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The Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) is seeking to appoint a Director of Legal & Advocacy at Principal Officer level. The CEA is Ireland’s company law enforcement agency. Its mission is to promote and serve the public interest by ensuring high levels of compliance with company law through effective advocacy and proportionate, robust and dissuasive enforcement. This is a senior leadership role within the CEA’s Insolvency Supervision, Civil Enforcement & Advocacy Division, reporting to a Member of the Authority.

The successful candidate will lead a team of experienced legal professionals and support staff and will play a central role in the delivery of the CEA’s statutory mandate and strategic objectives. The Director will provide high-quality legal advice across the CEA’s activities; advise on civil and criminal enforcement matters; oversee litigation and external legal services; contribute to investigative and enforcement strategy; and lead the CEA’s statutory advocacy and stakeholder-empowerment activities. The role offers an exceptional opportunity for an experienced senior legal professional to contribute to the continuing development of a modern, multidisciplinary enforcement agency.

Principal Responsibilities The successful candidate will:

·         Provide authoritative, well-researched and timely legal advice across the CEA’s statutory remit.

·         Advise on company law, enforcement powers, insolvency, civil and criminal procedure, administrative law and related areas.

·         Support civil enforcement action, summary prosecutions and the preparation of files for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

·         Develop litigation and enforcement strategies and oversee litigation involving the CEA. - Source and manage external legal representation and specialist legal services.

·         Lead legal research and the development of policy positions on relevant legislative and regulatory matters.

·         Lead the CEA’s statutory advocacy mandate, including stakeholder engagement, guidance, communications and measures of impact.

·         Lead and manage a team of legal professionals and support staff.

·         Contribute to organisational governance, risk management, change and modernisation.

·         Represent the CEA in relevant external fora.

Essential Criteria Candidates must:

1.      Have been called to the Bar of Ireland and/or be enrolled as a Solicitor in the State.

2.      Since qualifying, have acquired, in aggregate, at least five years’ relevant experience at an appropriate level of seniority as a practising barrister or solicitor in the State.

3.      Possess a high degree of specialist knowledge in at least two of the following: -- Company law -- Civil law and procedure -- Regulatory or enforcement law and procedure -- Administrative law and procedure -- Criminal law and procedure

4.      Have acquired experience at a suitably senior level in one or more of the following areas: -- Data protection or privacy law -- Protected disclosures and whistleblower law -- Legal professional privilege -- Employment law -- Restructuring and insolvency law -- European law and/or public procurement law

Candidates must also demonstrate:

·         A strong track record of providing high-quality legal advice and analysis in a fast-paced environment.

·         The ability to master complex and wide-ranging briefs and assimilate large volumes of information quickly.

·         Sound professional judgement.

·         The ability to manage multiple agendas, competing priorities and demanding deadlines.

·         Strong leadership capabilities and the ability to identify strategic issues and risks. - A track record of leading for results and impact.

·         The credibility and capacity to operate effectively at senior levels, internally and externally.

·         The ability to work collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries. - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

·         A clear understanding of the CEA’s public-interest mandate and the obligations associated with working in a public body.

Desirable Criteria

One or more of the following would be advantageous:

·         Senior-level experience leading and managing professional teams within a legal, regulatory, enforcement, professional-services or comparable environment.

·         Experience managing organisational resources and competing priorities to deliver strategic and operational objectives.

·         Experience advising and supporting statutory boards or office holders, executive leadership teams and/or other senior decision-makers on governance, regulatory or enforcement matters.

·         Experience leading organisational change.

Salary

Principal Officer PPC Salary Scale: €108,152 – €133,775

Entry will normally be at the minimum point of the scale. Different arrangements may apply to serving civil or public servants.

How to Apply

Conscia Talent is managing the recruitment process on behalf of the Corporate Enforcement Authority. For the full Candidate Information Booklet, application form and details of how to apply, please visit: www.consciatalent.com/ceajobs  

Applications must be submitted through the online application portal by 3.00pm on Monday, 31 August 2026. The selection process will be conducted in accordance with the Commission for Public Service Appointments’ Code of Practice. The Corporate Enforcement Authority is committed to equality of opportunity. 

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