Director, Technology Insights - Principal Officer, Dublin

About This Role

Role Purpose

We are seeking a forward-thinking and technically skilled Director to oversee our Technology Insights Team. This role is responsible for scanning the horizon and assessing emerging technologies that are shaping the regulatory landscape. As Director, you will translate complex technical developments into practical regulatory guidance and provide expert advice to supervision, enforcement, and policy teams.

About the Division

The Data and Technology Division is tasked with ensuring that Coimisiún naMeán makes effective use of data and technology in the discharge of its functions and to support its operations whilst providing essential insights into data science and the technologies employed by regulated entities. This Division employs advanced analytics and state-of -the-art technologies to oversee compliance, analyse trends, and provide critical insights to the various business units within Comisiún na Meán.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Horizon Scanning: Lead the team in identifying and assessing technologies such as AI, recommender systems, and age assurance to determine their impact on regulation.

• AI and Algorithm Oversight: Oversee the analysis of AI systems and recommender algorithms to understand how they influence content delivery and affect user safety. Identify and recommend changes to these systems to ensure compliance with regulations.

• Safety and Integrity Evaluation: Oversee the evaluation of content moderation tools, trust and safety features, and how platform integrity is measured.

• Access Control Assessment: Develop and manage the assessment of ageassurance technologies effectiveness and how they are implemented.

• Platform, regulatory and domain understanding: Challenge and critically assess information shared by platforms on e.g. algorithms.

• Broadcasting Technology Monitoring: Monitor technical developments in broadcasting to ensure regulatory alignment.

• Cross-Functional Advisory: Serve as a primary technical advisor to internal departments focused on policy development and enforcement.

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.

About You

Experience, Skills, Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• Extensive experience in technical leadership, in one of the below areas:

• AI

• Algorithms

• Trust and safety

• Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable regulatory or policy advice.

• Deep understanding of content moderation systems and digital safety integrity metrics.

• In depth understanding of platform technologies, and their implications on the regulatory space.

• Strong background in assessing access control and age-gating technologies.

• 5+ years people management experience, including managing managers.

• Proven experience influencing senior leaders and decision-makers, working across matrix governance structures, and bringing multidisciplinary teams together to deliver shared outcomes.

• Hold a recognised degree of at least Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications in AI, machine learning or another technical discipline.

What Success looks like (12-24 Months)

• Established a high-performing Technology Insights function with clear operating models, defined accountabilities, and the right balance between internal capability and external specialist partnerships.

• Built a trusted and credible technical advisory capability that supports Commissioners and regulatory teams to make informed, evidence-based decisions on emerging technologies and platform risks.

• Developed strong organisational understanding of complex technologies - including AI systems, recommender systems, age assurance technologies, content moderation systems and platform integrity measures - through clear, practical and actionable insights.

• Positioned Coimisiún na Meán to proactively anticipate and respond to emerging technology and regulatory developments at both Irish and EU level, supporting the organisation’s expanding statutory remit.

• Established effective cross-functional relationships across supervision, enforcement, legal, policy, research and operational teams, ensuring technology insights are embedded into regulatory decision-making and organisational strategy.

• Developed robust approaches for assessing and interrogating information provided by regulated platforms, strengthening the organisation’s technical oversight and regulatory assurance capability.

• Built a psychologically safe, collaborative and innovative team culture that attracts, develops and retains highly skilled technical specialists.

• Enhanced Coimisiún na Meán’s reputation externally as a credible and informed regulator in relation to emerging technologies, online safety systems and digital platform accountability.

• Delivered clear strategic priorities and measurable outcomes aligned to the organisation’s Strategic Statement, divisional objectives and public service values.

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

• This position is graded at the Principal Officer scale.

• Successful candidates will be appointed on the first point of the scale.

Application Process