Postal Consumer Protection Analyst

Postal Consumer Protection Analyst

Retail and Consumer Services Division

We are seeking a pro-active, experienced analyst, eager to learn and contribute within the Postal Regulation team and to the wider Retail and Consumer Services Division. Reporting to the Manager, Postal Regulation Operations, you will be part of a small team actively involved in the development and implementation of postal consumer regulation, and you will be involved in other regulatory functions in the Retail Division as appropriate.

ComReg Overview

We are the statutory body responsible for regulating electronic communications, postal services and premium rate services in Ireland. We are a professional and multi-disciplinary organisation.  Our role is to ensure that communications markets operate in the interests of end-users and society. Through effective and relevant regulation, we facilitate the development of a competitive communications sector in Ireland that attracts investment, encourages innovation, and empowers consumers to choose and use communications services with confidence.

Retail Division

Our Retail and Consumer Services Division has several different functions including Consumer Care, Consumer Policy, Retail Compliance, Consumer Engagement, Dispute Resolution and Postal Services regulation.  The Retail Division is at the forefront in protecting, informing and empowering consumers so that they can choose and use communications services with confidence.

Postal Team

Our Postal Regulation team is responsible for the regulation of postal services in Ireland.  The team consists of up to five people who work together with their Retail and Consumer Services colleagues to ensure consumers are empowered and protected. The Postal Regulation team’s work plan for the next two years is set out in ComReg’s Postal Strategy Statement 2022 – 2024.  In particular, this includes a number of projects that have an effect on the everyday postal consumer.

The Job

As Postal Consumer Protection Analyst you will have proven application of strong research, analytical and evaluation skills, and who wants to add value to the Postal Team and the wider Retail Division.  Your role in the Postal team will include the following areas:

Consumer Rights and Guidance:

Ensuring postal service providers deliver appropriate information on the rights of postal consumers, including information under universal postal services.  Information on redress options should be made available by service providers to postal consumers if things go wrong.

Consumer Harm and Protection:

Ensuring interests of postal consumers are protected in accordance with legislative requirements, including ensuring that service terms and conditions and postal service provider Codes of Practice are in place, operating correctly and aligned with relevant legislation.

Researching postal consumer needs and experiences through formal and informal methods to inform policy.

Establishing co-operation relationships with other national consumer authorities responsible for consumer protection legislation.

Representing ComReg on consumer related sub-group(s) of the European Regulators Postal Group (“ERGP”).

Assisting with evaluation and application of future postal legislation in the context of postal consumer protection.

Assisting with the formulation of policy measures as relevant, including conducting consultations.

Consumer Communications and Information:

Liaising with ComReg’s Consumer Engagement and Consumer Care teams to ensure that ComReg provides appropriate information to postal consumers.  This information will help them make informed decisions and assist them in their dealings with postal service providers – including information on postal product and service offerings and postal consumer rights.

Provide support for the ComReg Consumer Care team in assisting postal consumers.

Support the Alternative Dispute resolution team as required.

Service Provider Postal Service Authorisations:

Authorisations of postal service providers must be in accordance with legislation.  The role includes managing postal service notifications to be authorised and maintenance of postal service provider authorisation register.

Compliance Monitoring

Monitoring of authorised postal service providers with relevant consumer related compliance obligations.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Qualification in policy or business and/or demonstrate equivalent relevant experience
• Experience of both assessing and developing consumer policy (preferably in a service environment) and an ability to assimilate information contained in complex legislation, policies or reports and provide clear and practical solutions advice
• Proven ability to analyse and manipulate date from a variety of sources
• Strong research skills
• Demonstrable experience of developing successful relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• Confident and articulate with the ability to communicate complex information simply and respectfully
• Excellent drafting with an ability to prepare briefing, reports and documents in a rational, evidence-based, clear and concise manner
• Experience of being part of a multidisciplinary project team environment in an organisation with a strong culture of delivery.
• Proven ability to manage small to medium size projects to successful outcomes
• Curious and resilient with a strong motivation to ensure postal consumers in Ireland are protected and empowered
• Takes individual responsibility to deliver work and uses considered judgement to take action when required

Desirable

• Experience in regulatory, competition and public policy / law for consumers and consumer protection would be an advantage
• Experience in postal / logistics or similar and understanding of the environment would be an advantage

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 and Critical Thinking: Supports others to identify relevant information to effectively solve problems Considers new approaches and applies original thinking. Identifies critical connections and patterns in detail. Anticipates issues that are not readily apparent and prepares responses.
• Drafting: Provides final review of documents with regard to relevant legislation. Writes accurately on complex areas in a convincing manner that is easily accessible to others. Improves others drafting skills and enables learning through review and feedback.
• Planning & Organising: Establishes and monitors priorities, systematically differentiating between urgent, important and unimportant. Manages activities to deliver results. Meets objectives within predetermined time frames.
• Communication and 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.
• Teamwork: Involves and values the contribution of others with constructive feedback. Leads multi-disciplinary teams and effectively manages upwards. Anticipates and manages project risks with minimal instruction.
• 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.

If you meet the criteria and are interested in applying, we would love to hear from you.