ComReg Overview
ComReg is the statutory body responsible for regulating fixed and mobile communications, postal and premium rate services in Ireland since 1997.
Our mandate is to create a competitive marketplace, to protect and inform consumers, and to encourage innovation.
This is an exciting time of growth for ComReg as we are shortly to be given new responsibilities from Government covering digital matters arising from EU legislation that includes: the 2022 Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS2), the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive - addressing cybersecurity and network resilience - plus the EU Data Act Regulation, and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
We are a professional, multi-disciplinary organisation, operating in a dynamic electronic communications environment that is constantly evolving.
While the role of regulation is evolving, our fundamental mission remains the same. ComReg aims to facilitate the development of a competitive electronic communications sector in Ireland attracting investment, encouraging innovation and empowering consumers to choose and use communications services with confidence.
Retail and Consumer Services Division
ComReg and the Retail and Consumer Services Division, is responsible for key organisational functions 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 Senior Legal Advisor works within a multi-disciplinary divisional team, which includes business analysts, industry experts, engineers, economists, accountants and other lawyers. The Senior Legal Advisor reports to the Legal and Alternative Dispute Resolution Manager within the division and works with a talented and motivated Legal & ADR team comprising of solicitors, barristers, and dispute resolution specialists. The team works on a collaborative basis and the Senior Legal Advisor has the opportunity to be directly involved in a broad range of high-profile and interesting work and have direct engagement with decision makers. Personal development is promoted and supported. There are plenty of opportunities for further on the job training and education along with opportunities to lead or be involved in cross-divisional projects.
Role Description
Provide clear, concise, practical and strategic legal advice to inform and guide the Division, the Commission and its staff by identifying the key legal issues, process and procedural requirements, the available options, and the associated legal risks;
Review key documentation prepared in the Division or by external consultants prior to publication, and identify legal weaknesses and/or necessary changes;
Draft regulatory instruments such as secondary legislation and decision instruments and draft elements of public consultation documents, including regulatory impact assessments;
Minimise legal risk in respect of any proposed regulatory measure ensuring that it is supported by the facts and consistent with applicable law and the administrative process leading to the proposed measure is properly conducted;
Prepare legal briefs for external lawyers, particularly in the context of litigation, and manage the ongoing provision of external advice;
Contribute to the management of litigation as required, particularly in the context of appeals/judicial review and enforcement, including review and advice on correspondence, affidavits, expert reports and other documents required in the context of Court proceedings;
Provide analysis and input on any proposed national or EU legislation impacting ComReg's responsibilities;
Liaise with legal and other staff in government departments, public bodies and national regulatory authorities as required;
Contribute 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
Be enrolled and admitted as a Solicitor or Barrister in the State with 6+ years post qualification experience, preferably in the Irish jurisdiction, 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;
Experience in regulatory law, EU law, public administrative law, consumer law or competition law;
Proven ability to operate collaboratively at all levels within an organisation providing accurate and timely advice on a variety of legal topics.
Desirable
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.
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 of operating at a management level including briefing senior management; and
A solid understanding of the policies which underpin sector-specific regulation, including market liberalisation, consumer protection and the promotion of competition.
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:
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.
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.
Planning and Organising Establishes and monitors priorities, systematically differentiating between urgent, important and unimportant tasks. Plans and manages activities to consistently deliver results. Meets objectives within agreed predetermined time frames and deals with urgent operational situations expeditiously.
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 € 87, € 109,960.51* (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.)
Dublin city centre location - IFSC
Blended working environment - 2 days in the office (flexibility for more days may be required depending on business needs)
28 days Annual Leave per year increases with service
Attractive pension scheme
Fully paid Maternity, Paternity and Parent's leave
Income protection scheme
Education assistance and Training Opportunities
Professional membership fee pay
ComReg Wellbeing Programme -Wellbeing and Respect Charter | Commission for Communications Regulation
Online gym
Travel tax saver scheme, Access to Cycle to Work Scheme
Access to Employee Assistance Programme
Access to a 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.)
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 -
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.