The CCPC is seeking to recruit a Head of Legal to lead Legal Services in relation to the CCPC’s competition law functions. This is an opportunity for an experienced lawyer, with excellent strategic leadership skills, to take on a senior management role overseeing the delivery of legal services in a dynamic and fast-paced public sector organisation.

The Head of Legal (Competition) will be responsible for leading a team of specialist lawyers in providing high-quality, solution-focused legal advice and support on all aspects of the CCPC’s competition functions. The CCPC has two in-house legal teams, supplemented by external legal consultants when additional resources are required. Where appropriate, the CCPC also engages external barristers and solicitors to advise on a variety of legal matters. The two teams are (i) Legal Services – Competition, led by the Head of Legal (Competition); and (ii) Legal Services - Consumer Protection, Product Safety & Digital, led by the Head of Legal (Consumer Protection, Product Safety & Digital) and General Counsel.

The successful applicant will have a critical leadership role in delivering legal services relating to the CCPC’s competition enforcement and mergers functions to a high standard in a challenging regulatory and enforcement environment. The post holder will be self-driven and results-oriented with experience of providing strategic advice on complex legal matters and the ability to motivate a team to meet ambitious targets and strict deadlines. A key requirement for the position is the ability to anticipate and identify legal issues of wider strategic importance and put in place plans to proactively deal with them.

Reporting to a Member of the Commission, the Head of Legal (Competition) will work closely with the wider Senior Management team in the CCPC (and in particular with the Head of Legal (Consumer, Product Safety & Digital) and General Counsel and will contribute to the development of the organisation through initiating, and constructive engagement in, cross-Divisional and organisation-wide projects.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and drive the work of the Legal (Competition) team, provide strategic leadership to the team and pro-actively contribute to the CCPC achieving its strategic objectives.
• Lead and manage an expanding team to ensure its operational effectiveness, setting high standards and implementing strategies to drive team performance.
• Develop capability and capacity across the team through effective delegation, coaching and mentoring.
• In the context of the CCPC’s competition and merger control functions (and in line with the enforcement priorities set by the CCPC’s Commission), ensure the provision of proactive, solution-focused and timely legal advice and support to merger teams, investigation teams and the effective management of all civil and criminal litigation in which the CCPC is involved (in conjunction with the Director of the relevant enforcement division).
• Oversee the procurement of external legal services and ensure the effective management and oversight of external legal services providers.
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships with the Members of the CCPC, other legal teams, Divisional Directors and staff, and key external stakeholders including government officials, other relevant regulatory and enforcement agencies, and the European Commission.
• Represent the CCPC at national and international fora, meetings and conferences.
• Provide strategic legal advice on policy and legislative matters relating to the CCPC’s competition functions.
• Proactively identify areas of legislative reform to assist in the performance of the CCPC’s competition functions and oversee the drafting of proposals or recommendations to Government Departments in relation to same.
• Promote the Mission, Vision and Values of the organisation though self-management and team management.

Essential:

• Candidates must have been called to the Bar in the State and entered on the Roll of Practising Barristers
  maintained by the LSRA or have been admitted and be currently enrolled as a solicitor in the State or hold a
  professional qualification in law which would be acceptable to the CCPC as being equivalent to the above.
• At least 5 years’ post-qualification work experience either in a law firm, as a practising barrister, as in-house
  counsel, or as a legal advisor in the civil/public service.
• Direct experience of leading and managing people/teams.
• Professional experience in the area of competition law.
• Oral and written fluency in the English language.

Desirable:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to provide clear, focused, and practical
  legal advice.
• Highly developed organisational and administrative skills.
• Relevant qualifications and/or experience in law above the essential requirements.
• Knowledge of Irish civil and criminal court practice and procedure.
• Experience in dispute resolution, litigation, or regulatory investigations.
• Experience advising on civil/administrative or criminal investigations and/or inspections and enforcement
  powers.
• Experience of successfully working across multiple legal disciplines.

Application process:

To apply for this role using the link on the CCPC careers page, please submit an up-to-date CV. Applicants should
note that canvassing will result in your exclusion from the process.

Closing date for applications is 12 noon, Thursday, 23 May 2024.