Head Of Unit – Investigations and Enforcement

Available Positions: Head Of Unit – Investigations and Enforcement

Division: Consumer Enforcement Division

Employing Authority: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

Location: Office in Dublin 1/ Agile (Hybrid) working available

Closing date: Wednesday, 25th November 2026

Starting Salary: €83,113

Divisional Overview

The Consumer Enforcement Division (CED) is responsible for ensuring compliance with, and enforcement of, consumer protection law. CED conducts onsite and online inspections to monitor compliance with the relevant statutory provisions, carrying out investigations and taking enforcement action, as appropriate. CED also engages with the business community and other stakeholders to promote compliance and best practice. This includes traders across all sectors, from small and medium-sized firms to global corporations operating in consumer markets.

There are currently three units in CED:

(a) Assessment and Inspection Unit;

(b) Investigations Unit; and

(c) Compliance Unit.

While each unit has its own specific area of expertise and responsibility, they collaborate with each other and with other teams to deliver on the goals of CED and the wider CCPC.

CED works closely with the Consumer Protection Division (CPD) with both divisions primarily responsible for exercising the CCPC’s functions in consumer protection and ensuring that traders comply with the relevant pieces of consumer protection legislation.

The Role

The Head of Investigations and Enforcement at Assistant Principal (AP) grade will lead the Investigations Unit and play a key role in managing and supporting the work of the Consumer Enforcement Division. This is a high-impact opportunity to lead major and complex investigations into potential breaches of consumer protection law, shape enforcement strategies and oversee cases from initial assessment through to enforcement action. The role offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of consumer protection, influence outcomes of significant public importance and collaborate with specialist colleagues and external agencies on challenging and varied work.

The Investigations Unit within CED investigates potential breaches of consumer protection law using the CCPC’s criminal and regulatory investigation and enforcement powers. Its purpose is to deliver robust, proportionate and evidence-led investigations that support effective enforcement outcomes and protect consumers.

The role holder will occupy a senior position with responsibility for the leadership and management of the Investigations Unit, as well as engagement with a variety of Divisions within the CCPC, participation in cross-divisional projects and engagement with external agencies. The role may occasionally involve both national and international travel.

The Successful Candidate:

The successful candidate will have substantial experience of conducting, managing or advising on criminal, regulatory or compliance investigations and enforcement, including leading or advising on complex investigations and gathering or assessing evidence to an enforcement standard. They will be a solutions-focused and collaborative leader who can hit the ground running and shares the CCPC's commitment to public service. They will welcome the challenge of leading an operational unit in a dynamic and important regulatory field.

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

• Manage, direct and drive forward criminal and regulatory investigations of potential breaches of consumer protection law, from strategy through to effective outcomes.
• Lead, motivate and develop the team through support, training and mentoring.
• Set high investigative standards, applying CCPC procedures and national and international best practice, and adapt to emerging risks and technologies.
• Analyse evidence and guide the team in making timely decisions and recommend realistic courses of action.
• Prioritise and manage a caseload of ordinary and complex investigations, allocating resources and managing risk effectively.
• Develop new case pipelines using the helpline, intelligence, market research and stakeholder engagement to detect emerging harms.
• Take forward investigations that test previously untested provisions of consumer protection legislation, in ordinary and complex cases.
• Contribute to the leadership and management of the Division.