COIMISIÚN NA MEÁN VISION AND MISSION

Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland’s agency for developing and regulating a thriving, diverse, creative, safe and trusted media landscape.
As the independent media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for regulating broadcasters, video-on-demand providers and online platforms established in Ireland. Their wide-reaching remit also includes supporting and developing the Irish media sector.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & QUALIFICATIONS ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Relevant level 8 or above third level qualification in law, regulation, compliance or other demonstrably relevant discipline

OR

• Equivalent professional experience.

• At least 5 years relevant work experience in:

• • a) data protection or
• b) the management of regulatory complaints; or
• c) research application assessment
• Relevant experience of implementation and/or knowledge of Irish and/or European legislation and policies concerning digital services.
• Legal drafting skills, to include reasoned decision making.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, and the ability to prioritise effectively and manage a significant and diverse workload, and to adapt where necessary.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with many different stakeholders.
• Strong written communication skills in a variety of forms including presentations, strategy documents, correspondence, and reports.
• An excellent understanding of data protection obligations, GDPR and associated processes and documentation.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Assistant Director, Vetted Researchers role (Assistant Principal) in An Coimisiún is a senior management role with significant managerial responsibilities. As Assistant Director, you will be responsible for leading efforts to operationalise Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA). Your work will contribute to the delivery of strategic outcomes, including safeguarding children, promoting democratic integrity, enhancing trust in online platforms, and fostering diversity and inclusion. You will be instrumental in enabling research into key issues such as the impact of social media on children, information distribution policies on platforms, algorithmic decision-making in recommender systems, and risk mitigation strategies under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and implement application processing workflows compliant with statutory obligations.
• Oversee assessment of researcher applications through the end-to-end processing pipeline, including complex applications, ensuring timely and transparent case progression.
• Work with legal services to translate legal requirements into practical operational procedures and guidance.
• Lead process iteration and refinement based on emerging legal challenges and operational learning.
• Develop legally robust precedents and operational frameworks for complex case types.
• Monitor international developments and policy changes relevant to the scheme, providing strategic advice to senior management.
• Develop and implement engagement strategies for international stakeholders, including participation in conferences, workshops, and outreach events to support applicants and promote the function.
• Produce high-quality guidance materials, presentations, and reports, and represent the organisation at international meetings and working groups.
• Liaise with colleagues at the European Commission and DSCs to pursue a harmonised approach to scheme implementation and compliance.
  The above is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to review.