Senior Lecturer in Medical Education (Psychometrician/Assessment Lead)

Overview

Permanent Whole Time Post

UCC wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Senior Lecturer in Medical Education (Psychometrician/Assessment Lead). They will be reporting to the Head of the Medical Education Unit.

The Assessment Lead (Psychometrician) will be a member of the Medicine Programmes’ Leadership Team with responsibility for strategic and technical leadership in the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of assessment across the medicine programmes. Working with the Programme lead, and leads for Curriculum and Professional Development, the Assessment Lead will ensure that assessments are valid, reliable, fair, defensible, and aligned with programme learning outcomes and regulatory standards.

The role combines advanced psychometric expertise with a strong understanding of medical education, working collaboratively with academic, clinical, and professional staff to support high-quality assessment practice.

In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as a research-led institution, the duties of all academic staff will include research, research-led teaching and contributions to the university, the discipline and the community. The academic staff member shall teach and examine, undertake administrative duties and carry out other duties appropriate to the post under the general direction of the Head of the Medical Education Unit.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/. The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.
 
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof. Deirdre Bennett Email: d.bennett@ucc.ie

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Future of Health

What is UCC Futures – Future of Health

Future of Health is a College of Medicine and Health strategic centre which covers Population Health Research and Health Services Research. Population Health Research includes identifying health determinants for individuals and populations, measuring behavioural risk factors, and elucidating ethnic, gender, socioeconomic and cultural differences that affect the health of the population and their current and future demands on health service provision. Health Services Research is a broad range of activities designed to improve the quality of health care provision, reduce its cost, evaluate its effectiveness, improve patient safety, decrease medical errors, and broaden access to essential services.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Assessment Lead (Psychometrician) will be a member of the Medicine Programmes’ Leadership Team with responsibility for strategic and technical leadership in the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of assessment across the medicine programmes. Working with the Programme lead, and leads for Curriculum and Professional Development, the Assessment Lead will ensure that assessments are valid, reliable, fair, defensible, and aligned with programme learning outcomes and regulatory standards.

The role combines advanced psychometric expertise with a strong understanding of medical education, working collaboratively with academic, clinical, and professional staff to support high-quality assessment practice.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the development and implementation of the Medicine Programmes’ assessment strategy, ensuring alignment with programme learning outcomes and accreditation requirements;
• Provide expert advice to internal examination boards, module co-ordinators and other staff involved in assessment;
• Support and oversee assessment governance processes, including standard setting, progression, remediation, and appeals;
• Conduct psychometric analyses of written, practical, and workplace-based assessments (e.g. SBAs, OSCEs);
• Evaluate assessment quality using appropriate metrics (e.g. reliability indices, item discrimination, standard error of measurement);
• Identify and address issues related to bias, differential attainment, and fairness;
• Produce clear, actionable psychometric reports for academic, clinical and regulatory audiences;
• Advise on the design of high-quality assessment items and blueprints;
• Support constructive alignment between learning outcomes, teaching activities, and assessment;
• Oversee the selection and application of appropriate assessment formats and standard setting methods;
• Contribute to innovation in assessment, including programmatic and longitudinal assessment models;
• Provide training and consultancy to academic and clinical staff in assessment principles and item writing;
• Develop guidance materials, policies, and best-practice resources;
• Oversee assessment data management, ensuring data integrity, security, and compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements;
• Work with digital assessment platforms and learning management systems;
• Use data analytics to support decision-making and continuous improvement;
• Contribute to scholarship in assessment and medical education;
• Support research projects, publications, and presentations related to assessment and evaluation;
• Continually review the literature and international best practice to ensure that the assessment practices in the UCC Medicine Programmes remain up to date.

In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as a research-led institution, the duties of all academic staff will include research, research-led teaching and contributions to the university, the discipline and the community. The academic staff member shall teach and examine, undertake administrative duties and carry out other duties appropriate to the post under the general direction of the Head of the Medical Education Unit.

The roles and responsibilities outlined below are to be interpreted in the context of the relevant Statutes and where there is any difference arising from interpretation, that statutory provisions take precedent. For the sake of clarity, the relevant elements of the statutes not already incorporated in the numbered sections are appended in italics under each subheading.

Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions

Teaching and Examining

• Demonstrate excellence in research-led teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Medicine and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
• Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and, where, appropriate adult and continuing education courses;
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
• Contribute to and take a leadership role, where appropriate, in the regular evaluation of curricula with reference to content, delivery and assessment and the development of new curricular initiatives;
• Perform an active role in the maintenance of academic standards in the development of the curriculum within their discipline;
• Contribute to the development of postgraduate studies at UCC

• to give the students attending his/her ordinary lectures assistance in their studies, by advice, by informal instruction, by occasional and periodic examination, and otherwise, as s/he may judge to be expedient; also, to make such arrangements as s/he sees fit to make to meet students who have individual queries;
• to give instruction to his/her students and assist them in the pursuit of knowledge
• to hold, or assist at, all University examinations in the subjects with which s/he is an examiner;

Research

• Engage in productive research and scholarship and contribute to the advancement of knowledge, participate in research activities and publish the research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to  the discipline;
• Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
• Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
• Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the discipline.

Contributions

• Contribute to the administrative duties of the discipline/department/school and the academic life of the University;
• Participate as a member of such committees as may be required within the academic unit and by the University;
• Mentor and advise newly appointed and junior academic staff;
• Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies where appropriate;
• Serve if required as head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes or management requirements;
• Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
• Carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the head of discipline/department/school

• to carry out administrative and other appropriate duties lawfully allocated to them within their department or other academic unit;
• if a member of the Academic Council, to attend its meetings;
• to serve upon all the committees to which s/he may be appointed by the Governing Body or the Academic Council, and to assist and co-operate with the Governing Body in such other reasonable ways as the Governing Body may prescribe, for the maintenance of discipline and good conduct among the students, or for the general business of the University;

The above listing is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake duties as can reasonably be expected. All staff are required to be flexible, co-operative and professional within the needs of the post and the Discipline/Department/School, College and University. The University is undertaking a major reform of its internal structures which may necessitate possible future changes in the organisation of its activities.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have the following criteria:

Qualifications | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. An PhD or Level 10 qualification in educational measurement, psychometrics, statistics or applied statistics, psychology, education or other relevant area.

Desirable Criteria

2. A qualification in medical or health professions’ education or equivalent

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

3. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research-led teaching;
4. Significant experience in lecturing, examining and supporting students across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
5. The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and where the opportunity has existed, to undertake postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
6. Evidence of a significant contribution to innovation in the area of teaching and examining, curriculum design, review and development;
7. A familiarity with and willingness to use modern teaching technologies, including assessment software;
8. Significant experience of psychometrics in a health professions’ education context, including item-writing, blue-printing, standard setting, conducting psychometric analyses and implementation of programme level assessment strategy.

Research

Essential Criteria

9. Evidence of active engagement in research and scholarly activities including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing research grant applications as appropriate for the discipline;
10. Experience of leadership or leadership potential in the area of research, in addition to research grant applications, success in achieving competitive research grants or other sources of funding and the ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

11. A record of successful achievement and international recognition through research and scholarly activity within the discipline;
12. Evidence of consistent and continuing output of research in peer reviewed publications or equivalent outputs appropriate to the discipline.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

13. Proven administrative experience or evidence of ability to undertake academic administrative responsibility within the Discipline Department / School/College at a high level;
14. The ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large;
15. An ability and willingness to support mentor and advise junior staff.

Desirable Criteria

16. Evidence of participation in relevant academic and professional associations/ bodies as appropriate.

Other

Essential Criteria

17. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with working alongside a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
18. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
19. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
20. A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline;
21. Evidence of leadership potential.

Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications, skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post.

Please note: Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the criteria as detailed above will not be short listed.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

Salary Information

Appointment may be made on the Senior Lecturer Salary Scale: €85,597 - €121,283 (Scale B) / €82,662 - €115,218 (Scale A).

Applications for this post

How to apply

Applications for this post are received through UCC's online application portal. You'll be required to set up a profile (if you don't already have one). 

You can find the posts associated with UCC Futures - Future of Health by selecting 'Academic UCC Futures' in the search by vacancy type field.

Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to uccfuturesrecruitment@ucc.ie, quoting the job title.

What to include in your application

Applications should consist of your academic CV and a cover letter demonstrating your academic and research achievements. We would also like to hear about your research ambitions and how your academic and research profile aligns with the UCC Futures - Future of Health initiative.

Details of the following should also be included, as appropriate:

• Publications,
• Research Interests,
• Grants and Funding,
• Teaching Interests and Abilities,
• Teaching Objectives and Methods.  

Who to contact

We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to making an application for the position. 

• Contact: Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof. Deirdre Bennett Email: d.bennett@ucc.ie 

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. No late applications will be accepted.

Equality statement

University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028. UCC holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives.