RCOphth is a membership organisation and relies on member participation in our work. We actively recruit for roles that help to shape our membership services and clinical leadership activities in the ophthalmic sector.
Being part of the RCOphth as a College Officer or committee member means that you can make a difference to the work of your colleagues in eye services, the wider ophthalmic workforce and patients. All College roles are supported by teams of experienced and specialist staff, working together to fulfil the aims of the College across all four nations and to support ophthalmic education and training internationally. Together, we deliver our activities in an inclusive and mutually respectful environment, a desire to improve and innovate and work in an open and transparent way.
We expect all our staff and members to demonstrate the values and behaviours that underpin our work.
Below are the roles we actively recruit for and which help to shape the work of the College and the ophthalmic sector.
Current Vacancies
RCOphth seeks a Lay Advisory Group (LAG) member in supporting the RCOphth in the advancement of the science and practice of ophthalmology and representing lay opinion to the College.
It is an interesting time to be involved in ophthalmology, there are many new initiatives and the pace of change is quickening. The RCOphth seeks additional members to contribute to its Lay Advisory Group (LAG). The LAG has a broad representative membership, from those having no background in general or eye health to members who have been or are eye patients and have some or no experience with related organisations. While the LAG is not a patient lobby group it expresses views based on public and patient experience of health and eye care services, supporting the RCOphth in the advancement of the science and practice of ophthalmology and representing lay opinion to the College.
The Lay Adviser will contribute to the safety and efficiency of eye care in the UK and encourage the RCOphth to remain focussed on the needs of the patient
We are looking for people with experience working at a senior level (e.g. in social services) or those with an interest in paediatrics, children and young people with a mix of education, social care as well as health care.
Lay Advisers can learn about the delivery of eye care and the training of doctors and be valued for their contribution to the work of the College. It is a friendly committee, well supported by clinicians and College staff.
The position is unpaid but travel expenses are reimbursed.
Please view: RCOphth Strategic Plan 2020 – 2022 and LAG Terms of Reference
Frequency of meetings: 3 per year with the option of attending other relevant Standing Committees.
If you are interested then please complete the application form and return to [email protected].
Closing date: Monday 19 June 12 noon
Interviews to be held: Friday 7 July 2023 AM and in person at the College in London.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) is seeking two new Members – two consultants to join the current Recruitment Sub-committee and be involved with shaping national recruitment.
If you have been an interviewer at recruitment recently and would like to further help with improving the process then we would be very glad to have you with us.
National Recruitment has now been part of the work of the College for 10 years and this has revolutionised the way recruitment takes place not only by providing an efficient system, but saving many hours of interviewers’ and interviewees’ time by taking place virtually in one day.
The Sub-committee normally meets three to four times a year virtually for between 1 and 2 hours.
Applications forms, along with abridged CVs, should be submitted via email to [email protected] Further information is available on request.
Job description and person specifications available here Recruitment Subcommittee Member Consultant JD and Person Specification for consultants job description and person specification.
Application Form for Recruitment Subcommittee Member
Closing date: Monday 19 June 2023 – 9.00am
Interview date: Friday 30 June 2023 via zoom (from 1.30pm)
We are recruiting for the role of Honorary Secretary.
The Honorary Secretary is a leadership role as part of the Executive and a Trustee of the College. In this role you act as returning officer for RCOphth elections and ensure that these are properly conducted within governance procedures. The role supports a membership strategy to maintain value, and widen the appeal of our membership, services and benefits beyond ophthalmologists. It is a varied role and requires someone to continually develop key relationships across the College and Council.
The Trustee Board determine the by-laws, which govern the internal affairs of the RCOphth and how we operate as a charity whilst ensuring our finances are managed effectively.
The Executive Committee which is a leadership team responsible for informing both the Trustee Board and Council about the development of policy, operational planning and activity and the work the College does with partners.
If you wish to apply, please take a look at the job pack included and complete the application form and Declaration of Interest form. Once completed, please send to Jo Dean email [email protected]
Please complete the following:
Application form for Honorary Secretary
RCOphth Declaration of Interest Form 2023
Closing date for applications: Thursday 25 May 12noon
Date for interviews: Thursday 15 June PM – interviews will be held at the College in person.
Applications are invited to join the new Digital Learning Sub-committee of the Education Committee. INSPIRE launched last November, and this is now an exciting opportunity to promote and coordinate online learning for all members. You will work with teams of Editors and Staff to integrate learning across many College areas and for the benefit of all eye care professionals. We are looking for enthusiastic Consultants, SAS doctors, Trainees and Practitioners with a passion for education to optimise our provision of digital learning.
