Head of Risk, Compliance and Assurance (AP Grade)

About the Medical Council

The Medical Council is the body responsible for the regulation of registered medical practitioners in Ireland under the Medical Practitioner's Act 2007 (as amended). Our primary responsibilities include setting, monitoring, and maintaining standards of education and training, standards for the maintenance of professional competence, and standards of professional conduct for registered medical practitioners. We also maintain the register of medical practitioners, establish procedures and criteria for registration, and issue certificates of registration and renewal. Additionally, we manage complaints made about doctors to ensure public protection and doctor fitness to practise.

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 organization is well-governed, strategically aligned, operationally resilient, and fully accountable, acting as the nexus for high-priority, cross-departmental initiatives.

Risk, Compliance and Assurance Team

The Risk, Compliance and Assurance function, located within the OCEO, underpins effective governance, organizational resilience, and informed decision-making across the Medical Council. It is responsible for the oversight of risk management, compliance, assurance activities, and promoting a strong, positive risk culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for risk, compliance, and assurance by leading the Medical Council's Risk, Compliance, and Assurance Frameworks.
• Ensure they remain robust, fit for purpose, and aligned with regulatory requirements, best practice, and organizational objectives.
• Strengthen governance and reporting by overseeing governance of the Risk Registers and delivering 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 organizational transformation and strategic delivery. Act as a strategic partner to the CEO and leadership team in advancing strategic priorities and the organization's transformation program 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 organizational initiatives.
• Supporting organizational 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 organization.
• 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 organizational change and continuous improvement.
• High levels of integrity, judgment, 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.