Senior Researcher /Project Manager – Palliative Care

RCPI; Dublin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is seeking a Senior Researcher/Project Manager - Palliative Care to join the National Cancer Control Programme and National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care on a fixed-term 12-month contract with possible extension. The role focuses on evidence synthesis, guideline development and project management across multiple stakeholders in Ireland.

The post is based in RCPI Dublin with hybrid engagement across national partners; eligibility requires

Qualifications

• Professional qualifications and healthcare research experience required.
• Two years minimum in healthcare research and project delivery.
• Strong written communication and governance skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive development of nationalClinical Guideline: Caring for Adults in the Last Days and Hours of Life.
• Ensure scientific rigour and alignment with NCCP/NCPPC standards.
• Coordinate stakeholders and manage project progress and reporting.
• Edit guideline content and prepare for publication.
• Provide project management with all relevant stakeholder groups.

Skills

Evidence-based research

Project management

Report writing

Governance

Stakeholder management

Team collaboration

Education

Quality and Qualifications Ireland level 8 in science/health

Postgraduate qualification relevant to role

Job description

Senior Researcher /Project Manager – Palliative Care

Non RCPI Employee

Full-time

Temporary

Company Description

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) 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 RCPI offers medical training programmes, examinations, diplomas and educational courses to equip doctors with the skills and specialist knowledge they need to care for patients and the population and to provide clinical leadership within 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 and palliative care. These national programmes are led by a Clinical Lead and managed by a Programme Manager. They work through HSE multidisciplinary working group(s) and are supported by Clinical Advisory Groups within the medical training colleges.
The National Clinical Programmes report to the National Clinical Reform Office under the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE.

Job Description

Post Title: Senior Researcher/Project Manager - Palliative Care
Department/Function: National Cancer Control Programme and National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care in collaboration with Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), Healthcare Leadership Department.
Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract
Duration: 12 months with the possibility of extension for a further 12 months subject to approval.
Salary: Aligned to health sector pay scales Grade VII
Closing Date: Wednesday, 25th November 2026 at 16:00

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) 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 RCPI offers medical training programmes, examinations, diplomas and educational courses to equip doctors with skills and specialist knowledge they need to care for patients and the population and to provide clinical leadership within 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 and palliative care. These national programmes are led by a Clinical Lead and managed by a Programme Manager. They work through HSE multidisciplinary working group(s) and are supported by Clinical Advisory Groups within the medical training colleges. The National Clinical Programmes report to the Clinical Reform Office within the Chief Clinical Officer function within the HSE.

National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care (NCPPC)

Programme Background: The National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care was established in 2010 as a joint initiative of the HSE Clinical Design and Innovation and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Programme Aims: The programme aims to ensure that persons with life‑limiting conditions and their families can easily access a level of palliative care service that is appropriate to their needs regardless of care setting or diagnosis.

• Improved planning for palliative care services to ensure optimal resource utilisation.
• Strengthened specialist palliative care services to improve continuity, access and quality of care.
• Strengthened general palliative care services in order to strengthen continuity, access and quality of care.
• Improved partnerships in care to improve continuity and quality of care.
• To support the implementation of the Palliative Care Programme’s programme of work regionally and within professional groups and bodies.

National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP)

The NCCP is a National Directorate of the HSE and was established in 2007. The NCCP reports to the Chief Clinical Officer. The NCCP works with health service providers and other partners to prevent cancer, treat cancer, and increase survival and quality of life for those who develop cancer, by converting the knowledge gained through research, surveillance and outcome evaluation into strategies and actions. In particular, the NCCP is responsible for the implementation of the majority of the recommendations of the National Cancer Strategies.

The National Cancer Strategy sets out government policy for the development of cancer services in Ireland. The NCCP works closely with the Cancer Policy Unit in the Department of Health, with other parts of the HSE and with a range of voluntary and charitable organisations to develop cancer services in line with the National Cancer Strategy. The work of the NCCP is organised into various programmes focussed on the parts of the cancer patient pathway and activities that support the role of the NCCP. These include programmes related to: cancer prevention and early diagnosis, evidence and quality, cancer intelligence, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, systemic anti‑cancer therapy, survivorship, quality of life and psycho‑oncology, cancer nursing, population‑specific programmes, research, e‑health, service planning, capital planning and other functions.

The NCCP is responsible for implementing national cancer policy in an organised and comprehensive manner. It plans and develops cancer services and determines the location of those services. It develops and implements national guidelines and monitors service performance. NCCP is responsible for overseeing the quality and safety of all cancer services. The current National Cancer Strategy (NCS) was published in 2017 and has an emphasis on ensuring quality and safe services for cancer patients. An Evidence and Quality Hub was established in the NCCP in 2018 and plays a key role in progressing the NCS recommendations. Of particular relevance to this role are the following:

• The NCCP will develop further guidelines for cancer care in line with National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) standards. Audits will also be developed in accordance with the NCEC framework for National Clinical Audit.
• Oncology staff will have the training and education to ensure competence in the identification, assessment and management of patients with palliative care needs and all patients with cancer will have regular, standardised assessment of their needs.

