Head of Legal and Economics

ComReg Overview

ComReg is the statutory body responsible for regulating fixed and mobile communications, postal and premium rate services in Ireland. Our mandate is to create a competitive marketplace, to protect and inform consumers, and to encourage innovation. ComReg also manages Ireland’s radio spectrum resource on behalf of the State.

We are a professional, multi-disciplinary and diverse organisation, operating in a dynamic digital regulatory environment that is constantly evolving.

This will be an exciting time of growth for ComReg, as our mandate expands and we take on new statutory responsibilities arising from EU legislation including: the Network and Information Systems (NIS2) Directive, the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive – addressing cybersecurity and network resilience – together with the EU Data Act and the EU AI Act.

While our regulatory role is evolving, our fundamental mission remains the same. ComReg’s mission is to implement effective regulation that supports the delivery of widespread, modern, and resilient digital infrastructure, including communications networks, products, and services which, ultimately, benefit users 

Cybersecurity and Resilience Regulation Division

ComReg has been designated as the NIS2 National Competent Authority for the Digital Infrastructure, Digital Providers, ICT Service Management, Space and Postal and Courier Services sectors. Additionally, ComReg has been designated as the CER National Competent Authority for the Digital Infrastructure sector.

The designation of ComReg as the National Competent Authority for NIS2 and CER requires a new division to execute these additional regulatory functions. This division is known as the Cybersecurity and Resilience Regulation Division.

The Cybersecurity and Resilience Regulation Division responsibilities will include:

• NIS2 supervision and enforcement on a pan EU basis
• CER functions – Identification of Critical Entities and National Resilience Strategy etc
• Engagement activities – national and international
• Strategic Planning

Full details on our NIS2 and CER responsibilities are here

Role and Responsibilities

The Head of Legal and Economics is a critical role that will lead legal and economic advice across all NIS2 and CER functions including supervision and enforcement activities.

The Head of Legal and Economics will lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team of legal advisors and economists responsible for supporting key functions including legal advice for the development of frameworks, supervision activities, enforcement activities and legislative development. The role will be responsible for ensuring ComReg’s NIS2 and CER functions are grounded in legal and economic input.

The Legal and Economics team will be embedded in ComReg’s multidisciplinary Cybersecurity and Resilience Regulation Division to ensure robust solutions and decision making to deliver our action plan and meet our goals. This will also necessitate liaison with our parent Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Department of Justice and the Department of Defence and other agencies and public bodies.

In addition to providing legal advice, the role will input to the development of cybersecurity and resilience policy. The role will also include  strategic and management responsibilities within ComReg including providing governance and financial planning.

The Head of Legal and Economics will combine experienced legal and economic expertise, will be an experienced leader with experienced leadership and strong communication skills to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the critical digital sectors in Ireland and across the European Union.

The Head of Legal and Economics will be legally qualified as either a barrister or solicitor in the State, an experienced lawyer with both advisory and litigation experience in addition to strong management skills and experience of working with or managing lawyers or economists in cyber, digital or other regulatory environments. You will provide expert, solution-focused, strategic and clear legal advice on a range of regulatory activities within ComReg’s NIS2 and CER remit – including the implementation and operation of the NIS2 and CER Directives.

The role will include the following but not limited to:

• Providing informed, strategic, effective and accurate legal and economic advice specific to the Commission and its staff, making a major contribution to the legal aspects of NIS2 and CER within ComReg’s remit;
• Providing legal and economic advice and support to all aspects of ComReg’s NIS2 and CER functions including supervision and enforcement activities;
• Minimising legal risk through providing assessments and evaluations;
• Leading, managing and communicating the analysis and input of cybersecurity and resilience legislation ensuring senior stakeholders within ComReg are adequately informed to enable decision making;
• Identifying requirements and advocating for new or changed legal powers for ComReg where necessary.
• Strategic and operational development of the Legal and Economic Unit including implementation of operational plans, recruitment, training pipeline, structures, processes and procedures. Understand regulatory policy and plan implementation strategies.
• Management of expert legal and economics staff to support the delivery of NIS2 and CER functions by mentoring and coaching team members
• Delegating economic requirements and assignments within the Division to relevant economic staff and/or external advisors, while maintaining oversight to ensure deliverables are of high quality and aligned with the regulatory requirements and objectives of the division

