GP Training National Director

Irish College of GPs; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Part time

Job summary

Irish College of GPs is seeking a GP Training National Director to provide strategic leadership for nationwide GP Specialist Training. The role sits in the CEO Office and reports to the CEO, with a 3-year fixed-term contract and a 3-day work week, based in Dublin with hybrid arrangements.

The appointee will lead governance, policy development, and liaison with trainees, trainers and national teams to advance GP education and standards.

Qualifications

• Hold specialist GP registration with the Medical Council and be in good standing.
• Currently practicing GP with ongoing commitment to the role.
• Minimum ten years GP experience, five in Ireland.
• Proven negotiation and organisational skills in complex environments.
• Significant experience in management, leadership, medical education and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic governance and direction for GP Specialist Training.
• Collaborate with national and international training bodies and stakeholders.
• Develop and monitor KPIs for GP training and standards.
• Oversee accreditation processes with the Medical Council and other bodies.
• Mentor Regional Programme Directors and Deputy National Director.
• Represent the College at boards, committees and external forums.
• Develop business cases for funding and innovations in GP training.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Governance

Education

GP registration with Medical Council

Experience in medical education

Tools

MS Office Suite

Data analysis tools

Job description

Job Title: GP Training National Director

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Department: CEO Office

Contract: 3-year Fixed Term Contract

Time Commitment: 3 days per week

Base: 15 Hogan Place, Dublin 2, D02 DK23 / Hybrid working

For informal enquiries regarding this position please contact Dolores Kavanagh, HR Manager at [e-mail]

Application closing date: Wednesday 30th September 2026 at 5pm

About The College

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

This senior strategic leadership role has the overall responsibility for the delivery and standards of GP Specialist Training in the College. The appointee will be a pivotal part of the GSCET (Governance, Strategic, Clinical Executive Team) and have direct responsibility for the successful interaction with those directly involved in the national programme for postgraduate General Practice training, including trainees, GP trainers and local Scheme Directing teams.

This role is a significant strategic role in the College and is supported by the Deputy National Director for GP Training, the Regional Programme Directors and the national team to deliver the GP Specialist Training programme.

The post holder will need to be aware of all major development in General Practice and medical education and training to provide leadership and co-ordination of all activities related to GP Specialist Training at both an operational and strategic level and encourage innovation and development at all levels of GP Specialist training.

Key Stakeholders

Board Members / Academic institutions / GSCET / SLT members / IMO / HSE / Department of Health / Medical Council / Patient representative organisations / Executive Director of Training Assessment / Oireachtas

Direct Reports

• Deputy GPT National Director
• 4 x Regional Programme Directors
• 2 x Trainer Liaison Leads

Key Result Areas

At a Strategic Level, Lead In The Following Areas

• Promote General Practice Specialist Training and shape related policy through interaction with government, the public and the health sector. Represent GP Training department at Board level.
• Support GP Specialist Training Programmes to attain and maintain excellence in teaching practice.
• Identify and support research related to General Practice. Use data and expert input to ensure GP training continues to meet the long-term needs of primary care.
• Collaborate with external agencies such as Medical Council and the Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies to provide high-quality General Practice training to agreed standards.
• Identify and develop a range of quality improvements to enhance General Practice training.
• Promote General Practice as a career choice and then oversee the recruitment and training of future GPs.
• Working alongside the Executive Director of Training Assessment and Regional Programme Directors to assist with developing and implementing the annual strategic goals for the GP Training Department.
• Develop of business cases and development funding applications for innovations in General Practice training.
• Develop, in collaboration and ensure implementation of the GP Training community national policies and procedures for GP Training.
• Overview of annual returns to the Medical Council and HSE National Doctors Training Planning

At The Operational Level, Lead In The Following Areas

• Accreditation: Prepare the Irish College of GPs documentation and response to Medical Council Accreditation Visits to the College as the recognised training body for General Practice.
• Provide support and advice to the Irish College of GPs Training Academic Council (GPTAC) and constituent sub-committee/activities.
• The National Association of Scheme Directors
• The National Association of GP Trainers
• The Network of GP Trainees
• The Staff and Advisory Committees of local GP Training/teaching Centres
• Irish College of GPs GP Training overseas projects
• Irish College of GPs Examiners Group
• Facilitate and provide expert advice on: National Training Conference and Courses for GP teachers
• National GP Trainee Conferences
• National Induction Training for GP Trainees
• GP Trainee Recruitment Information
• RPL Adaption Course
• Scheme Directing Team Workshops (twice yearly)
• Maintain and review the Core Curriculum for GP Training, evidence/documentation for Certification of Satisfactory Completion of GP Training (CSCT) and participate in development of the MICGP examination in conjunction with the MICGP examiners.
• Liaise and represent the College with external regional, national and international organisations national and international organisations involved or concerned with training for General Practice including: HSE, National Doctors Training Planning, AUDGPI, Medical Council, Department of Health and Children, HIQA, Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies, IMO, Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies, WONCA, Legal: Collaborate and be an expert lead in relevant GPT Trainee legal issues as well as grievance processes
• Mentor: Lead and develop Regional Programme Directors and Deputy National Director while overseeing work output/KPIs.
• Communications and Media: Link in with Communications Department to promote GP Training as required.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications Experience

• Hold specialist GP registration with the Medical Council of Ireland, be a College member in good standing and enrolled on and fully compliant with the College Professional Competence Scheme.
• Currently working as a GP for 2 sessions/ 1 day per week and continue to do so when appointed to this role.
• Have at least ten years’ GP experience, with at least five years of GP experience in Ireland, ideally as a full GMS contract holder.
• Proven excellent negotiation and organisational skills with proven ability to perform effectively in a challenging and evolving environment.
• Significant experience in the key areas outlined above: management, leadership, medical education, stakeholder engagement, communications and advocacy.
• Skilled in anticipating, identifying, analysing and managing complex problems.
• Identify resources and ensure delivery of agreed objectives within agreed budgets.

Essential Technical Competencies

• Advanced user of MS Office Suite especially PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
• Good ICT skills with capacity to leverage technology and data to increase efficiency.

Essential Behavioral Competencies

• Strategic mindset and at ease with driving change.
• Exemplary organisational, multi-tasking and project management capabilities.
• Strong work ethic, personal drive, and commitment to attaining results.
• Ability to work effectively on own initiative and collaborate with all internal teams, Board and Committees.
• At ease with problem-solving, analysing and interpreting complex information, making recommendations and contributing to decisions.
• Proven highly motivated, energetic, and results-driven team player.
• Highly developed communication skills - written, visual, and verbal - with an ability to adapt tone and content for different audiences in National and Medical Media.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and switching between strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
• Trustworthy and discrete.

The Irish College of GPs 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 confidently discuss any accommodations required.