Division overview
The Retail and Consumer Services Division is responsible for key organisational functions in ComReg including consumer engagement, consumer policy, consumer care, the emergency call answering service, universal service provision, end-user dispute resolution, postal regulation and the regulation of premium rate services. A key aspect of the work of the division is to uphold consumer and other end-user rights and to ensure that regulated entities comply with their legal obligations.
The role and responsibilities
• Assisting the Legal & ADR Manager and Senior Legal Advisors in the Division in providing the legal requirements associated with the work of the Retail and Consumer Services Division including:
• Providing clear, concise, accurate and constructive legal advice on all elements of the Division’s functions
• Drafting regulatory instruments such as secondary legislation and decision instruments and draft elements of public consultation documents, including regulatory impact assessments;
• Reviewing key documentation prepared in the Division or by external consultants prior to publication, and identifying legal weaknesses and/or making necessary changes;
• Conducting enforcement action, including civil and criminal litigation;
• Instructing and liaising with external advisors as necessary;
• Identifying legal risks and implementing measures to minimise them;
• Liaising with legal and other staff in government departments, public bodies and national regulatory authorities as necessary;
• Contributing to organisation-level legal and regulatory policy issues, including by participating in cross-Divisional advisor meetings led by ComReg’s General Counsel.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential Criteria
• A professional legal qualification and be enrolled and admitted as a Solicitor or Barrister in the State or equivalent;
• Proven post-qualification experience or equivalent experience and competencies, in a law firm, as a practising barrister, as in-house counsel, as a legal advisor in the civil/public service, or within a sector-specific regulator or similar body.
• Excellent statutory interpretation skills and experience;
• Excellent drafting, analytical and problem solving skills;
• Independent judgment, critical thinking and assessment;
• Proven ability to operate collaboratively within an organisation providing accurate and timely advice on a variety of legal topics.
• Excellent communication skills.
Desirable
• 3+ years post-qualification experience
• Knowledge/experience of consumer law
• Litigation experience, particularly litigation for/against the State or public bodies, statutory appeals regimes and judicial review in the High Court (including its Commercial Division) and experience in criminal prosecutions in the District Court.
• Knowledge of, and advisory experience in, the telecommunications sector and/or similar knowledge and experience in another regulated sector.
• Experience in regulatory law, EU law, public administrative law or consumer law;
• Experience in drafting and/or reviewing all aspects of public consultation papers and regulatory decisions, or legislation;
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team;
• Proven experience working in the area of dispute resolution including advising parties to disputes, appearing before dispute resolution bodies, working as an adjudicator (or equivalent role) or advising a dispute resolution entity on the provision of dispute resolution services/functions.
Core Competencies & Skills for the Role
In addition to your technical qualifications and experience, you will bring professional competencies and skills in the following core areas:
Analytical & 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.
Drafting: Uses a logical structure to draft documents. Communicates complex and technical information clearly and concisely. Ensures key messages are understood and have the desired impact on the target audience.
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.
Decision Making & Judgement: Effectively builds evidence base to support the decision-making process. Assesses alternative options. Uses judgement to adapt to specific and challenging requirements of the organisation.
Communicating & Influencing: Communicates clearly, confidently and respectfully. Engages, persuades and convinces others to follow a particular course of action. Ensures all relevant parties are appropriately updated and notified.
People Skills: Uses interpersonal skills to create engagement and clarity. Manages conflict and implements practical solutions. Recognises the impact of own behaviour and adjusts as required. Actively develops others.
Our Package
We are offering an attractive package:
• Salary €61000.02- €84,242.92* ( * (Pay increases will be awarded annually subject to satisfactory performance)
• Dublin city centre location – IFSC
• Blended working environment
• 28 days Annual Leave per year increases with service
• Fully paid Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s leave
• Income protection scheme
• Education assistance and Training Opportunities
• Professional membership fee pay
• Attractive 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
*(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.)
Interview process
For this role there will be two rounds of interviews, which will include a written task should you be brought forward for the 2nd round.
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 is 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.