Medical Education Development Officer

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is seeking a Medical Education Development Officer to join its Academic Development & Standards Department.

Reporting to the Deputy Head of Academic Development and Standards (Accreditation), the postholder will support the development, implementation and accreditation of high-quality educational programmes and assessments. Working with faculty, course directors, course developers, accreditation reviewers and quality assurance specialists, the role will contribute to the development and ongoing quality monitoring of College academic activity in line with regulatory, academic and professional standards.

The postholder will support a broad range of activity including curriculum development and review, accreditation and quality assurance, assessment development, faculty training, educational evaluation, eLearning and digital learning resources. The role will also contribute to curriculum innovation and support the appropriate and responsible use of digital and AI-enabled tools within medical education.

A key part of the role will be supporting the mapping of learning outcomes to professional and regulatory standards, developing course and assessment materials, contributing to accreditation applications and compliance reviews, and using learner feedback, assessment outcomes and evaluation data to inform continuous improvement.

The role involves working collaboratively with clinicians, faculty, examiners, College teams and external stakeholders, and supporting colleagues in translating academic, regulatory and professional requirements into practical educational activity.

The post is based at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, with hybrid working available. Occasional UK and international travel may be required at the direction of the Deputy Head of Academic Development and Standards (Accreditation).

Experience/Qualifications/Key Skills

This is an excellent opportunity for an organised, collaborative and detail-focused individual with experience in medical education, curriculum development or accreditation.

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in medical education, healthcare, curriculum design or a related field, or a postgraduate degree. A further qualification in medical education, instructional design or quality assurance, or equivalent experience in a similar setting, would be desirable.

You will have an understanding of course design principles, assessment methodologies and competency-based education, together with strong project management and organisational skills and experience of coordinating multiple stakeholders.

You will be able to analyse academic frameworks and translate requirements into practical course development plans. Strong written and verbal communication and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, together with the ability to work effectively with faculty, clinicians and colleagues across the organisation.

You will have strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and document management tools is also required.

The role requires an awareness of the opportunities and limitations of AI-enabled tools in education development, and the ability to use and support these approaches appropriately, accurately and responsibly within an academic or professional education environment.

Familiarity with GMC, GDC and AoMRC accreditation frameworks would be advantageous, as would experience of accreditation applications, policy writing, compliance reporting, course evaluation, faculty training, strategic education projects, EDI in curriculum development, and the use of digital learning or AI-enabled education tools.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can build effective relationships, communicate complex educational and regulatory requirements clearly, contribute to evidence-based improvements in education and assessment, and keep the needs of learners, faculty and members at the centre of education development.

Job Description and Person Specification

• Job title: Medical Education Development Officer
• Department / Directorate: Academic Development & Standards / Examinations, Education and Faculties
• Reporting to (job title): Deputy Head of Academic Development and Standards (Accreditation)
• Job Grade: Grade 5

2.Dimensions

1. 1. Budget responsibility: None
2. 2. Number of direct/indirect reports: None
3. 3. Size/scope of projects or services managed: The role supports the design, development and quality assurance of educational courses, resources and accreditation activity across the College. It contributes to curriculum development projects, accreditation activity, faculty training initiatives, eLearning course and resource development, educational evaluation and the ongoing monitoring of the College education portfolio.
4. 4. Geographic coverage: The role supports Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh academic activity. The College has a current membership approaching 34,000 and growing, with members spanning over 100 countries around the world. Occasional UK and international travel may be required at the direction of the Deputy Head of Academic Development and Standards (Accreditation).

3. Job Purpose

Reporting to the Deputy Head of Academic Development and Standards (Accreditation), the Medical Education Development Officer is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and accreditation of high-quality educational programmes and assessments.

The postholder will work with faculty, course directors, course developers, accreditation reviewers, and quality assurance specialists to enable the development and ongoing quality monitoring of RCSEd academic activity in line with regulatory, academic, and professional standards.

This role will contribute to curriculum innovation projects, faculty training, eLearning course and resource development, and accreditation compliance, to support the RCSEd as a leader in surgical and medical education.

The postholder will also support the appropriate use of digital and AI-enabled tools within medical education development, ensuring that any use of technology is aligned with educational best practice, academic integrity, quality assurance requirements and the College’s standards.

4. Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Assist in the development, review, and evaluation of new courses and educational programmes.
• Work with faculty leads and subject matter experts to design evidence-based, competency-driven curricula and examinations.
• Support the mapping of learning outcomes to professional and regulatory standards.
• Develop course documentation, learning resources, and assessment materials.

Accreditation & Quality Assurance

• Support accreditation applications, compliance reviews, and quality assurance audits for new and existing programmes.
• Support the development and application of guidance on the responsible use of AI in education and assessment, ensuring alignment with academic integrity, quality assurance and professional standards.
• Ensure alignment with GMC, GDC, and AoMRC accreditation standards and current best practice as informed by research.
• Maintain and update policies, documentation and external communications, e.g. College website.
• Assist in the development of policies and frameworks to ensure academic integrity and assessment quality.
• Support compliance with copyright, intellectual property, licensing and attribution requirements when developing or adapting educational content and resources.

Stakeholder Engagement & Faculty Support

• Liaise with course directors, faculty leads, examiners and examination leads to ensure collaborative development and continuous improvement of courses.
• Support faculty and colleagues to consider new approaches to course design, delivery and evaluation, including the appropriate use of digital and AI-enabled tools where relevant.
• Provide support for faculty, reviewer and examiner training.
• Assist in organising faculty development sessions, standard-setting meetings, and examiner calibration events.
• Gather feedback and data from candidates, faculty, accrediting bodies and the College delivery teams to guide course evaluation and enhancement which in turn will influence decisions on which are to be included in the College course portfolio.

Educational Innovation, AI and Digital Learning

• Support the appropriate integration of digital learning tools, AI-enabled education tools and interactive teaching methodologies into medical education activity.
• Contribute to the development of eLearning content, online resources and blended learning materials, working with the eLearning team and, where appropriate, supporting AI-enabled approaches to learning design and content development.
• Support colleagues and faculty in considering how AI may be used appropriately in education development, including for drafting, reviewing, organising or evaluating learning materials, while ensuring academic oversight and quality assurance.
• Keep up to date with developments in medical education, assessment methodologies, digital learning and AI in education, applying relevant approaches to course development where appropriate.
• Support the development of guidance, processes or good practice principles for the responsible use of AI in education development, including appropriate human review and oversight, where required.
• Support the appropriate use of digital and AI-enabled tools in line with College requirements for data protection, confidentiality, information governance and information security.
• Support compliance with copyright, intellectual property, licensing and attribution requirements when developing or adapting educational content and resources.

Research & Continuous Improvement

• Assist in curriculum benchmarking and best-practice research to enhance RCSEd’s education activity.
• Conduct data-driven reviews of course effectiveness, using learner feedback and course assessment outcomes to inform improvements.
• Contribute to educational policy development, ensuring courses, resources, digital learning and AI-enabled approaches are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with EDI principles.
• Use qualitative and quantitative data, including learner feedback, course outcomes and evaluation reports, to identify trends and inform recommendations for course development and quality improvement.

Ad Hoc

• Undertake any training as relevant to the post.
• Undertake any other duties that may be required in the College, commensurate with the grade of the post.

5. Impact of the Role

The Medical Education Development Officer supports the design, development and quality assurance of educational courses, resources and accreditation activity across the College.

This role will work closely with faculty, course directors, examination boards, accreditation reviewers, to ensure that educational programmes are developed in line with best practice in medical education, regulatory standards, and accreditation frameworks.

The postholder will also support the ongoing monitoring of the College education portfolio, advising on evaluation processes and outcomes, contributing to accreditation reviews and faculty training initiatives.

Academic Development Support:

Assists in the design, review, and enhancement of new educational programmes and assessments, ensuring alignment with evidence-based best practice in medical education.

Accreditation & Compliance:

Supports review and processing of accreditation applications and audits, ensuring courses meet GMC, GDC, and AoMRC standards, producing reports for relevant committees.

Quality Assurance & Curriculum Design:

Ensures departmental policy and procedures relating to quality and standards are applied to the course portfolio and develops and monitors project plans for curriculum development projects.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Collaborates with clinicians, faculty, College teams, and educational experts to enhance learning experiences.

