Senior Legal Adviser – Cybersecurity & Resilience Regulation

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 proposed as the NIS2 Directive National Competent Authority for the Digital Infrastructure, Digital Provider, ICT Service Management and Space sectors. Additionally, ComReg has been designated as the CER Directive National Competent Authority for the Digital Infrastructure Sector.

The proposal 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
• 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

The Role

The Senior Legal Adviser in the cyber security and resilience regulation division will report to the Head of Cybersecurity Legal and Economics and work in a multidisciplinary environment with technical, operational, and policy experts, lawyers and economists. They will be involved in the design, supervision and enforcement of cybersecurity regulation in the Digital Infrastructure, Digital Providers, ICT Service Management, Space and Postal and Courier Services sectors arising under National and European law.

The cybersecurity team works in a collaborative manner and the Senior Legal Advisor will have the opportunity to be directly involved in a broad range of high-profile and interesting work and will have direct engagement with decision makers. Personal development is promoted and supported. There are opportunities for further on the job training and education along with opportunities to lead or be involved in projects of strategic importance to the organisation.

Responsibilities:

·      Provide accurate, concise, practical and strategic legal advice on all aspects of ComReg’s NIS2 and CER functions to inform and guide the Division, the Commission and its staff by identifying key legal issues, process and procedural requirements, available options, and associated legal risks

·      Working in a multi-disciplinary environment, assimilate complex, legal, factual and technical information to provide legal review of key documentation, and minimise legal risk.

• Advise on sector-specific Irish and EU legislation, statutory interpretation, administrative and public law,
• Advise on regulatory measures including regulatory process and procedures
• Advise on the design and implementation of supervision and enforcement frameworks
• Advise on, and support, regulatory investigations and regulatory enforcement actions
• Draft or review regulatory instruments including secondary legislation, decisions, and regulatory impact assessments
• Draft or review consultation documents
• Draft or review regulatory policies, procedures and guidelines
• Advise on, draft and coordinate submissions on proposed national or EU legislation impacting ComReg’s functions and objectives
• Advise on or manage public law litigation including statutory appeals, judicial reviews and other High Court actions including managing external legal counsel
• Liaise with legal and other staff in government departments, public bodies and national and European regulatory authorities as required
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams across the division, the organisation and other public bodies

This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and the Senior Legal Adviser will be required to perform other duties as assigned.

 Qualifications and Experience 

Essential  

• Be enrolled and admitted as a Solicitor or Barrister in the State, or equivalent;
• Proven post-qualification experience in regulatory law, EU law, public administrative law, investigations, or enforcement (prosecution or defence);
• Proven ability to operate collaboratively at all levels within an organisation.

Desirable  

• 6+ years post-qualification experience, in a law firm, as a practising barrister, as in-house counsel, as a legal advisor in the civil/public service, in a sector-specific regulator or in a regulated sector;
• Proven experience of regulatory enforcement or compliance management in a regulated industry including digital;
• Proven experience of litigation (High Court and District Court);
• Proven experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team;
• Proven experience of operating at a management level including briefing senior management.

Core Competencies & Skills for the Role 

In addition to your qualifications and experience, you will bring professional competencies and skills in the following core areas:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Our Package 

We are offering an attractive package:

• Salary €89,722.80 – €112,170.71 * (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
• ComReg Wellbeing Programme
• Travel tax saver scheme, Access to Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a member’s 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.)

Check out the Recruitment section of our Careers website if you have any questions or need further information about the role or the recruitment process -https://www.comreg.ie/about/careers/recruitment-faq/

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.