Chief Physicist/Head of Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering Department

Position: Chief Medical Physicist

Institution: Tallaght University Hospital

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Application closes at: Aug 14th, 2026 17:00

URL: https://www.candidatemanager.net/cm/p/pJobDetails.aspx?mid=YCXAZU&sid=BAZCX&jid=BAZAZAZWFAZ&a=CkqaFHxeqSQ%253d

This post is for a Head of the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department. The primary purpose of this role is to provide leadership to the MPCE Department. This department supports most of the hospital’s medical equipment, including diagnostic imaging, physiological measurement, surgical, and life-support equipment. The Head of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering will lead the development of a clear vision for the evolution of the MPCE department in the context of technological advances, the hospital's future needs, and national/international standards and regulations.

The successful candidates will liaise with other staff and grades within the service they support to ensure that medical equipment is operated and maintained to support the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of clinical services. They will be expected to be familiar with medical equipment management strategies and systems, as well as the associated regulations and guidelines. They will be expected to act as agents for change and quality improvement, the adoption of innovation, and the advancement of patient care.

We seek an outward-looking leader who can successfully navigate the hospital’s environment, ensuring our clinical engineering and medical physics teams are embedded in and fully aligned with daily operations and our upcoming expansion.
The successful candidate will be a senior member of the hospital’s leadership community, responsible for ensuring that the systems in place at TUH deliver safe, high-quality, and fully compliant services. Accordingly, the Head of MPCE is expected to liaise with the Quality, Safety and Risk Management Department on the use of medical equipment within TUH. They will also ensure that either they themselves or suitably qualified members of the MPCE department act as Experts in relation to regulatory compliance, including, but not limited to, Radiation Protection, Medical Device Management, and Medical Equipment Interoperability. They will need to be familiar with the regulatory landscape for medical equipment and medical devices, ensuring all operations meet national policies, legislation, and professional standards. From this strong baseline of safety and compliance, they will act as a key driver in delivering large-scale change—including supporting and advising on the establishment of the new cross-functional Medical Device Management System (MDMS) at TUH.

Internally, the head of department will focus on operational management, resource allocation, and people leadership across the medical physics and clinical engineering functions, fostering a supportive environment in which these specialised teams can do their best work. Externally, they will represent the MPCE department at a senior level, manage substantial resource portfolios, and ensure full compliance with safety regulations. Ultimately, they will ensure that TUH’s engineering and scientific infrastructure is perfectly positioned to support frontline staff and deliver top-tier patient care.

Responsibilities
Management Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the development of MPCE services to support the delivery of high-quality care in TUH.
• Promote a culture of patient-centred care, continuous improvement, innovation and excellence.
• Be responsible for day-to-day staff matters involving graduate scientists and engineers, engineering technicians and other staff as appropriate.  This includes, but is not limited to, annual performance reviews and staff training.
• Manage the department with regard to personnel, finance, quality assurance mechanisms, planning & operations and performance management.
• Manage resources effectively and efficiently, in line with budgetary provisions.
• Ensure effective operational management and service delivery.
• Liaise closely with relevant directorate management teams and heads of department to facilitate the provision of a high-quality, efficient and responsive equipment management service to those directorates/departments.
• Be responsible for the identification, development, and delivery of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
• Be responsible for developing Action Plans to meet KPI targets.
• Be a driving force in relation to promoting a Performance Management culture.
• Lead organisational change and service improvement initiatives which involve the adoption of medical equipment or the establishment of medical equipment interoperability.
• Ensure that all aspects of the MPCE services comply with statutory requirements and best practice guidance.
• Actively promote the development of skills and experience for MPCE staff
• Represent the MPCE Department across the wide range of activities and multi-disciplinary management committees within TUH and externally to the HSE as required.
• Organising, delegating to and motivating others.
• Undertake performance management and staff development.
• Develop partnerships with clinical services, academic institutions and external stakeholders.
• Coordinating and developing the research strengths within the MPCE team and associated academic institutions.
• Perform such other duties appropriate to the office as may be assigned to him/her form time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or other authorised officer.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for service development and provision aligned with organisational, regional and national healthcare priorities.
• Provide expert scientific advice to Executive Management, Clinical Directorates and hospital committees.
• Management responsibility for the Medical Device Management System within TUH.
• Lead innovation, transformation and service redesign initiatives that relate to the application of technology in clinical practice.
• Contribute to national programmes and policy development in Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering.
• Support the strategic development of healthcare technologies, digital health systems and emerging clinical services.

