EirGrid Group is at the heart of the electricity system on the island of Ireland. We operate and develop the transmission grid, the wholesale electricity market and interconnectors linking the island’s transmission system to those in other countries. EirGrid Group is owned by the Irish State and our business activities are, where applicable, regulated by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities in Ireland, and the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland.
EirGrid Group has a unique role to play in leading the radical transformation that is required of the electricity sector on the island to low-carbon, renewable energy in response to the urgent imperative of Climate Change Action.
This is reflected in our Purpose “Transform the Power System for Future Generation” and in the primary goal of our recently launched 2020-2025 strategy “Lead the Island’s Electricity Sector on Sustainability and Decarbonisation”.
The Chief Governance Office is a function within the Group with a mission of ensuring that the highest standards of excellence are maintained in the delivery of risk management, governance, legal, compliance and company secretarial activities and initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Qualified to degree level or professional qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in implementing and/or overseeing enterprise risk management and/or business resilience processes.
• Strong organisational, planning and process management skills.
• Able to build credibility and strong relationships with stakeholders in a cross functional environment with ability to influence and engage in constructive challenge.
• Excellent presentation and communications skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to take information and present it to stakeholders in a non-complex manner.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise under pressure of deadlines, whilst working independently.
• Knowledge of corporate governance codes and guidance such as the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, UK Code of Corporate Governance etc.
• Prior experience working in the electricity sector and/or a regulated environment is helpful, but not essential

Reporting to the Chief Governance Officer, the Head of Governance, Risk & Compliance will be responsible for designing, implementing and assessing the ongoing application of the governance, enterprise risk management and compliance frameworks in place within the Group.
The role holder will collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders and will be results oriented with strong technical, influencing and communication skills.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop the governance, risk and compliance function capability and maturity to reflect the nature, scale and complexity of EirGrid Group, along with effective risk, resilience, governance and compliance frameworks and processes to ensure compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
• Support the company’s compliance with relevant requirements in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and ensuring risk and resilience compliance to all relevant national directives’ legislation.
• Define and oversee the delivery of the application of the Enterprise Risk Management, Governance and Compliance Frameworks, for EirGrid Group.
• Ensure the effective communication of risk and compliance matters to the Executive Team and wider business to ensure the timely and appropriate reporting up to and including Executive Risk & Compliance Committee, Executive Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and EirGrid plc Board.
• Design, drive and continuously develop the Risk Appetite Framework for EirGrid Group and ensure this is set by the Board on an annual basis.
• Oversee the effective management of all Business Resilience activities.
• Oversee the effective management of all Information Governance activities
• Supervise the effective discharge of relevant officer roles, namely the EirGrid Group’s Data Protection Officer and Compliance & Assurance Officer.Partnering with the business, challenge and support managers to ensure they actively manage and mitigate for key risks and business disruptors across EirGrid Group.
• Maintain a proactive and independent voice in terms of highlighting risks and exposures that require to be addressed.
• Nurturing, developing and promoting a Risk Aware culture within the company through effective leadership and driving risk and resilience strategy culture initiatives and through championing integration of risk and resilience with other risk and resilience management activities at all business levels.
• Ensure leading practices and innovation in operational risk and resilience are implemented across EirGrid Group.
• Lead and mentor a team in achieving shared goals and performance metrics.
• Lead the development and delivery of enterprise risk-related, and compliance, training and awareness; and
• Display visible and high impact leadership and promote a culture of collaboration and alignment with all areas of the organisation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Qualified to degree level or professional qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in implementing and/or overseeing enterprise risk management and/or business resilience processes.
• Strong organisational, planning and process management skills.
• Able to build credibility and strong relationships with stakeholders in a cross functional environment with ability to influence and engage in constructive challenge.
• Excellent presentation and communications skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to take information and present it to stakeholders in a non-complex manner.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise under pressure of deadlines, whilst working independently.
• Knowledge of corporate governance codes and guidance such as the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, UK Code of Corporate Governance etc.
• Prior experience working in the electricity sector and/or a regulated environment is helpful, but not essential.