in accordance with the Examinations Operations Team Terms of Reference. Together, they are jointly accountable for the effective operation exams and for implementing the strategy and priorities established via the Examinations and Assessment Standing Committee (EA SC).

The Chief Examiner leads clinical and quality assurance matters of MICGP exams design, development and delivery in Ireland and Malaysia (in-person and remotely), supported by the Clinical Team (Lead Convenors) and the MICGP Examinations Panel. The role ensures that examinations are fair, valid, reliable, and aligned with regulatory and professional standards.

Key Result Areas

Clinical Expertise

• Ensure examinations are fit for purpose, rigorous, and fair
• In collaboration with the Exams Operations Team, set and maintain examination standards, taking on board advice and input from other relevant individuals, e.g. statisticians
• Oversee the development, maintenance, and performance review of question banks
• Approve examination questions and clinical cases.
• Oversee the ratification of examination results with input from relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to the Exams Ops Team, specifically, the Lead Convenors and the Deputy Executive Director for Assessment.
• Ensure all activities are performed in line with approved policies, procedures and SOPs across all assessments.

Analysis Continuous Improvement

• Monitor examination performance and outcomes.
• Implement improvements to enhance validity and reliability in line with best practice and regulatory requirements.
• Adjudicate on borderline results cases.
• Provide expert advice on candidate support and preparation resources.

Communication Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with College-accredited programmes to align assessments with curriculum.
• Oversee lead convenor, convenor, examiner and writer training and performance.
• Contribute to candidate-facing activities (e.g. webinars).
• Lead and deliver examiner workshops, including the annual workshop.

General Management and Reporting (in collaboration with the Deputy Executive Director for Assessment)

• Contribute to strategy and policy development for EA SC consideration
• Contribute to annual and multi-year planning
• Oversee ongoing development of MICGP modules
• Provide input on the EA SC report on examination performance and emerging trends, including statutory and regulatory reporting as required
• Participate in the application/implementation of governance arrangements, including appeals, disciplinary action, and risk and policy registers
• Implement External Examiner recommendations as appropriate
• Manage and ensure appropriate handling of conflicts of interest
• Attend oversight and governance meetings as required

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, expertise, and competencies:

Essential

• Be an active general practitioner in Ireland, holding the MICGP qualification and be a current member of the College in good standing
• Be registered with the Irish Medical Council of Ireland on the Specialist Division for General Practice
• Be enrolled on and in compliance with the Irish College of GPs Professional Competence Scheme
• Have 7 years full-time postgraduate medical experience in general practice in Ireland or equivalent
• Concurrently hold a part‑time clinical appointment equivalent to a minimum of four sessions of clinical general practice per week
• Significant experience in medical education, examinations, and assessment
• Experience in leadership within a high‑stakes, complex environment
• Strong understanding of governance, quality assurance, and risk management
• Proven ability in strategic planning, project delivery, and stakeholder management

If resident outside of Ireland: (please contact [e-mail] if this applies to you)

• Eligible for MICGP
• Eligible to register with the Irish Medical Council of Ireland on the Specialist Division for General Practice
• Must enrol on and comply with the Irish College of GPs Professional Competence Scheme if appointed

Desirable

• Experience as an examiner for MICGP
• Affiliation with a third‑level institution or postgraduate training body
• Experience in financial management, budgeting, and organisational planning
• Evidence of working collaboratively in a professional setting

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to: Executive Director for Training and Assessments
• Accountable to: Examinations Assessment Standing Committee (EA SC)
• Direct reports: Lead Convenors and Examinations Pane

The Irish College of GP’s is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that all job applicants and employees receive equal treatment regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, membership of the Traveller community, or any other protected characteristic under Irish equality legislation. We are committed to making reasonable accommodations to enable applicants to participate in the job application and interview process. Please email [e-mail] to discuss any accommodations required.