Please complete the Application form – Digital Learning Subcommittee Member and return it to [email protected] . Interviews will be on the afternoon of Friday 9th June 2023, remotely.
The first Subcommittee Meeting will be held remotely at 9am-12pm on Monday 26th June 2023.
Full job description:
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists are seeking a suitability experienced volunteer with an academic or technical background to bring a more focused input to the annual selection process for the wide range of travel awards and clinical/ research fellowships that it offers.
The successful applicant will work with the Education and Training Co-Ordinator to deliver and develop the College’s range of awards. They will sit on the Education Committee.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the work of the Education Committee, as well as helping to develop and promote the Awards and Scholarships which have been set up to promote education and training of undergraduates and ophthalmic trainees as well as supporting research by ophthalmologists and SAS doctors.
Please send completed application form and short CV to [email protected] by 9.00am on Monday 29 May 2023
Attendance at first Education Committee Meeting: Friday 23 June 2023. This will be face to face at the College.
If you wish to have further details of the post then please contact Gareth Brennan on [email protected]
Full description here:
April 2023 Awards and Scholarships Subommittee Chair Job Description
Application form – Digital Learning Subcommittee Member
An exciting opportunity for a Member to join the Keeler Scholarship Board of Trustees. The prestigious Keeler Scholarship is awarded biennially to assist successful Scholars to study, research, or acquire special skills, knowledge or experience at a suitable location in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for a minimum of six months.
The College is looking to recruit a new Trustee to take part in the evaluation of applications on behalf of the College from 2023 onwards.
This position is open to substantive NHS Consultants in the UK of at least 10 years standing who has experience in the evaluation of training opportunities and scientific research projects. They must also be current members of the College and registered for CPD. The appointment will be for 10 years.
Full job description here:
Keeler Trustee job description
Please send your CV and a personal statement detailing your interest and suitability for this role (limited to 400 words) to [email protected]
We are recruiting more consultants to assess applicants who wish to have their names entered into the Specialist Register through the equivalence route.
This involves reviewing applications from doctors both from the UK and abroad to determine whether their training and subsequent experience is equivalent to that of a recently successful CCT candidate. The RCOphth panel then make a recommendation to the GMC regarding the suitability of an applicant being placed on the Specialist Register.
This important role has a number of benefits for the assessors and also for the profession.
Please read the following:
To apply, complete either the CESR Assessors Application form or CESR Assessors Application form Retired Consultants and return it along with an abridged CV to [email protected].
Successful applicants will be expected to attend a training day.
For any questions, please contact Alex Tytko, Head of Education and Training at [email protected].
We appoint examiners at different grades depending on your experience and eligibility. More details about the different roles and requirements can be found in our information packs below.
We are seeking representatives to promote SAS doctors in ophthalmology.
Outline of our Purpose/aims:
1. To represent Staff and Associate Specialists (SAS) ophthalmologists’ opinions to the College.
2. To disseminate information on College matters to SAS members.
3. To support SAS ophthalmologists in their professional roles and their professional development.
4. To enhance SAS ophthalmologists’ contribution to ophthalmology.
To apply please fill in this Application Form and return it to [email protected].
If you would like to have a chat about our roles please contact Dr Swetha Maddula Batambuze, Chair SAS Committee at [email protected]
Further Information about the SAS Committee: Committees & Groups | The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (rcophth.ac.uk)
The College is seeking Fellows, Members or Affiliate Members to join the Surgical Skills Faculty.
Applicants must either hold a UK substantive consultant post, be a SAS Doctor or be an ophthalmic trainee at ST6 or ST7 level.
Faculty Members who are appointed for the advanced courses shall, in addition, indicate their areas of subspecialty interest and expertise. Members may be invited to help and advise with regard to writing course material and designing course programmes.
You may download the SAS & Consultant Application Form, or the Trainee Application Form. These must be returned to [email protected].
Advisory Appointment Committees, or AACs, are recruitment panels used when hiring consultants and specialty doctors in Trusts across the UK. The College works with Trusts and other NHS bodies to approve job descriptions and send a volunteer College adviser to provide College guidance on the suitability of the applicants for appointment. Here you can find information about becoming an AAC representative and what Trusts need to provide to the College for recruitment.
