The Role:
The CCPC is seeking a Deputy Director to support the leadership and management of the Advocacy & International functions within the Research, Advocacy & International Division. Reporting directly to the Divisional Director, this senior management role demands strong advocacy, strategic communication, effective collaboration, and international engagement capabilities.
The Deputy Director will lead advocacy initiatives, oversee strategic international engagement, ensure operational excellence, and proactively drive collaboration and coordination within the division and across the organisation, including with the Communications Division, to maximise advocacy opportunities and the impact potential of all divisional outputs and deliverables.
This role offers an excellent opportunity for a passionate professional to significantly influence Ireland's consumer protection and competition landscape.
The Successful Candidate:
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Strong managerial capabilities, including setting clear goals, managing performance, and planning resources effectively.
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, effectively prioritise tasks, and maintain a structured approach to work deliverables.
• Excellent communication skills, clearly articulating complex advocacy positions and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.
• A strong personal commitment to consistently high-quality work and continuous personal improvement.
• High levels of personal interest and passion for consumer affairs, consumer rights, and identifying advocacy opportunities within competition and consumer protection.
• Proven strategic advocacy skills, ensuring impactful advocacy initiatives and international policy collaborations.
• Excellent collaboration skills, fostering effective teamwork within the division and across the organisation to enhance advocacy outcomes.
• Resilience, adaptability, and high levels of personal motivation in being able to operate effectively in a dynamic and challenging environment.
In addition to the immediate appointment from this campaign, an order of merit may be established. This may be used to fill any future vacancies at the same level within this or other Divisions of the CCPC where roles have similar responsibilities and/or similar skills are required.
Key Responsibilities:
The Deputy Director will:
• Assist the Director in formulating and executing the divisional strategy and annual work plan and in pro[1]actively contributing to the CCPC achieving its strategic objectives and will have particular responsibility for Advocacy & International activities.
• Lead and manage all aspects of the Advocacy and International teams, and effectively manage and direct multiple agendas and tasks and allocate resources appropriately.
• Project manage major reports and advocacy / international initiatives.
• Proactively manage performance across the Advocacy and International teams, including by ensuring that team member goals are clear and well-aligned with both CCPC strategic objectives / priorities and the timely & effective delivery of the divisional workplan.
• Champion team member development, ensuring high performance by monitoring and developing capability and capacity across the team through effective delegation, coaching and mentoring to assist the transfer of skills.
• Deliver operational excellence, including through the development and implementation of procedures and ways of work which allow for the best possible outcomes to be produced.
• Manage and undertake evidence-based policy and market analysis to make recommendations on how competition and consumer welfare can be improved.
• Advocate to bring about changes in markets to promote competition and consumer protection, including driving implementation of our recommendations.
• Proactively manage the research, development and preparation of CCPC position papers and submissions on competition and consumer protection issues, including responses to public consultations and matters under government consideration.
• Identify market issues affecting competition and consumer welfare, developing swift public interventions, including media statements where appropriate.
• Lead and oversee the CCPC's international activity, developing an increased leadership role and representing the CCPC on national and international working groups and fora.
• Collaborate with divisional teams in identifying, undertaking, and leading consumer and business market research for informing public awareness activities.
• Lead and deliver effective collaboration within the division and with other divisions, including
Communications, to ensure coordinated strategies that maximise the advocacy opportunities and impact potential of all divisional outputs and deliverables.
• Build and directly engage with a network of influential stakeholders from all sectors, including government departments, sectoral regulators, private sector leaders, media, and prominent academics.
• Consider and respond to non-enforcement consumer and business contacts.
• Monitor relevant domestic and international market and policy developments, proactively advising the organisation's senior leadership on advocacy opportunities.
• Promote the Mission, Vision and Values of the organisation though self-management and team management.
• Perform such other functions as may be required from time to time both nationally and internationally to fulfil the business objectives of the CCPC.
Essential:
Candidates must have:
• A relevant Level 8 or higher qualification (NFQ) in economics, public policy, law, social sciences, or a closely related field, supplemented with at least 5 years' relevant experience in advocacy, policy, research, regulatory affairs, international engagement, public affairs, communications, or other demonstrably relevant areas.
• A minimum of 3 years management experience to include: successfully leading a relevant business unit or division in a comparable organisation, with strong project management skills and delivery of large projects.
• Demonstrable experience delivering high-quality advocacy projects / initiatives / campaigns.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, capable of clearly presenting advocacy positions to varied audiences, and proven capacity to write position papers and research reports in clear, easy-to-read formats suitable for various audiences, including media.
• Robust analytical abilities, with experience synthesising complex issues and analysing large volumes of complex data / information to inform proposed recommendations and advocacy strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, networking, and collaboration skills across diverse internal and external groups.
Desirable:
• Knowledge of competition and/or consumer protection matters including enforcement, policy, legislation, issues, and challenges.
• Experience of directly interacting/engaging with media, particularly in the context of management of effective advocacy activity/campaigns.
• Project management qualifications or significant experience applying structured project management methodologies.
• Experience in effectively deploying artificial intelligence tools, particularly in managing effective advocacy activity/campaigns.
• Change management experience.
Application Process:
In order to apply for this opportunity, candidates must submit the application form for this opportunity before the closing date for applications.
The application from can be found here:
To apply for this role using the link on the CCPC careers page, lease submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter explaining your motivation for applying for this position (max. words).
The closing date for applications is 3pm, 26 th May
Applicants should note that canvassing will result in your exclusion from the process.
For any questions please email