Chief Data & Technology Officer, Principal Higher

About This Role

Role Purpose​

The Chief Digital and Technology Officer (CDTO) will shape and lead Coimisiún naMeán’s use of data and technology in support of our regulatory functions,developing the organisation’s digital regulatory approach and building the technicalfunctions needed to deliver it. The CDTO will establish and oversee the Data,Technology Insights, and Digital Forensics teams. As the lead adviser to theCommissioners on technology matters, the CDTO will ensure the organisationremains informed, capable, and responsive to developments in the digitalenvironment.​

About the Division​

The Data and Technology Division of Coimisiún na Meán will play a central role insupporting the organisation’s regulatory, supervisory, and policy functions throughstrategic use of data, technology insights, and digital forensics. The divisionensures that Coimisiún na Meán is equipped to meet the challenges of a rapidlyevolving digital landscape and to act effectively in its oversight of regulated entities. ​

You will stand up and lead a Data & Technology Division that supports supervision,investigations, enforcement and policy through: ​

• Data Team — regulatory data collection, analytics and reporting; organisation-wide data governance and skills; GDPR compliance and data visualisation tools. ​
• Technology Insights Team — horizon scanning and expert assessment oftechnologies shaping the regulatory environment (e.g., age assurance,recommender systems, AI), advising supervision/enforcement and policy. ​​
• Digital Forensics Team — direct observation of platform behaviour, captureand preservation of digital evidence, eDiscovery/document review forinvestigations. ​

Key Responsibilities​

Strategy & leadership ​

• Define and deliver a digital regulatory strategy for the use of data and digital tools to enable proactive supervision, investigations and enforcement under EU and national frameworks. ​​
• Establish operating models, processes and controls for Data, Technology Insights and Digital Forensics; embed cross-Commission ways of working. ​
• Advise Commissioners on technological developments, regulatory techniques and emerging risks across online services and broadcasting. ​

Regulatory delivery enablement ​

• Stand up technology insights processes (market scans, technical position papers, testing protocols) focused on AI systems, recommender systems, content moderation tooling, integrity/safety features, age-assurance, transparency reporting, and broadcasting technologies. ​
• Identify data requirements and build capabilities to acquire, ingest, store and analyse data, including dashboards and reporting to support monitoring, risk assessment, case selection and impact evaluation. ​
• Create an in-house digital forensics and evidence lifecycle capability (including open-source intelligence, test accounts, traffic capture, chain-of-custody, eDiscovery) to support compliance monitoring, supervision, investigations and enforcement. ​

Governance, risk & assurance ​

• Own organisational data governance (standards, policies, quality, metadata, lifecycle management), including GDPR compliance. ​​
• Implement information security controls across investigative tooling and data environments; ensure secure handling of sensitive evidence. ​​

External engagement ​​

• Represent CnaM in technical cooperation with the European Commission and other DSCs, and with peer regulators (e.g., Ofcom, eSafety) to develop consistent enforcement approaches and RegTech practices. ​​​
• Engage platforms, broadcasters and vendors to set expectations, define testing protocols and secure data access for supervisory purposes. ​

People & capability ​

• Recruit, lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, embedding public service behavioural competencies (communication, collaboration, problem solving, agility). ​

The above is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to review. Once the division is fully established, consideration may be given to broadening the role to include oversight of technology used to support Coimisiún na Meán’s administrative functions.​

About You​ - Experience, Skills, Knowledge & Qualifications​

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Essential Qualifications:​

Academic / Professional​

• A primary degree (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent) in a relevant field such as:​
• Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a closely related discipline.​
• OR equivalent professional experience demonstrating comparable technical expertise.​

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Technical & Professional Experience​

• Proven track record of strategic leadership in at least one of the following domains:​
• Data management, technology insights, or digital forensics in a regulatory, compliance, platform, or safety-critical environment.​
• Substantial experience (10+ years recommended) managing or advising on:​
• Data governance, analytics, and technology risk.​
• Regulatory technology (“RegTech”) or data-driven regulatory approaches.​​
• Strong understanding of technologies used by online platforms/broadcasters:​
• AI and recommender systems, content moderation, trust and safety tooling, or broadcast technology.​
• Experience translating technical insights into regulatory action, such as supervision methodologies, audit/testing frameworks, or compliance assurance.​
• Demonstrated people leadership at scale — building, leading, and developing multidisciplinary teams of technical specialists.​
• Proven ability to deliver complex, multi-stakeholder technology programmes with measurable outcomes.​
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with senior stakeholders, regulators, and external partners (EU-level experience desirable).​

Desirable Qualifications:​

Academic / Professional​

• A postgraduate qualification (NFQ Level 9) in a relevant discipline, e.g.:​
• Data Analytics, Information Security, Artificial Intelligence, Regulatory Science, or Digital Governance.​
• Professional certification in a relevant area ​

What success looks like (12–24months) ​

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• Division stood up with clear operating model and filled priority posts acrossData, Technology Insights and Digital Forensics. ​
• Live regulatory data platform and dashboards supportingsupervision/enforcement; repeatable technical testing protocols for priorityrisks (e.g., illegal content pathways, recommender outcomes, age-assuranceefficacy). ​
• Established evidence lifecycle (collection → preservation → analysis →disclosure) meeting forensic and legal standards. ​
• Active participation in EU DSC networks and technical working groups;bilateral cooperation with Ofcom/eSafety peer tech leaders. ​

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​Experience & Specialist Expertise​

• Hands-on background in two or more of:​
• Data engineering/architecture​
• Security operations or cloud infrastructure​
• AI/ML assurance, model governance, or explainability​
• Software testing/QA in safety-critical systems​
• Experience in:​
• A platform, broadcaster, or vendor supplying safety or content technologies​
• A regulator, law enforcement, or oversight authority dealing with digital compliance or investigation​
• Familiarity with:​
• Age-assurance technologies, transparency reporting, integrity metrics​
• Cloud-for-regulation and secure data environments ​
• Experience collaborating in EU or international regulatory networks, such as the Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) framework.​

Key Information​

Benefits, Package & Pay​

• This position is offered on a Permanent basis. ​
• Full time, 35 hrs per week​
• Annual Leave: 30 days per annum ​
• The role will be a hybrid role combining home and office working. Our current hybrid policy is 2 days in the office.​
• Our office is located at One Shelbourne Buildings, Shelbourne Road, Dublin 4, D04 NP20. ​
• For a full list of benefits see our website here​
• This position is graded at the Principal Officer Higher scale
• Successful candidates will be appointed on the first point of the scale, currently €114,104 with Director's allowance of €15,668. ​​

Application Process

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit:​

• A CV (max 2 pages) and a Cover letter/personal statement (max 1 page) outlining why you believe your skills, experience and values meet the requirements of the position. ​
• Appointment to this role is subject to the candidate's eligibility to work in Ireland. All positions require candidates to live in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.​
• Candidates who engage in canvassing will be disqualified and excluded from the process​

For queries related to the application or selection process related to this role, please contact cnam@cpl.ie ​
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​​ReasonableAccommodations​

Reasonable accommodations will be provided, if required, during the recruitment process. To discuss and request reasonable accommodations in confidence please contact amckiernan@cnam.ie ​

Closing Date:3pm, 20th November 2025​