Consumer Protection Executive

Available Positions: Consumer Protection Executive

Grade: Executive Officer (EO)

Employing Authority: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

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

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) is primarily responsible for exercising the CCPC's functions in the areas of consumer protection and ensuring that traders comply with the relevant pieces of consumer protection legislation. The CPD consists of three separate operational units: the EU Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Unit and two Strategic Engagement and Consumer Insights (SECI) Units.

The CPC Unit fulfills the CCPC's role under the EU Consumer Protection Cooperation framework (Regulation (EU) 2017/2394) facilitating EU Member States' consumer enforcement authorities to work together on consumer protection issues. The CPC Unit has responsibility for the CCPC's functions in relation to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes (S.I. No. 368 of It also participates in the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), an organisation composed of consumer protection authorities from over 70 countries.

SECI leads in shaping the CCPC's consumer protection and enforcement strategy, supporting a risk-based approach to compliance and enforcement alongside the need to prioritise our work. SECI is responsible for managing the CCPC's enforcement case pipeline and provides information to internal and external stakeholders including responses to questions from government departments, media and parliamentary questions.

While each unit has its own specific area of expertise, competence and responsibility, it contributes to the work of CPD and the wider CCPC through a collaborative approach. The units engage with traders across all sectors, up to and including global corporations, on issues of compliance with consumer protection legislation. The units also have a strong level of engagement, coordination and cooperation with other agencies and authorities operating at a national, EU and international level.

Examples of the work of the Division include:

• CCPC and EU consumer authorities urge SHEIN to stop pressuring consumers to buy
• Fashion retailers "should not exploit consumers' concern for the environment" – consumer authorities
• Commissioner Michael McGrath welcomes launch of new CCPC guidelines for traders - CCPC Business
• European sweep of websites selling second-hand goods finds more than half potentially breaking
• CCPC joins EU consumer authorities in calling on Apple to stop geo-blocking on its services
• CCPC and EU consumer authorities inform Temu that they are under scrutiny for potential breaches of consumer protection law
• corrects consumer car rental information on its websites, following action by the CCPC and EU consumer protection authorities

The CCPC is seeking to recruit a Consumer Protection Executive, at Executive Officer (EO) Grade, to join the Consumer Protection Division. The successful candidate will be assigned to the Division's CPC Unit, reporting to a Consumer Protection Manager. The CPC Unit is comprised of a Head of Unit, four Consumer Protection Managers and three Executive Officers.

This role provides the opportunity to make a strong contribution to the protection of consumers and to represent the CCPC at national and international fora.

• Actively contribute to the work of the Consumer Protection Division which includes managing enforcement requests to/from other EU Member States and participating in EU-coordinated joint actions and sweeps.
• Carry out screenings to assess non-compliance by traders with consumer protection legislation, prepare screening reports with recommendations and draft engagement letters to traders.
• Act as an Authorised Officer of the CCPC supporting CCPC enforcement activities across the organisation.
• Participate in cross-agency meetings, recording minutes and action points.
• Represent the CCPC at national and international Fora. This position may require occasional travel both nationally and internationally.
• Support stakeholder engagement and awareness campaigns related to consumer protection legislation.
• Respond to queries from external stakeholders and other government departments.
• Carry out any other additional tasks, such as cross-divisional projects, that may be assigned by the Consumer Protection Manager, Head of Unit or Deputy Director to support the work of the Division.

• Associate

• Full-time

• Legal

• Consumer Services