Purpose of the Post

The Senior Researcher Officer/Project Manager – Palliative Care, will work with the NCCP and the NCPPC to develop and implement a National Clinical Guideline: Caring for adults in the last days and hours of life. They will be responsible for ensuring wide dissemination of the guideline to support clinicians providing care for adults in the last days and hours of life.

The evidence‑based content of this guideline will outline:

• The systematic assessment and management of physical, psychological, spiritual, social & occupational, and other issues that may arise when an adult person is dying.
• The roles of each member of interdisciplinary teams in delivering care to adults who are dying.
• The range of pharmacological and non‑pharmacological means by which high quality and evidence‑based care for an adult who is dying are to be delivered.

The Senior Researcher Officer/Project Manager – Palliative Care will work in close collaboration with the Head of the Evidence and Quality Hub NCCP, the Evidence and Quality team, and the National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care, representing the many disciplines working in Specialist Palliative Care and patient and public interest partners. The postholder may be required to perform other duties, as appropriate to their post, and which may be assigned to them and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Location of the Post: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 19 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2 and with regular attendance at National Cancer Control Programme, Kings Inns House, 200 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.

Reporting Relationship

The line manager for this role is the Senior Manager, National Clinical Programmes, Healthcare Leadership, RCPI.

Within the HSE this post holder will report to and work under the operational direction of the Head of the Evidence and Quality Hub, NCCP in relation to the delivery of the approved work programme. They will also have a reporting relationship to and work closely with the Clinical Lead, National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Effectiveness

• To drive the development of national evidence‑based Clinical Guideline: Caring for Adults in the Last Days and Hours of Life for the NCPPC.
• Ensure the scientific rigour of guideline production.
• Ensure guidelines are in line with NCCP, NCPPC, HSE, and DoH standards.
• Use systematic processes for evidence synthesis to ensure clinical effectiveness, quality, and safety in all areas of care of adults in the last days and hours of life. Collaborate with NCCP & NCPPC to develop implementation and evaluation plans for national clinical guidelines.
• Identify suitable recommendations for audit.
• Facilitate real‑time writing of evidence‑based guidelines.
• Edit guideline content to prepare it for publication.
• Provide project management with all relevant stakeholder groups, including PPI.

Governance and Quality

• Adhere to governance processes within the RCPI, NCCP and Evidence and Quality Hub.
• Contribute to the development of methodologies to ensure quality and safety in care of adults in the last days and hours of life.
• Ensure the quality and integrity of data collected, collated, and utilised.

Administration

• Ensure the efficient management and administration of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Execute assignments in accordance with agreed plans and deadlines.
• Prepare regular reports on the progress of work against the operational plan.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to gather support for new initiatives.
• Make decisions and solve problems in a timely manner.
• Ensure regular two‑way communication happens between line management and senior management.
• Provide administrative support for their own meetings.

Requirements

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria - Qualifications and/ or experience

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience.
   Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
   •A Quality and Qualifications Ireland level 8 (or higher) in science or a health‑related discipline.
   •A postgraduate qualification relevant to the role.
   •Have at least two years relevant experience in healthcare research.
   •Experience in managing and delivering projects to successful outcomes.
   •Experience of working collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
   •Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability, for the proper discharge of the office.
2. Health
   A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
3. Character
   Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
   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
  Demonstrate:
  •Knowledge and understanding of research and evidence‑based practice.
  •Knowledge and understanding of project management methodologies, and project management experience.
  •Excellent report writing skills.
• Planning and Managing Resources
  Demonstrate:
  •The ability to effectively plan and manage resources, structuring and organising own workload effectively.
  •Responsibility and accountability for the timely delivery of agreed objectives.
  •The ability to work on a self‑directed basis.
• Commitment to a Quality Service
  Demonstrate:
  •Evidence of practicing and promoting a strong focus on delivering a high quality work ethic.
  •Ensure attention to detail and a consistent adherence to procedures and standards within area of responsibility.
• Evaluating Information, Problem Solving & Decision Making
  Demonstrate:
  •Numeracy skills, an ability to analyse and evaluate information, considering a range of critical and complex factors in making effective decisions. Recognises when it is appropriate to refer decisions to a higher level of management.
  •The ability to confidently explain the rationale behind decisions.
  •The ability to consider the range of options available, involve other parties at the appropriate time and level, to make balanced and timely decisions.
• Team Working
  Demonstrate:
  •The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a dynamic team and multi stakeholder environment.
  •The ability to work as part of the team in establishing a shared sense of purpose.
  •A commitment to promoting a culture of involvement and consultation within the team, welcoming contributions from others.
  •Flexibility, and adaptability to meet the requirements of the role.
• Communications & Interpersonal Skills
  Demonstrate:
  •Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to present complex information in a clear, concise, and confident manner (written & verbal).
  •Strong presentation skills.

About us

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.