Our client the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is looking to hire for a Head of Unit - Mergers at Assistant Principal grade.
Division Overview:
The Merger Division is responsible for assessing mergers and acquisitions to determine if they would result in a substantial lessening of competition in any market for goods or services in the State.
The Division investigates transactions across a wide range of sectors to ensure that markets in the State remain competitive and continue to deliver benefits for consumers and businesses.
The Division's work includes:
- Reviewing mergers, preventing deals that would harm competition and ensuring non problematic transactions are cleared efficiently while investigating.
- Gathering and analysing evidence from merger parties, competitors, customers and other stakeholders.
- Working closely with legal, economic and sector specialists to understand market dynamics and evaluate competitive effects.
- Advising decision-makers on whether transactions should be cleared, cleared subject to remedies, or prohibited.
- Monitoring market developments and merger activity to identify transaction that have not been notified to the Commission, but which may raise competition concerns.
The Role:
As a Head of Unit for the Mergers Division, you will be an experienced case and project manager and people leader, responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of multiple merger cases and projects. You will be expected to be able to understand complex issues quickly and will lead a team and manage the delivery of multiple merger reviews.
As Head of Unit, you will have an outcome-driven approach and will be responsible for managing and delivering multiple cases, recommending actions and next steps, and prioritising multiple workstreams. You will contribute to building capacity and capability in the team while ensuring the division will remain a positive, proactive, and collegial one. You will be required to provide leadership and support to your team. You will also be responsible for ensuring that reporting on ongoing work is available to organisational management when required.
You will work closely with the Director, the Deputy Director and other Heads of Unit to ensure the successful functioning of the Division and provide support where needed, as well as working closely with colleagues across the CCPC to deliver on the organisation’s objectives.
You will have the opportunity to represent the CCPC at international fora and conferences. This may include, European Commission Advisory Committee meetings, OECD conferences, European and International Competition Network seminars.
In addition to the immediate appointments 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 skills are required.
The Successful Candidate:
This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and capable individual to make a significant contribution to the enforcement of competition law in Ireland.
The successful candidate:
- Is highly motivated and capable of working effectively on their own initiative.
- Demonstrates strong leadership and people management skill
- Has excellent analysis and decision-making skills with an outcome-driven approach Has a great understanding of law and/or economics, and the ability to apply these disciplines in a practical setting.
- Has strong project management, organisational and prioritisation skills, and is able to manage competing demands in a dynamic environment.
- Communicates clearly and effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leading a team of analysts and senior analysts working in the Mergers Division, assessing notified mergers while managing continuous skills development of yourself and your team, empowering the unit to deliver cases successfully and to continuously grow and develop.
- Managing and progressing merger investigations in line with CCPC Merger Guidelines and processes.
- Contributing to the drafting and reviewing of documents prepared by the team, providing strategic and substantive input where appropriate.
- Leading on the delivery of investigative approaches, competitive analyses, the assessment of evidence and the development of theories of harm in relation to notified mergers.
- Liaising with other National Competition Authorities in respect of merger investigations.
- Ensuring that senior CCPC management is provided with relevant, comprehensive and regular reports on merger cases and related issues as required.
- Devising tactical and strategic approaches to successfully deliver high-quality merger decisions.
- Supporting the Director and Deputy Directors with the management and strategic direction of the Division.
- Contributing to or leading, where required, cross-divisional projects or work, as required by the Director or the Commission.
Essential:
Please note: In order to satisfy the shortlisting panel, you need to clearly highlight within your application that you meet the essential criteria. If this is not clearly displayed, it may prevent your application progressing to future shortlisting stages. Applicants must be able to demonstrate:
- Experience leading and managing high-performing teams, either through formal line management responsibilities or by leading complex projects, investigations or case teams.
- The ability to motivate, develop and support staff through effective coaching, constructive feedback, training and development opportunities.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to:
- Present complex information clearly, logically and persuasively to a range of audiences.
- Foster open, constructive and collaborative discussion within and across teams.
- Engage confidently and effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Produce robust, evidence-based recommendations, decisions or reports, while considering their wider implications.
- A relevant degree (or equivalent qualification) in economics, law, business, regulation, compliance or a related discipline.
- At least four years' comparable professional experience in regulatory investigations, enforcement, litigation support, casework or a related field.
- Knowledge of, or experience working with, Irish and/or European competition law, economic regulation, consumer protection, or a related regulatory framework.
- Strong organisational, planning and prioritisation skills, including the ability to adapt to changing priorities and circumstances.
- Experience managing complex workloads and delivering high-quality outcomes within demanding statutory, regulatory or organisational deadlines.
- The ability to contribute strategically and operationally to divisional objectives and broader organisational priorities.
- A strong commitment to public service and to achieving outcomes that serve the public interest.
Desirable:
- Formal accreditation or postgraduate qualification in competition law, economics, economic regulation or business law in addition to the essential requirements.
- Experience in reviewing mergers or handling complaints or conducting investigations (or inspections) within a regulatory / enforcement agency or in private practice.
Application Process:
To apply for this role, please submit an up-to-date CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address the following two points in no more than 800 words total:
- Your experience leading people, projects or case teams to deliver complex work — including how you motivate others, manage competing priorities, communicate effectively and ensure high-quality outcomes. (500 words)
- Why you are suited to the role of Head of Unit – Mergers — with reference to your relevant professional experience and knowledge of competition/regulatory matters. (300 words)
Applicants should note that canvassing will result in your exclusion from the process.
Interview process:
This role will have 2 rounds of interviews which will take place on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th November 2026, and Wednesday, 18th November 2026.