Director of Surrogacy - Principal Officer

Cpl; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA) is recruiting a Director of Surrogacy to oversee the regulation of surrogacy arrangements in Ireland and to implement the new Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024. The role leads regulatory operations, coordinates cross‑government engagement, and ensures high standards of safety, ethics and accountability for all stakeholders.

You will guide policy development, ensure transparent decision-making and lead a multidisciplinary

Qualifications

• Significant senior level experience in service regulation, public administration, health policy, legal practice, or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in complex statutory implementation, regulatory operations, or oversight of clinical or legal processes.
• Good understanding of assisted human reproduction, family law, or health-sector governance.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage high-stakes operational environments.
• Excellent judgement, analytical capability, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent skills in the compilation and presentation of data and/or research.
• Exceptional communication skills with stakeholders, Government Departments, and the public.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the regulation of surrogacy arrangements and establish the regulatory framework.
• Lead the end-to-end establishment, operationalisation, and oversight of surrogacy regulation under the Act.
• Ensure transparent decision-making and fair procedures in all regulatory actions.
• Contribute to policy development and information sharing on surrogacy and assisted human reproduction.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

Public administration

Health policy

Legal practice

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Decision making

Team leadership

Governance

Job description

Key Requirements

Our client, the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA) is seeking to appoint their Director Of Surrogacy.

About The AHRRA

The Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA) is a new, independent Irish statutory authority established under the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024. The principal function of the AHRRA is to protect, promote and, in so far as is practicable, ensure the health and well-being of children born as a result of AHR, persons undergoing AHR treatment, and intending parents. The AHRRA will regulate AHR and surrogacy by licensing treatment providers, publishing codes of practice, approving surrogacy agreements that comply with the Act, maintaining databases and registers to be established under the Act, as well as other functions as required.

Role Purpose

The Director of Surrogacy will oversee the work of the AHRRA in regulation of surrogacy arrangements, providing information to the public about prospective and retrospective surrogacy processes in both the domestic and international context.

The role is central to safeguarding the welfare of children born through surrogacy, protecting intending parents and surrogates, and ensuring high-quality, compliant clinical practice.

The Director will lead the end-to-end establishment, operationalisation, and ongoing oversight of the surrogacy regulatory framework under the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 and any amending legislation. This framework will ensure that all domestic and international surrogacy applications are assessed in accordance with statutory requirements, ethical standards, and the AHRRA’s regulatory mandate.

The Director will also be responsible for ensuring that the decisions made by the AHRRA with respect to surrogacy agreements are made transparently in accordance with fair procedures and natural justice. Serving as a key part of the AHRRA leadership team, the Director of Surrogacy will contribute to overall progression of the AHRRA in its implementation of the legislation in addition to policy development and information sharing regarding surrogacy and assisted human reproduction.

Essential criteria

• Significant senior level experience in service regulation, public administration, health policy, legal practice, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in complex statutory implementation, regulatory operations, or oversight of clinical or legal processes.
• Good understanding of assisted human reproduction, family law, or health-sector governance.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage high-stakes operational environments.
• Excellent judgement, analytical capability, and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent skills in the compilation and presentation of data and or research.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders, Government Departments, and the public.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in undertaking or co‑ordinating research into the area of surrogacy or family formation.
• Working knowledge of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016

In addition to the above, candidates must also be able to demonstrate the Key Competencies identified for effective performance at Principal Officer (PO) level. PO is a senior leadership position and the full narrative for the competencies can be found in the candidate booklet.

Eligibility to Work in Ireland

Appointment to this role is subject to the candidate's eligibility to work in Ireland. Candidate must meet one of the following at the time of application:

• A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or
• A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
• A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
• A non-EEA citizen who has a Stamp 4 permission* or a Stamp 5 permission
• *Please note that a 50 TEU Visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent.

The AHRRA is an equal opportunities employer committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We strive to create a workplace where everyone has equal access to opportunities and feels valued, respected and supported to be their authentic selves.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided, where required, throughout the recruitment process. To discuss or request accommodations in confidence, please contact [e-mail].

Should you have any questions, please contact [e-mail]