Director of Competition Adjudication Unit (PO)

The CCPC is seeking to recruit a Director of Competition Adjudication Unit.

The Role

The CCPC is seeking to recruit a Director of the new Competition Adjudication Unit. This is an opportunity for an experienced lawyer, with excellent strategic leadership skills, to take on a senior management role in a dynamic and fast-paced public sector organisation. The Director will be responsible for overseeing the establishment and operation of the Competition Adjudication Unit at a time of very significant change in the enforcement of competition law in Ireland. The post holder will be self-driven and results-oriented with experience of providing advice on complex legal matters and the ability to work on their own initiative and manage relationships with different stakeholders.

Reporting to a Member of the Commission, the Director of the Competition Adjudication Unit will be responsible for establishing the new Competition Adjudication Unit and ensuring that robust and efficient businesses practices and procedures are put in place from the outset. This is a core requirement of the role, requiring strong management and leadership skills. It is anticipated that the Competition Adjudication Unit will rely initially on support from external advisors (e.g. lawyers, economists etc.) but will also over the next 1-2 years build its own in-house team. A key part of the Director’s role will be to procure and manage panels of external legal and economic advisors to support the adjudication function. The Director will also be responsible in due course for recruiting, managing, and mentoring the Competition Adjudication Unit’s own in-house staff.

The Successful Candidate:

The Director of the Competition Adjudication Unit will have a critical leadership role in the delivery of legal services, including specialist legal and procedural advice, to the CAO and AOs. This specialist advice will support the CAO and AOs in making strong, independent, and legally robust decisions. The Director of the Competition Adjudication Unit will be required to develop strong working relationships with the CAO and AOs and to liaise closely with them in relation to all aspects of the adjudication function. The Director will engage directly with the CAO regarding all matters referred for adjudication under Part 2D of the 2002 Act. The Director will report to a Member of the Commission in relation to governance, human resource management matters and budget management.

Subject to the independence requirements set out in Part 2D of the 2002 Act, the Director may also from time to time be requested to work on other tasks or projects within the CCPC commensurate with their skills and experience that are external to the adjudication function. Such tasks or projects will not relate to the investigation of suspected breaches of competition law.

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 Key Responsibilities of this position will include the following:

• Establish the Competition Adjudication Unit:

-Planning and establishing the resources needed to support the adjudication function;

- Establishing robust procedures and processes to enable the Chief Adjudication Officer and Adjudication Officers to discharge their functions effectively.

• Develop and drive the strategy and workplan of the Competition Adjudication Unit, provide strategic

leadership to the Unit and pro-actively contribute to the effective operation of the adjudication function.

• Provide legal advice to the Chief Adjudication Officer and Adjudication Officers in relation to all aspects of the adjudication function.

• Oversee the procurement of external legal services providers (and other service providers, where appropriate) and ensure the effective management and oversight of such service providers, including costs management and budgeting.

• Recruit, lead, develop, and manage the team in the Competition Adjudication Unit, setting high standards and implementing strategies to drive team performance.

• Provide an effective support service to the Chief Adjudication Officer and Adjudication Officers through the strategic management and leadership of the Competition Adjudication Unit. This will include management of oral hearings under Part 2D of the 2002 Act and managing court proceedings arising from the Part 2D adjudication process.

• Manage and supervise work across the Unit, including:

- Active engagement with areas such as case management and project management;

- Establishing systems and processes to enable timely and effective decision-making.

• Effectively manage multiple caseloads and tasks and allocate resources appropriately.

• Lead a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and collaboration, contributing towards building a highly effective adjudication function and the development of its procedures and internal systems.

• Build, manage and maintain productive and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Promote the Vision, Mission and Values of the CCPC and the Competition Adjudication Unit.

• From time to time, undertake other tasks or projects within the CCPC that are external to the adjudication function. Such tasks or projects will not relate to the investigation of suspected breaches of competition law.

Essential:

Please note: In order to satisfy the shortlisting panel, you must clearly highlight within your application that you meet the essential requirements. If this is not clearly displayed, it may prevent your application progressing to the shortlisting stage.

It is required at a minimum that candidates demonstrate the following:

• Candidates must have been called to the Bar in the State 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 and have at least 5 years’ post-qualification experience as a practising barrister/solicitor.

• Relevant work experience either in a law firm, as a practising barrister, as in-house counsel, or in the public service, with a strong record of professional achievement.

• Strong leadership and management experience, including at least 2 years’ experience in managing teams and experience of leading within a senior management team.

• Ability to provide clear, focused and strategic legal advice.

• Highly developed organisational and administrative skills.

• Proven ability to lead and deliver on projects within tight time frames.

• Excellent communication, networking and influencing skills, and the capacity to influence and work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders in a constructive manner.

• Oral and written fluency in the English language

Desirable:

• At least 8 years’ post-qualification experience as a practising barrister/solicitor.

• Experience of regulatory decision-making, dispute resolution and/or litigation.

• Experience of providing legal advice and support in the areas of EU or Irish competition law, merger review and/or consumer protection law.

• Experience of providing legal advice in relation to the law on fair procedures and administrative decision-making

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: https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/about/careers/current-opportunities/

To apply for this role please submit an up-to-date CV and a one-page cover letter outlining why you wish to be considered for the role and why you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role

The deadline for applications is 12 noon, Wednesday, 15th May.

Should you have any queries, please contact - [email protected].

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