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The Cartels Division is responsible for conducting criminal and administrative competition law investigations, primarily aimed at detection, deterrence, and prosecution of cartels. These include serious cartel offences such as price fixing, bid-rigging/tender collusion and dividing specific customers or geographic areas between competitors. 

These offences are not only damaging to competition and the economy but ultimately cause consumers (including businesses) and/or the State to have less choice of goods and services available and/or to pay more for goods and services than they otherwise should.

The Cartels Division is also responsible for investigating other horizontal, anti-competitive practices and agreements (hub-and-spoke cartels, price-signalling, anti-competitive coordination or decisions by trade associations and professional associations, etc.), the offence of merger gun-jumping (where merging parties fail to notify a merger or implement a merger before approval has been obtained from the CCPC), as well as procedural offences or breaches of the relevant legislation, such as non-compliance by parties with the CCPC’s enforcement powers. The Cartels Division also considers immunity and leniency applications, confidential whistleblower information, complaints received and performs specific outreach in relation to our work to combat bid-rigging in public procurement.

Given these functions, the Cartels Division has the following two Sections:

• Immunity / Leniency & Case Stream (ILCS) and
• Investigations & Enforcement (I&E)

The Immunity/Leniency & Case Stream (ILCS) Section focuses on pre-investigations (i.e., detection and assessments of potential cases), to develop and maintain a constant stream of investigations. The Investigation & Enforcement (I&E) Section focuses on conducting full investigations. There is significant amount of cooperation and cross-over work between the two Sections.

Role Purpose

The Competition (Amendment) Act 2022 has introduced a new administrative enforcement regime for breaches of competition law. As a result, the Cartels Division is now responsible for operating two separate competition enforcement regimes i.e. criminal and administrative. The 2022 Act also gives the CCPC additional investigative powers that can be used by the Cartels Division in its investigations. With all these important changes to the competition enforcement landscape in Ireland, it is an exciting time to join the Cartels Division and the CCPC.

The work of the Cartels Division is varied, meaningful, and interesting. Team members tackle a diverse range of cases from various industries and sectors, which means they are constantly researching different sectors and industries, staying abreast of international developments regarding cartel enforcement, and growing their own skills through in-house and external training opportunities.

As there is a significant amount of cooperation and cross-over work between the two Sections, they are therefore running one recruitment campaign for the Cartels Division, as follows:

Two Heads of Unit (at Assistant Principal grade) in the Investigation & Enforcement Section. These Head of Units will lead teams of investigators in the Investigation and Enforcement Section within the Cartels Division and will be responsible for driving and progressing investigations in accordance with the divisional workplan while ensuring efficient investigation management.

AND

One Head of Unit (at Assistant Principal grade) in the Immunity/Leniency & Case Stream Section. This Head of Unit will lead a team of investigators/analysts within the Immunity/ Leniency & Case Stream Section of the Cartels Division, with a primary focus on cartel specific detection and pre-investigations in accordance with the divisional workplan.

The roles encompass both desk and field based investigative work so access to a car and a full driving licence is highly desirable.

Key responsibilities: 

• Lead, motivate and manage a dedicated multidisciplinary team within the Cartels Division, including supporting their professional development.
• Devise tactical and strategic approaches to successfully deliver enforcement outcomes in criminal and administrative competition law pre-investigations (i.e., detection, assessments, with a view to developing a consistent stream of cartel cases) and investigations into cartels, horizontal practices and gun-jumping investigations.
• Leading and participating in key investigatory steps including searches, witness interviews and requests for information.
• Prepare statements of objections, investigatory reports, and referral files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
• Draft internal and external communications, analyse various sources and types of data and conduct field work and general enquiries contributing to the progression of investigations.
• Attend court when required as an authorised officer.
• Contribute to the development of strategies, polices and workplans within the Cartels Division, and work closely with colleagues across the CCPC to deliver on the organisation’s objectives.
• Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including representing the CCPC at international conferences and fora.
• Work closely with the Director and the Deputy Directors to achieve the Division’s objectives. Any other ad hoc duties as assigned.

Application process: 

To apply for this role using the link on the CCPC careers page, please submit an up-to-date CV AND a personal 
statement in which you set out how your knowledge, experience and skills meet the role criteria by reference to 
specific examples (1000 words). 

Closing date for applications is 12 noon, Tuesday, 12 November 2024.

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