Professional and Scientific Leadership

• Act as the senior professional authority for Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering (MPCE) services.
• Ensure the provision of Medical Physics Expert (MPE) services in accordance with applicable legislation.
• Lead and manage multidisciplinary teams comprising physicists, engineers, scientists, technicians and support staff.
• Be responsible for workforce planning, recruitment, retention and succession planning.
• Ensure provision of MRI Safety, Laser Safety and ionising and non-ionising radiation expertise.
• Ensure the provision of Medical Device Management expertise.
• Direct scientific, technical and quality assurance services in:
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Physiological Measurement Equipment
  • Surgical and other Therapeutic Equipment
  • Anaesthetic and ICU Medical Equipment
  • General Medical Equipment
  • Medical Equipment Interoperability
  • Emerging Medical Technologies
• Lead the planning, commissioning and implementation of new clinical technologies and facilities.
• Provide expert advice on procurement, replacement planning and lifecycle management of medical equipment.
• Support health technology assessment and evidence-based adoption of new technologies.

Governance and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all relevant national and European legislation, regulations and standards.
• Sit on and provide expert advice to a number of hospital interdisciplinary committees.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, protocols and quality management systems.
• Lead quality assurance, quality control and audit programmes.
• Establish and monitor MPCE departmental key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Contribute to risk management activities relating to radiation (ionising and non-ionising), medical devices and clinical technologies.
• Investigate incidents, accidents and near misses involving:
  • Ionising radiation
  • Non-ionising radiation
  • Medical devices
  • Medical equipment
• Ensure appropriate reporting to regulatory agencies and oversight bodies where required.
• Support inspections and accreditation processes.
• Ensure compliance with HIQA, HPRA, EPA and other applicable regulatory requirements.

Equipment Management

• Oversee the management of Medical Equipment and engineering services.
• Maintain oversight for Medical Equipment acquisition, commissioning, maintenance and replacement.
• Ensure the maintenance of comprehensive medical equipment asset registers.
• Support clinical departments in equipment planning and service development.
• Provide scientific and engineering expertise for major capital projects and infrastructure developments.
• Ensure safe and effective operation of clinical technologies throughout the organisation.
• Develop and maintain a strong relationship with ICT.

Education, Training, Research and Innovation

• Provide leadership in education, training and professional development.
• Ensure that his/her knowledge and skills and those of staff in the department are kept up to date by the provision of and participation in appropriate continuing education activities.
• Support undergraduate, postgraduate and specialist training programmes.
• Develop research strategies aligned to organisational priorities.
• Lead and support research, innovation and translational science initiatives.
• Establish and maintain academic partnerships.
• Supervise MSc and PhD students where appropriate.
• Promote publication, dissemination and implementation of research findings.

Health, Safety and Risk

• Ensure appropriate leadership of radiation safety and medical device safety programmes.
• Ensure compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act and associated regulations.
• Maintain robust risk assessment and incident management systems.
• Lead emergency preparedness and response activities relating to radiation and technology risks.
• Promote infection prevention and control standards in relation to medical equipment.

Essential Qualifications & Experience
Candidates must:
Hold a recognised honours degree in Physics with Physics as a major subject, or a recognised honours degree in Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical or Clinical Engineering.
AND
Hold a postgraduate qualification (MSc or PhD) in Medical Physics or Clinical Engineering, or a recognised qualification at least equivalent to the above
AND
Candidates must demonstrate:

• At least ten years of satisfactory experience (three of which were at Principal Level) in one or more of the following fields: Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Protection Procedures, Radiological Physics, Radiation Therapy, Medical Imaging.
• Proven experience working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in quality management and governance systems.
• Experience managing budgets, resources and organisational change.
• Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and administrative capacity) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in leading change, in cross-institutional collaboration, IT/device integration, teaching/training or research project management.
• Experience in commissioning healthcare technologies and facilities.
• Registered Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA).
• Be a Registered Medical Physics Expert (MPE).
• PhD in Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering or related discipline.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrate knowledge of all aspects of MPCE and how legislation applies to professional practice in the hospital environment.
• Demonstrate evidence of project management skills encompassing all streams of work appropriate to key objectives, priorities to achieve national, regional and internal milestones and responsibilities.
• Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organisational skills, including awareness of resource management and the importance of value for money.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate complex data from multiple sources to make informed, evidence-based decisions.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills, including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner, the ability to facilitate and manage groups through the learning process, and the ability to give constructive feedback to encourage learning.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate leadership and team management skills, including the ability to organise and motivate staff and work with multi-disciplinary team members.
• Demonstrate effective problem-solving and decision-making strategies, including the ability to be flexible and innovative in these challenging times.
• Demonstrate focus on providing a quality service, an openness to change and the ability to effectively manage change.

Tenure:                      Permanent and whole-time. The post is pensionable.
Remuneration:         Chief, Physicist €125,232 - €144,204 (LSI’s).
Remuneration is in accordance with the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales as 1st February 2026.
Informal Enquiries:          Patrick Ryan, Director of I&SS:
Closing Date:                     Friday 14th August 2026.
                                            Interviews will held circa week beginning Mon 24th August 2026.