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The Pensions Authority is recruiting for the position of Head of Legal. The Head of Legal will be appointed at the level of Principal Officer and will report to the Director of Supervision, Policy and Legal. The Head of Legal must be a qualified solicitor or barrister with at least six years’ relevant post-qualification legal and managerial experience. This is a permanent post.

The Pensions Authority operates a hybrid working policy. This policy requires employees to attend the office for a minimum of two days per week and is subject to change in line with business needs of the Pensions Authority and/or Government guidelines.

The Role of Head of Legal

The Head of Legal will be appointed at the level of Principal Officer and will report to the Director of Supervision, Policy and Legal. 
The Head of Legal must be a qualified solicitor or barrister with at least six years’ relevant post qualification legal and managerial experience. 

In addition to being responsible for the provision of legal advice and legal services to the organisation, the Head of Legal is a member of the Senior Management Team and in that capacity will be responsible for contributing at a senior level to the fulfilment of the Authority’s strategic objectives. 

Responsibilities of the post include the following:

- Being the legal adviser to the Board of the Pensions Authority.

- Providing legal advice and support to the Pensions Regulator.

- Actively participating in the management of the delivery of the Authority’s strategy as a member of the Senior Management Team.

- Developing, empowering, motivating and managing a professional team and ensuring a prompt and high-quality legal service is provided at all times.

- Identifying and managing legal risk in the context of delivering the Authority’s strategic objectives and statutory priorities.

- Providing legal advice on regulatory strategy, regulatory and supervisory policies, investigations, due process and fair procedures.

- Supporting the Department of Social Protection as requested in relation to pensions legislation.

- Inputting into pensions regulatory legislation and the development of Authority guidance and codes of practice for trustees.

- Managing litigation and representing the Authority in all High Court proceedings and appeals.

- Providing general in-house legal advice as required, for example, on procurement law, health and safety, employment law, GDPR and data protection.

- Advising on EU developments relevant to pension schemes e.g., SFDR/Taxonomy, DORA, ESAP, Securitisation.

- Representing the Authority on inter-departmental working groups and EU regulatory committees.

- Managing the Freedom of Information function, the determinations functions under the Pensions Act and the internal knowledge programme.

- Ensuring the quality, consistency and value for money of the legal services provided.

- Any other tasks as may be assigned from time to time by the Director or the Pensions Regulator.

Essential requirements:

Applicants must be qualified to act as a solicitor or barrister and must have:

- At least six years’ post qualification experience which must include significant experience of pensions or financial services or regulatory law;

- Strong leadership qualities, experience of leading a team and the ability to motivate, inspire and develop the legal team;

- Strong evidence of project and resource management capability, and a record of achieving challenging goals, and managing and prioritising multiple work streams;

- Strong drafting skills;

- A minimum 2:1 law degree or equivalent;

- A high level of personal drive and resilience;

- An ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;

- Excellent communication skills;

- Highly developed judgement and decision-making abilities;

- Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities;

- Excellent interpersonal skills;

- High levels of integrity and professionalism;

- A commitment to continuous self-learning and development; and

- A commitment to developing others within the organisation.

Desirable knowledge or experience:

- Knowledge of the development and workings of EU law and its application.

- Experience of working in a regulatory body or in advising regulated entities who are the subject of regulatory investigations, proceedings or sanctions.

Knowledge of administrative law.

Application process:

Applications must be submitted by email and marked ‘Head of Legal – your name’. Failure to correctly mark the email subject header may result in disqualification. Interested candidates must submit the following to careers@pensionsauthority.ie

- Their curriculum vitae.

- A cover letter demonstrating by reference to specific achievements in their career to date how they meet the requirements of this position, as described in this document.

The cover letter must address the following headings:

- Essential requirements.

- Desirable requirements (if applicable).

- Principal Officer competencies (set out in Appendix 1)

Closing date: for applications is 12:00 noon on 25 June 2025.

For more details and to apply for this role please go to: Head of Legal

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