Ceannaire Teicniúil Dearbhaithe an Oifigigh Cosanta Sonraí/DPO Assurance Technical Lead

The Role

The Legal function provides the organisation with the necessary legal expertise and support required by the business to meet its day to day business needs and legal and regulatory obligations. This includes advising the business in specialised matters, managing litigation matters, reviewing and providing input to legal documentation including policies and contracts, and advising on regulatory matters.

The Data Protection Office is accountable for ensuring Uisce Éireann is fully compliant with all Data Protection legislation and for the development and implementation of DP strategies across the organisation. The team ensures compliance with data protection and privacy requirements while maintaining a commercially viable approach. They identify and conduct Privacy Impact Assessments and advise on compliance with DP, privacy and related laws. They are also responsible for creating and keeping updated DP policies, notices, agreements and procedures, ensuring data processing agreements are in place with third parties handling personal data, and investigating and responding to DP escalated complaints and enquiries. In addition, the DPO oversees compliance with the Official Languages Acts and provides guidance on other information governance activities such as AI governance and Open Data Regulation.

Reporting to the Data Protection Officer, the DPO Assurance Technical Lead supports the delivery and implementation of a data protection service across Uisce Éireann. This role assumes responsibility for supporting the data protection of customer, employee and all other personal information in line with Irish and European regulations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of the Data Protection (DP) strategy across the organisation
• Provide guidance to the business in relation to DP compliance
• Conduct risk assessments of projects and evaluate DP and privacy related risks
• Provide support to the business in relation to conducting Data Privacy Impact Assessments
• Conduct investigations of any DP related complaints and enquiries
• Conduct investigations of any alleged Data Breaches
• Manage and maintain the Uisce Éireann Data Breach Register
• Responsible for actioning Data Subject Requests and Data Subject Rights Requests, including initial triage and liaising with data stewards, FOI Officer (where appropriate) and other stakeholders, through to preparation of final response
• Manage and maintain a central, consolidated Data Subject Requests Register
• Develop and deliver ongoing DP awareness programmes and in house training
• Actively participate in appropriate data governance groups
• Define monthly DP KPIs and metrics in relation to DPO activities
• Complete other data/privacy operational tasks as assigned, including ROPA (Article 30) and other cross functional activities
• Continuously review emerging developments for DP & privacy impact and implications

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business
• Promote and deliver health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards
• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation wide objectives
• Conduct duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann's Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation
• Other duties as required, including guidance and compliance activities in respect of other regulatory frameworks relating to broader data and information European regulatory frameworks

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Previous operational data protection and/or regulatory compliance experience (minimum 3 5 years)
• Relevant third level legal or data protection qualification and/or accreditation is desirable
• A minimum of 5 years' experience in the water, utilities or similar industries is desirable
• Demonstrated people/project management experience, with strong people, change management and conflict resolution skills
• Experience providing coaching in the development of technical skills and abilities in others
• Experience in managing end to end processes to ensure delivery meets customer expectations
• Ability to develop and maintain effective strategic partnerships with key stakeholders internally and externally and offer guidance and support to make the right decisions
• Demonstrated adaptability and the ability to change focus and direction in line with business strategy and requirements
• Proven track record dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion, along with the ability to communicate complex information to others
• Proactively identifying new areas of improvement and using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and potential improvements, and propose and implement solutions
• Experience contributing to a safe working environment by regularly checking that safety and wellbeing practices are being followed

Additional Information

The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is 02/07/2026.

Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.