Educational Innovation:

Supports the integration of technology-supported learning, digital education tools and AI-enabled approaches, where appropriate, to support high-quality course design, learning resources, assessment development and learner engagement. The postholder will help ensure that any use of AI is considered, purposeful, ethical and aligned with College expectations around quality, accuracy and academic integrity.

6. Communication Requirements

1. 1. Liaise with course directors, faculty leads, examiners and examination leads to ensure collaborative development and continuous improvement of courses.
2. 2. Work with faculty, course directors, course developers, accreditation reviewers, quality assurance specialists, clinicians, College teams and educational experts.
3. 3. Provide support for faculty, reviewer and examiner training and assist in organising faculty development sessions, standard-setting meetings, and examiner calibration events.
4. 4. Gather feedback and data from candidates, faculty, accrediting bodies and College delivery teams to guide course evaluation and development.
5. 5. Maintain and update external communications, including the College website.
6. 6. Support colleagues and faculty in adopting new digital or AI-enabled approaches in a considered, practical and professional manner.
7. 7. Communicate academic, regulatory and professional requirements clearly and translate academic frameworks into actionable course development plans.

7. Innovation and Problem Solving

1. 1. Support the integration of technology-supported learning, digital education tools and AI-enabled approaches into high-quality course design, learning resources, assessment development and learner engagement.
2. 2. Support faculty and colleagues to consider new approaches to course design, delivery and evaluation, including the appropriate use of digital and AI-enabled tools where relevant.
3. 3. Support colleagues and faculty in considering how AI may be used appropriately in education development, including for drafting, reviewing, organising or evaluating learning materials, while ensuring academic oversight and quality assurance.
4. 4. Support the development of guidance, processes or good practice principles for the responsible use of AI in education development, including appropriate human review and oversight, where required.
5. 5. Assist in curriculum benchmarking and best-practice research to enhance RCSEd’s education activity.
6. 6. Conduct data-driven reviews of course effectiveness, using learner feedback and course assessment outcomes to inform improvements.
7. 7. Use qualitative and quantitative data, including learner feedback, course outcomes and evaluation reports, to identify trends and inform recommendations for course development and quality improvement.
8. 8. Apply strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills while managing multiple priorities.
9. 9. Keep up to date with developments in medical education, assessment methodologies, digital learning and AI in education and apply relevant approaches to course development where appropriate.

8. Knowledge, Skills & Experience

1. 1. The role requires knowledge and experience in medical education, curriculum development and/or accreditation, together with an understanding of course design principles, assessment methodologies and competency-based education.
2. 2. The postholder requires strong project management and organisational skills, with experience coordinating multiple stakeholders, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
3. 3. The role requires proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and document management tools.
4. 4. The postholder requires strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills and the ability to analyse academic frameworks and translate them into actionable course development plans.
5. 5. The role requires awareness of the opportunities and limitations of AI-enabled tools in education development, with the ability to apply them appropriately, accurately and responsibly within an academic or professional education context.
6. 6. The postholder requires excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty, clinicians and team members.
7. 7. The role also requires commitment to EDI principles, ensuring education programmes are fair, accessible and inclusive.

9. Risk and Working Conditions

• The hours of work shall be 35 hours per week, working each day Monday to Friday, 9-5pm with a one-hour unpaid lunch break on each day worked.
• The nature of the role is such that tasks are often time-critical and an ability to effectively prioritise workloads and tasks is required.
• The role is based in the offices at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, with hybrid working available.
• Occasional UK and international travel may be required at the direction of the Deputy Head of Academic Development and Standards (Accreditation).
• The role requires appropriate use of digital and AI-enabled tools in line with College requirements for data protection, confidentiality, information governance and information security.
• The role requires compliance with copyright, intellectual property, licensing and attribution requirements when developing or adapting educational content and resources.
• Specific physical hazards or risks are not identified in the approved Job Description.

10. Organization Chart

Directorate:

Examinations, Education and Faculties

Department:

Academic Development & Standards

Role:

Medical Education Development Officer

Line Manager:

Deputy Head of Academic Development and Standards (Accreditation)

The Academic Development & Standards Department works under the direction of the Deputy Director of Examinations, Education and Faculties and the Director of Examinations, Education and Faculties.

Clinical leadership and direction for the Academic Development & Standards Department is provided by the Vice President of Quality & Standards, Deans of Surgical Education and Dental Education.