Consumer Protection Executive

Our client the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is seeking a Consumer Protection Executive to join their Consumer Protection Division.

Division Overview

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 protectionlegislation. 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 fulfils the CCPC's role under the EU Consumer Protection Cooperation framework (Regulation (EU) /) 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. 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:

·

·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 consumer law

·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

·

 The Role:

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.

 The Successful Candidate:

The successful candidate will have experience in consumer protection regulation and/or enforcement or comparable professional or academic experience. They will be self-motivated with skills in investigations, analysis and report writing. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent organisational skills and be capable of managing their workload effectively to meet strict deadlines. They will have excellent interpersonal skills, enabling them to work collaboratively as part of a team and communicate effectively.

 In addition to the immediate appointment from this campaign, an order of merit may be established. This may be used to fill any future vacancies at the same level within this or other Divisions of the CCPC where roles have similar responsibilities and/or similar skills are required.

Key Responsibilities:

·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.

Essential:

·A third level degree in a relevant discipline or a minimum of 2 years' comparable professional experience in case handling within a compliance/regulatory environment.

·Excellent communication skills including the ability to write clear, focused reports with actionable recommendations. 

·Evidence of analytical and problem-solving skills.

·Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise your work to meet strict deadlines.

·Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment.

·Strong ICT skills, particularly in the application of MS Office.

Desirable:

·Post graduate or professional qualification in law, economics, business, regulation compliance or similar related discipline.

·Working knowledge of consumer protection law.

·Experience conducting open-source investigations.

·Experience in assisting with enforcement actions/prosecutions.

·Experience of working with other agencies or stakeholders in a national or international arena.

 Application Process: 

To apply for this role using the link on the CCPC careers page, please submit an up-to-date CV and a cover letter addressing the following questions in words or less:

·Please outline an example from your previous experience where you were required to organise and prioritise your work to meet strict deadlines. 

Applicants should note that canvassing will result in your exclusion from the process.

This role will be closing on Wednesday the 17th of September at 3pm.

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