Energy Safety Senior Analyst

Our client the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is Ireland's independent energy and water regulator. The work of the CRU impacts every Irish home and business ensuring safe, secure and sustainable energy and water supplies for the benefit of all customers. 

Ireland’s ambitions for renewable energy deployment in Ireland necessitate a step-change in the pace of policy decision-making and delivery of actions and statutory duties by the CRU. The CRU is leading significant programs of work in the areas of Security of Energy Supply, the Climate Action Plan 2021 and the Clean Energy Package. New work areas include the development of regulatory frameworks for offshore wind; hydrogen; district heating; and, critically, engaging active customers and communities. 

Energy Safety Regulation

The CRU’s Energy Safety Division holds a key role in protecting public safety and the prevention of major accidents in Ireland’s energy sector. The Division is responsible for safety regulation of gas (networks, supply, storage, use and liquefied petroleum gas distribution), petroleum (upstream onshore and offshore exploration and extraction) and gas installers and electrical contractors. Work areas are expanding with the development of new technologies such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen.

The regulatory functions of the energy safety division are diverse and span technical, legal and policy issues. These include:

• development of national policy with respect to energy safety regulation;
• assessment of safety cases;
• carrying out audits and inspections of infrastructure and safety management systems;
• carrying out incident investigations;
• taking enforcement/prosecution actions where necessary;
• carrying out promotion and public awareness activities;
• overseeing the operator of the RGI and Safe Electric schemes which regulates gas installers and electrical contractors with respect to safety.

As a Senior Analyst you will have the opportunity to develop technical knowledge and expertise in the area of safety regulatory policy making, compliance monitoring and enforcement while assisting the CRU to achieve its strategic objectives.

The CRU will provide you with ongoing support and training and there will be ample opportunity for professional development allowing you to maximise your potential.

We are seeking candidates with experience in engineering, process safety, science, regulation, law and other relevant fields to join our energy safety division.

A shortlist of suitable candidates may be established to fill potential future positions within the organisation.

Role Description

Energy Safety teams include a regulatory manager, technical inspectors, senior analysts, analysts and administrators who work in collaboration.

Senior Analysts will be placed in one of three teams:

• Gas safety framework: regulating natural gas (transmission network, distribution network, supply and shipping) and LPG distribution network undertakings. This is done through the development of energy safety policy and input into legislative amendments, safety case assessments, audits and inspections, investigation of gas incidents, enforcement, safety performance reporting and review. The team also chairs the Promotion and Public Awareness group which includes a variety of stakeholders.
• Petroleum safety: regulating upstream (offshore and onshore) petroleum exploration and extraction activities in Ireland. The CRU’s responsibility is to provide effective safety regulatory oversight and reduce the risk and potential consequences of major accidents onshore and offshore to a level that is as low as is reasonably practicable (ALARP). This is done through safety case assessments, issuing safety permits, and monitoring compliance through an audit and inspection regime.
• Safety supervisory body: The Safe Electric scheme for electrical contractors and RGI scheme for gas installers are operated by a third-party safety supervisory body (SSB) on behalf of the CRU. The team ensures the SSB is meeting its contractual obligations and that its approach is effective and consistent to meet the evolving needs of the industry through performance management as well as audits and inspections. The team revises is responsible for developing and updating the Criteria Documents which set out detailed scheme rules and requirements and engages with a wide variety of stakeholders, chairing a Promotion and Public Awareness group. Technical inspectors on the team investigate suspected illegal gas and electrical works and the CRU takes enforcement action, including prosecutions.

Responsibilities

Reporting to a Manager, the successful candidate will have a varied role involving both policy and technical analysis in a dynamic environment. Energy Safety Senior Analyst roles typically include activities such as:

• Leading on the development of safety policy and updating safety frameworks to ensure they are fit for purpose in light of legislative or regulatory developments
• Leading and delivering on projects within the CRU, as delegated by the manager
• Preparing and managing consultation and decision papers, preparing reports and making presentations both internally and externally
• Procuring and managing external consultants to provide expert input to projects
• Supporting technical inspectors in:
  • monitoring compliance of industry through conducting audits, inspections
  • safety case assessment
  • analysing safety data and trends
  • gas incident investigations
  • managing findings and remedial action plans
  • taking enforcement/prosecution actions
• Stakeholder management including CRU interaction with the relevant industry groups/fora, the general public, government departments, state agencies, European and International groups
• Updating internal and external procedures as part of continuous improvement
• Collaborating with the team on all aspects of implementing work plans which may also include:
• reviewing performance reports to ensure compliance with agreed service level agreements and contractual obligations
• managing support contracts
• complaint management
• supporting safety information initiatives
• Researching policy issues and identification of data / trends, using this to suggest policy courses of action for the CRU
• Carrying out such other functions as may be required from time to time to fulfil the business objectives of the CRU and as appropriate to the grade

The above list is not exhaustive.

While the successful candidate will be assigned to a particular team within the CRU, they will also be expected to contribute to the work of the wider Division/CRU as requirements dictate.

The Candidate

Candidates must have on or before the closing date for applications the following: 

Essential Criteria

1. An honours degree, NFQ Level 8 or higher qualification, preferably in engineering, process safety, science, regulation, law or other closely related discipline.
2. Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in an energy, safety, regulation, process industry or a related sector.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience working in a high hazard, process or safety management environment;
2. Knowledge of risk management and safety case regimes;
3. Experience in carrying out audits and inspections;

Core Competencies (Appendix A)

• CRU/Specialist Knowledge
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Analytical and Decision-Making Skills
• Team Working
• Delivery of Results

Application Process

Please note, the CRU have engaged Cpl as a data processor to assist the CRU with this recruitment competition. In line with CRU’s data retention policy, information collected by Cpl will be kept for 12 months after the conclusion of the competition.

In order to apply for this opportunity, candidates must submit the application from for this opportunity before the closing date for applications.  

The application from can be found here - https://landing.cpl.com/cru/careers.html

As part of the application form candidates will be required to upload a C.V. and Cover Letter which clearly demonstrates how you meet the key requirements of the role. Should you have any queries, please contact [email protected]. 

The deadline for applications is Monday, 13th May 2024, 12pm (to be received not later than 12 pm). 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview. Candidates may be asked to complete an online assessment and make a short presentation on a brief that will be forwarded prior to interview. A two-stage interview process may also be applied. The CRU may establish a shortlist of suitable candidates for potential future positions within the organisation. 

Please note that candidates must be eligible to work full time in Ireland at time of application.   

If we invite you to interview and you have access needs, please notify us at [email protected] so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

CRU does not reimburse any costs/expenses incurred by the candidate during any part of the interview process. 

The CRU Recruitment Privacy Notice sets out how we protect the privacy rights of job applicants and can be found on the Careers page on the CRU Website (https://www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GDPR-Recruitment-Data-Privacy-Notice-May-2018.pdf), or alternatively you can contact [email protected] who will arrange for this to be sent directly to you.