| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Clinical and Medical |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Head of Department (Clinical) |
| Direct reports | Junior Resident Doctor, Resident Medical Officer |
| Experience | 2 to 6 years after postgraduation in hospital paediatrics |
Paediatrician job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Paediatrician
Department: Clinical and Medical
Reports to: Head of Department (Clinical)
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Paediatrician looks after the health of children from birth to adolescence. The work covers well-baby visits, growth and development checks, vaccinations, common childhood illnesses such as fever, diarrhoea and pneumonia, and sick children in the paediatric ward and PICU. Paediatricians also examine newborns after delivery and counsel parents on feeding and nutrition. A good paediatrician treats sick children promptly, follows the vaccination schedule strictly and earns parents' trust with clear, calm advice.
Key responsibilities
- See children in the paediatric OPD for fever, cough, diarrhoea, rashes, poor weight gain and developmental concerns.
- Give vaccinations as per the national and IAP schedules, check the vaccine cold chain and record every dose.
- Plot growth and development on standard charts at each well-baby visit, and act early on any delay.
- Admit and manage children with pneumonia, dehydration, dengue, asthma attacks, seizures and severe infections.
- Run the paediatric ICU or high-dependency unit, including oxygen, fluids and ventilation support for sick children.
- Examine newborns after delivery, support breastfeeding, and manage jaundice and minor problems in well babies.
- Counsel parents on nutrition, weaning, hygiene, screen time and the warning signs that need a hospital visit.
- Identify and treat malnutrition and anaemia, and refer children with chronic problems to paediatric sub-specialists.
- Recognise signs of abuse or neglect and act according to the hospital's child protection policy.
- Give paediatric opinions for children in surgery, ENT and emergency, and handle night emergencies on call.
Requirements
- MD or DNB in Paediatrics, or DCH
- Valid registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council
- PALS or neonatal resuscitation certification is an advantage
- 2 to 6 years after postgraduation in hospital paediatrics
KRAs and KPIs for a Paediatrician
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Vaccination accuracy | Zero vaccine administration errors, with 100 percent of doses recorded on the day given |
| Cold chain | Vaccine refrigerator temperature logged twice daily with no unaddressed breach |
| Emergency care | Sick children in emergency seen by the paediatrician within 30 minutes of the call |
| Antibiotic use | Antibiotics prescribed in fewer than 15 percent of simple fever and cold visits on audit |
| Readmissions | Paediatric ward readmissions within 15 days below 5 percent |
| Parent satisfaction | Parent feedback score at or above 4.5 out of 5 each quarter |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Vaccine refrigerator and data logger, Growth charts and infantometer, Nebuliser, Paediatric pulse oximeter, Paediatric ventilator and CPAP, Electronic medical records.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Neonatologist, Head of Department (Clinical)
Interview questions for a Paediatrician
- A 2-year-old with fever for three days is drowsy and has cold hands. What do you do?
- Parents want to skip a vaccine because of something they read online. How do you respond?
- How do you decide whether a child with diarrhoea needs admission?
- A 9-month-old cannot sit without support. How do you evaluate the child?
- What do you check every morning in the vaccine refrigerator?
- When would you suspect a child's injuries are not accidental, and what would you do?
Managing a Paediatrician in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your clinical and medical team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a paediatrician do?
A paediatrician is a doctor for babies, children and teenagers. They give vaccinations, check growth and development, treat common illnesses such as fever, cough and diarrhoea, admit and treat seriously ill children, examine newborns after delivery and guide parents on feeding, nutrition and safety.
Till what age should a child see a paediatrician?
In India paediatricians usually see children up to 18 years of age, although some older teenagers move to adult physicians earlier for particular conditions. Teenagers with long-term illnesses such as type 1 diabetes often stay with their paediatrician until a planned handover to adult care.
What is the difference between DCH and MD Paediatrics?
DCH, the Diploma in Child Health, is a two-year postgraduate diploma, while MD and DNB Paediatrics are three-year degrees with deeper training and a thesis. Both allow practice as a paediatrician, but hospitals often prefer MD or DNB holders for consultant and teaching posts.