Research Insights Manager

ComReg Overview

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the statutory body responsible for regulating electronic communications, postal and premium rate services in Ireland. We are a professional, multi-disciplinary organisation, operating in a dynamic communications environment that is constantly evolving.

Our vision is, through effective regulation, to facilitate the ongoing development of a competitive communications sector in Ireland that attracts investment, encourages innovation and empowers end users to choose and use communications services with confidence. We do so by setting rules to promote effective competition, upholding consumer rights, creating an environment that supports investment and innovation, and ensuring that regulated entities comply with those rules.

Government has additionally signalled its intention to expand the remit of ComReg by assigning it new roles in forthcoming legislation that will place obligations on ComReg to supervise a broader range of entities on the computing continuum for the purposes of compliance with the NIS2 cybersecurity Directive and the Critical Entities Resilience Directive.

 Division overview – Strategy & Economics

The Strategy & Economics function of ComReg is led by the Director – Strategy & Economics. Its principal areas of responsibility are:

·        Strategic Planning

·        Research

·        Data Strategy and Analytics

·        Economic Advice and professional leadership of economics

·        International Activities.

In practice these five distinct roles operate in a complementary and overlapping fashion.

The Research Insights Manager role will report to the Head of Strategy, Economics, and Research (SER).

The communications sector is at the heart of the digital economy. The networks, services and applications provided by firms in the communications sector are embedded in our lives in a way that was difficult to imagine ten years ago, and perhaps impossible to imagine twenty years ago. These trends are set to continue.

We are looking for someone with an interest in understanding what drives the complex and dynamic communications sector to join ComReg as our Research Insights Manager. You must be a creative thinker with high levels of curiosity, personal motivation and strong interpersonal skills. ComReg is a multi-disciplinary environment where economists, engineers, lawyers, accountants and technical experts collaborative across a wide and diverse range of substantive and operational areas.

The role and responsibilities

The role

Purpose: The successful candidate will contribute to and lead ComReg’s research programme and associated stakeholder relations and will manage, track and report on key projects within the overall Strategy, Economics, and Research (SER) work programme.

What will the Research Insights Manager responsible be?

Research: Leading on the development and implementation of ComReg’s research strategy, including the analysis, collection and collation of relevant information. ComReg’s research programme is  aimed at deepening ComReg’s understanding of topics of strategic interest. Delivering high quality policy and research outputs, involving the use of quantitative analysis techniques, policy analysis, data collection and analytics, document reviews and presentations. Research topics will typically be of a cross-organisational nature and will be undertaken in the context of an organisational research programme. Preparing Terms of Reference and evaluating proposals from external research consultancies.

Insights: Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of existing and emerging developments relevant to ComReg’s existing and expected future remit. This includes developments in respect of legislation and the legislative framework under which ComReg will operate, market innovations, future areas of research, and the implications of commercial and policy developments in Ireland and further afield for ComReg, and the sectors which it regulates.

Competitive Intelligence: Leading ComReg’s efforts to gather, analyse and respond to competitive intelligence. This will involve, inter alia, tracking:

       o  Key developments across markets for which ComReg has regulatory responsibilities;

       o  Key developments in adjacent markets where outcomes may impact on the evolution of regulated markets and regulatory measures; and,

       o  Other key strategic data relevant to the achievement of ComReg’s regulatory objectives.

Across all of these categories, there is a requirement to interact throughout the organisation, to collaborate, influence, show thought leadership and the ability to identify and articulate key economic concerns.

The Research Insights Manager may also be involved in specific projects led by the Senior Manager – Strategy, Economics and Research, and other projects relating to ComReg’s various activities.

Qualifications and Experience required

Essential

• Post graduate qualification in economics, finance, or equivalent qualification;
• Demonstrable strong post-graduate work experience in an economics or economic policy setting, including project leadership involving the management of multidisciplinary teams;
• Excellent drafting and communication skills, with the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and draft documentation in a rational, evidence-based, clear and concise manner.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, including the ability to make reasoned judgements based on available information, and to apply new and creative approaches as appropriate;
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in applying economic analysis principles and techniques in assessing market structures and dynamics

Desirable

• Familiarity with electronic communications, digital, and technology sectors and emerging trend in these areas, and the national/EU legal framework under which ComReg operates.
• Experience of research, research design, design and management of primary data collection, analysis and presentation of results.
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative analytical abilities and practical experience in the application of data analysis within a research, regulatory and/or business environment;
• People management skills, including direct line management of personnel and indirect management of people inputting to projects.

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:

•  Contextual Understanding Understands the regulatory, legislative, political, industrial, economic, societal and cultural environment within which ComReg operates. Uses this understanding to interact effectively. Considers the wider impact of actions and decisions.
•  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.
•  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 €84,531.22 – €105,680.24 (Pay increases will be awarded annually subject to satisfactory performance)
• Dublin city centre location – IFSC
• Blended working environment – 2 days in the office (flexibility required depending on business requirements)
• 28 days Annual Leave per year, increasing with service
• Fully paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental leave
• Income protection scheme
• Educational assistance and training opportunities
• Professional membership fees paid
• Attractive pension scheme
• ComWell Wellbeing Programme
• Travel tax saver scheme, Access to Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to member-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.

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 any information you disclose will only be used to enable us to provide the necessary support and will not 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 shortlisted for interview, and are subsequently unsuccessful, you can request verbal feedback from your recruitment contact – if you are represented by an agency.