This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and you will be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Essential criteria

• Experienced Solicitor or Barrister at Law with a current practising certificate where appropriate
• Legal advisory experience including the analysis and review of complex legal information and issues, preferably in one the fields of cybersecurity, resilience or digital infrastructure (including but not limited to telecommunications, cloud, data centres).
• Ability to propose solutions regarding the implementation of regulatory policy
• Litigation experience particularly in the High Court or District Court (including litigation for/against the State or public bodies, statutory appeal regimes and judicial review)
• Proven line management and leadership experience
• Knowledge and experience of European Union cybersecurity and resilience legislation including NIS, NIS2, CER, DORA , GDPR or sectoral cybersecurity legislation.
• Demonstrable professional experience of working collaboratively with economists in cyber, digital or other regulatory environments, including contributing to relevant economic assessments

Desired criteria

• Master’s degree (equivalent to level 9 on the NFQ) in law, science, technology, engineering, data analytics or another equivalent area/s and/or Cybersecurity leadership qualification;
• 10 years + PQE or demonstrable equivalent experience
• Management experience including people management skills of legal and economic resources.
• Proven experience in the governance and management of financial planning budgeting and forecasting processes to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability for a divisional structure.
• Ability to understand and discern economic concepts and principles in order to inform decisions on appropriate regulatory actions within relevant cyber security policy and legislative frameworks
• Experience in leading and driving large scale regulatory driven legal and/or economic initiatives in either public or industry environment
• Demonstratable senior level experience of regulatory supervision and enforcement in a cybersecurity and/or resilience environment;
• Experienced in senior level engagements regarding cybersecurity and/or resilience, in particular with central government departments and EU bodies/agencies.

Core Competencies & Skills for the Role

Strategy and Leadership – Articulates future developments and applies this to operational situations. Creates a climate of cooperation and respect, where people strive to achieve common organisational goals and share knowledge. Takes a broad view.

Communication and Influencing – Communicates clearly, confidently and respectfully. Engages and influences others to follow a particular course of action. Ensures all relevant parties are appropriately updated and notified.

Decision Making and Judgement – Effectively uses evidence to support the decision-making process. Assesses alternative options while using sound judgement to adapt to specific and challenging requirements of the organisation.

Analytical and Critical Thinking – Objectively analyses and evaluates information in order to identify patterns between situations that are not obviously related. Develops and clearly articulates solutions to complex problems.

Technical Knowledge & Continuous Improvement – Possesses a command over the technical and professional skills for a particular discipline. Keeps an open mind. Demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement.

Teamwork – Promotes and enhances team performance through working collaboratively and in cooperation with others to achieve goals. Interacts in a manner that builds respect and fosters trust

Package

• Salary €110,955.62 to €137,585.58 (entry will be at the minimum point and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.)
• Dublin city centre location on Luas line
• Blended working environment
• 28 days Annual Leave per year
• Fully paid Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s leave
• Income protection scheme
• Further Education and Training Opportunities
• Professional membership fee pay
• Membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme*
• ComWell Wellbeing Programme
• Travel tax saver scheme, access to Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a members’ run sports and social club

Please Note (1)

We hope that our recruitment process supports applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We understand that having a diverse workforce contributes to making us stronger as an organisation. We are committed to positively supporting candidates with disabilities.

Please let us know if there are any reasonable accommodations we can make to enable you to take part in the process by creating the environment to give you the best opportunity to show your strengths and competencies. Rest assured that whatever information you disclose will only be used to enable us to provide the necessary support and will never have a bearing on the outcome of the process.

Please Note (2)

ComReg assesses all applicants fairly based on the requirements for the role. Due to the high volume of applications we receive for positions, we are unable to provide feedback to candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. If you are short-listed for interview, and are subsequently unsuccessful, you can request verbal feedback from your recruitment contact – if you are represented by an agency.