Jean Doyle
Jean Doyle chose to study Portobello Institute’s MSc in Workplace and Facilities Management to ‘back up’ her experience ahead of a major national project she was about to embark on.
The planning stages of Ireland’s New Children’s Hospital (NCH) presented a pivotal moment in her career. Recognising the magnitude of the project, Jean decided to formalise her experience with an MSc in Workplace and Facilities Management.
“When I learned about what the New Children’s Hospital was going to entail, it was time to back up my experience with a qualification in facilities management.
“The New Children’s Hospital will be one of the most digitally advanced hospitals in the world, with opportunities to create improvements and efficiencies in all areas of our work.
“While I was comfortable with the demands of managing soft FM at CHI at Crumlin, I knew that I needed to gain more knowledge about what the best in the business were doing nationally and internationally,” she said.
Jean’s background gave her diverse experience to take on a project of this magnitude, but she felt the cutting-edge innovation and scale of the project called for formal knowledge and insights to advance in her role.
“My journey into FM is the road less travelled,” she says. Initially, she studied languages and international politics, aiming for a career with an NGO. After living abroad, she returned to Ireland, working with cross-community organisations in Belfast and charities in Dublin for many years.
Seeking a change, Jean transitioned into a role with the contract cleaning service at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, eventually managing the cleaning service for several years. This unexpected turn marked her entry into healthcare facilities management.
“My entry into healthcare facilities management came with a steep learning curve – figuring out how to manage large teams, tight budgets, a pandemic, and the unique demands of a healthcare environment,” she said.
An in-house opportunity at CHI at Crumlin allowed her to take the helm of the General Support Services Department, overseeing diverse areas such as hygiene, portering, linen, staff and parent accommodation, the main reception, and the switchboard.
To meet her education needs, Jean chose Portobello Institute’s MSc Workplace and Facilities Management awarded by London Metropolitan University with our flexible online delivery supporting her to work and study at the same time.
Around the time she started her MSc, she joined the NCH Commissioning Team as Senior General Support Services Manager.
Juggling work and studies was demanding, but she persevered with one-to-one support from Portobello Institute’s Facilities Management Faculty.
“While the MSc was challenging, and the need for discipline and time management was enormous, I really gained a lot from the programme,” she said.
She found particular value in the sustainability, project management, and change management modules. Her dissertation, which focused on a current work issue, allowed her to apply her newfound knowledge to real-world problem-solving.
Jean emphasised the evolving nature of FM.
“Working in facilities management has changed so much over the past number of years. It is now essential to have qualifications as well as experience, particularly within healthcare.
“The MSc in Facilities Management is a great programme for managers looking to progress their careers within the field,” she said.
Check out our Facilities Management faculty here.
