Assistant Principal Officer

The Pensions Authority is seeking to recruit a full time Solicitor or Barrister to contribute to the delivery of legal services in the Authority.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to operate effectively on their own initiative at a senior level within the legal team and the organisation.

This permanent post will be at the Assistant Principal grade within the Authority and will report to the Head of Legal.

The Legal Unit

The Legal Unit provides essential services to the various operations of the Pensions Authority including:

• providing general legal advice and specialist regulatory and pensions advice to support the Authority in its regulatory, supervisory and advisory roles;
• supporting the Department of Social Protection as requested in relation to pensions legislation;
• managing prosecution and civil litigation cases, supporting the development of authoritative guidance and FAQs on the Pension Authority’s expectations of regulated entities and trustees; and
• acting as secretariat to the Authority.

The responsibilities of this role may include:

• Providing high quality, timely legal advice on various aspects of the Pensions Authority’s remit under the Pensions Act.
• Responding to technical queries concerning the operation of the Pensions Act and Regulations.
• Drafting and reviewing guidance and codes of practice issued by the Authority to ensure all information is current, legally accurate and clear.
• Providing technical support to the Department of Social Protection and assisting with drafting and reviewing legislation and other queries.
• Advising on EU developments relevant to pension schemes e.g. SFDR/Taxonomy, DORA, ESAP, Securitisation.
• Advising on supervisory engagements under the Pensions Act to include investigations and enforcement proceedings.
• Advising on Authority governance and providing secretariat support for the Authority.
• Providing general in-house legal support and advice as typically required in a public sector organisation.
• Coordinating and managing work with support from external legal advisors.
• Representing the Legal Unit/Authority on various cross functional/organisational groups as may be required from time to time.
• Contributing as a senior member of the Legal Unit to the efficient working and management of the Unit.
• Managing and developing any direct reports and being a strong role model.
• Undertaking any duties that may be assigned by the Head of Legal or the Pensions Regulator.

To apply for this role candidates must read the candidate information booklet and submit a completed application form, both available on the website, here.

Please do not submit a Curriculum Vitae or any other supporting documentation with your application as it will not be considered.