RCOphth’s role in AACs
College involvement in AACs is important. Anyone hiring a consultant ophthalmologist for an NHS provider must organise an AAC recruitment interview, with a College representative on all panels for consultant appointments. Our Regional Representatives approve job descriptions to ensure job planning offers adequate SPAs and staffing in hospital ophthalmology departments can meet its training, administration and clinical experience needs. We rely on consultant ophthalmologists volunteering as AAC reps to provide a robust and thorough process for the recruitment of vital consultants in ophthalmology.
AAC Representatives
As an AAC adviser you will work alongside RCOphth regional representatives to provide quality assurance of appointed consultants by attending recruitment interviews. Your external perspective will ensure candidates are suitable to fulfill all elements of the role. This safeguards patients and the NHS provider.
You will:
- Ensure a candidate is fit to train the next generation of ophthalmologists
- Check that a candidate can offer safe and efficient patient care within the needs of the department
- Ensure a fair and impartial recruitment process that accurately reflects a candidate’s suitability for the role
We recruit for AAC representatives on an ongoing basis. We receive requests from Trusts for an AAC representative every month at locations throughout the UK, so we’re looking for representatives from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We welcome applications from those with at least one years’ experience as a consultant ophthalmologist within the NHS. You do not need to have any prior experience as an AAC representative, you will be provided with guidance to support you in this role. However, you must have had Trust approved equality and diversity training in the last 3 years.
Email [email protected] to add your name to our list of AAC representatives, or request further information. We send weekly emails to our representatives with a full list of AACs that we’re seeking a volunteer for. We endeavor to provide as much notice as possible and you can volunteer for as many as you are able to do. Expenses can be claimed from the hiring Trust.
Acting as an examiner for the College is an important role and carries with it responsibility for maintaining the high standards expected of candidates wishing to become Diplomates, Members or Fellows of the College. The panel of examiners consists of both medical practitioners who are Fellows, Members or Affiliate Members of the College and lay examiners drawn from the College’s Lay Advisory Group.
Examining for the College also offers the opportunity to network with colleagues from around the UK, keep your general ophthalmic knowledge up to date and gain CPD.
Further details on the roles and requirements of being an examiner are available in the Panel of Examiners – General Information Pack and relevant information packs below. If you’d like to discuss any of the roles further, please contact the Examinations Department ([email protected])
Panel of Examiners – General Information Pack
Examiner-General-Information-Pack
Consultant and post-CCT Grade Examiners – Information Pack
Application-Pack-for-Consultant-and-post-CCT-Grade-Examiners-April
SAS Grade Examiners – Information Pack
Application-Pack-for-SAS-Grade-Examiners-Final-Oct
Trainee Grade Examiners – Information Pack
Application-Pack-for-Trainee-Grade-Examiners
Certificate in Laser and Refractive Surgery (CertLRS) Examiners
Application-Pack-for-CertLRS-Examiner
Optometrist Examiners (for Refraction Certificate exams) – Information Pack
Examiner Application Pack for Optometrists
Examiners Code of Conduct
Code-of-Conduct-FRCOphth-examiners
The College values the work carried out by its tutors and has a number of resources available to them. Please complete the College-Tutor-Nomination-Form if you are interested in the role.
College Tutors (CTs) have overall responsibility as lead trainers for the postgraduate training in the unit and are the point of contact with the Royal College. They are an important component to the delivery of a successful training programme across the country and therefore the work they do is greatly appreciated by the College.
Please refer to the role description and person specification for further information.
Within the unit, CTs lead and work closely with a team of Clinical Supervisors (CS, responsible for day-to-day supervision of trainees) and Educational Supervisors (ES, responsible for the global supervision and support of trainees).
Beyond the unit, CTs will liaise with Directors of Medical Education (DMEs) in the Trust, Training Programme Directors (TPDs) at the LETB/Deanery and Regional Education Advisers (REAs) appointed by The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Regional Education Advisers are listed in the Ophthalmic Directory .
These are useful local sources of help and support if required. Bigger units might wish to consider appointing an Associate-College-Tutor with whom duties may be shared.
Newly-appointed College Tutors are expected to attend a College Tutor Training Day within six months of appointment. These workshops also serve as refresher for College Tutors on their second term.
College Tutor Training Day
The aim of the day is to examine the main duties of a College Tutor and discuss the delivery and assessment of training. It will also give the opportunity to ask questions about College work and meet other College Tutors. To book a place, please complete and return the combined College-Tutor-Nomination-Form.
The training day is also suitable for Associate College Tutors who support CTs in their role.