Chief Physicist/Head of Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering Department

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, :00

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 willliaise 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 bea 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.
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