Head of Unit Accessibility

Division Overview

The Market Surveillance Division (MSD) delivers the CCPC's product safety and accessibility functions, playing a critical role in protecting consumers and ensuring compliance across a wide range of sectors. The CCPC is the designated Market Surveillance Authority and Competent Authority in Ireland, responsible for the safety and enforcement of non-food consumer products, including toys, low-voltage electrical products, domestic gas appliances, personal protective equipment and products covered by the EU General Product Safety Regulation. It is also the Market Surveillance and Compliance Authority for all products under the European Accessibility Act (EAA), as well as certain services such as e-commerce and ebooks. The EAA has been transposed into Irish law and is now in effect, representing a significant expansion of the CCPC's remit. MSD currently comprises 26 staff, led by a Director and two Deputy Directors, and is organised into five Units: Customs, Recalls, two Market Surveillance Units, and a newly established Accessibility Unit.

The Role

The CCPC is seeking to recruit a Head of Unit at Assistant Principal (AP) grade for its Accessibility Unit. This senior leadership role will shape, develop and lead the unit as it becomes fully operational within MSD. As part of the Division's senior management team, the Head of Unit will contribute to the strategic direction and overall leadership of MSD, ensuring a coordinated and effective approach to market surveillance. The role involves addressing complex and evolving regulatory issues, with a strong emphasis on delivering outcomes that protect consumers and promote compliance. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead in a developing regulatory area of significant public importance, helping to shape how accessibility requirements are implemented and enforced in Ireland.

The Successful Candidate

The successful candidate will be a high-calibre senior manager with relevant experience who can bring strong leadership, sound judgement and a structured approach to a growing regulatory function within a dynamic organisation. They will play a key role in operationalising the unit, establishing effective structures, processes, policies and ways of working. As the unit becomes fully resourced, the focus will shift to delivering a robust programme of regulatory oversight and enforcement under the EAA. The candidate must understand, interpret and apply legislative and regulatory frameworks and translate these into practical compliance and enforcement actions. They should be comfortable working in a developing and evolving legislative environment, navigate ambiguity, make evidence-based decisions and provide clear, reasoned guidance to staff and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and manage the Accessibility Unit, ensuring the effective delivery of all regulatory, compliance and enforcement activities under the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
• Establish and embed robust operational structures, processes and policies to support the effective functioning and ongoing development of the unit.
• Oversee and direct all cases, investigations, inspections and enforcement actions, ensuring they are progressed in a timely, proportionate and risk-based manner.
• Provide authoritative guidance to team members on legislative interpretation, technical standards and complex regulatory issues, supporting high-quality decision-making.
• Build, lead and motivate a high-performing team, including setting clear objectives, managing performance, and identifying learning and development needs.
• Contribute as a member of the MSD senior management team to the strategic direction, governance and continuous improvement of the Division.
• Develop and implement a strategic and operational plan to deliver the CCPC's obligations under the EAA, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.
• Apply risk-based approaches to prioritisation, resource allocation and regulatory interventions, ensuring the effective use of available resources.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including representing the CCPC at national and international forums.
• Promote compliance through engagement, guidance and outreach, supporting stakeholders in understanding and meeting accessibility requirements.
• Support accurate, timely, and effective reporting, including the delivery of work plans, corporate reporting obligations and performance metrics.
• Champion the CCPC's Vision, Mission and Values, fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, innovation and public service.
• Undertake any additional duties as required to support the achievement of the objectives of the Division and the CCPC.

Essential

• A Level 7 or higher qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications in a relevant discipline such as law, regulation, public policy, engineering, science, business or compliance, or significant comparable professional experience.
• A minimum of 4 years' experience successfully leading and managing teams, with a proven ability to motivate, develop and deliver through others.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a complex and fast-paced environment.
• Proven experience working in a regulatory, compliance, enforcement or similar environment, including the evaluation and analysis of complex issues.
• Demonstrable ability to understand, interpret and apply legislation, regulations and/or technical standards, and to translate these into practical actions to progress cases, investigations and enforcement activities.
• Experience exercising sound judgement in interpreting legislative or policy frameworks, including making evidence-based decisions and providing clear, reasoned recommendations.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to assess risk and determine proportionate regulatory responses.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to clearly explain legal or technical concepts to a range of audiences.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Practical experience in a regulatory, compliance, accessibility, disability or market surveillance environment.
• Experience progressing enforcement actions, including investigations, administrative measures and/or prosecutions.
• Experience carrying out inspections, audits or compliance assessments.
• Familiarity with the European Accessibility Act (EAA), market surveillance frameworks or related EU legislation.
• Experience interpreting technical documentation, standards or conformity requirements.
• Strong understanding of risk-based approaches to regulation and the application of risk management principles.
• Experience developing and implementing strategy, operational plans or change initiatives.
• Project management and/or case management experience, including managing complex or high-profile cases.
• Experience of working collaboratively across agencies, and/or within national or international regulatory networks.
• A full clean Irish driving licence with access to a car.