Senior Economist

Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg); Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in Dublin invites applications for a Senior Economist in the Legal and Economics Unit of the Cybersecurity and Resilience Regulation Division. The role supports regulatory and policy work underpinning NIS2 and CER frameworks.

You will apply rigorous economic analysis to regulatory proposals, conduct cost-benefit and impact assessments, and work with economists, legal advisers and policy colleagues to inform decision‑making and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in economics, business, finance, data analytics, public policy, or other equivalent qualification.
• Experience undertaking economic assessments of regulatory proposals, including cost-benefit analysis, impact assessment, market analysis and the evaluation of policy interventions.
• Experience working effectively in multidisciplinary teams, integrating economic analysis with legal, technical and policy inputs to support the development and implementation of regulatory measures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex economic and regulatory issues to technical and non‑technical audiences, including senior management, decision‑makers and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the capacity to make reasoned judgements based on available information and evidence.

Responsibilities

• Provide economic analysis and advice to support decision-making.
• Contribute to the development of policy and legislative proposals.
• Engage with Government Departments, regulated entities, public bodies and international counterparts.
• Manage economic modelling and analytical workstreams, including overseeing external consultancy inputs.
• Support regulatory and enforcement activities with economic input.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Quantitative analysis

Regulatory policy experience

Education

Postgraduate qualification in economics

Tools

Excel

R

Job description

The Role and Responsibilities

We are looking to recruit a Senior Economist for the Legal and Economics Unit of the Cybersecurity and Resilience Regulation Division. Reporting to the Head of Legal and Economics, this role offers the successful candidate the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team of economists, legal advisors, regulatory and technical specialists supporting ComReg's cybersecurity and resilience functions under the NIS2 and CER frameworks.

We are seeking an experienced economist with strong quantitative and qualitative analytical capabilities, including practical experience in the application of economic analysis within a regulatory and public policy environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that ComReg's regulatory activities are informed by robust economic analysis and evidence-based assessment.

The role will involve supporting the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks, conducting economic assessments of regulatory and policy proposals, undertaking cost-benefit and impact assessments, and providing economic input to supervisory and enforcement activities. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of regulatory approaches that promote cybersecurity, resilience and the effective functioning of critical infrastructure.

Working closely with colleagues across the Cybersecurity and Resilience Regulation Division and ComReg more generally, you will provide economic analysis and advice to support decision‑making, contribute to the development of policy and legislative proposals, and engage with a wide range of stakeholders including Government Departments, regulated entities, public bodies and international counterparts.

The successful candidate will have the ability to communicate evidence‑based findings clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences. The role will also involve managing economic modelling and analytical workstreams, including overseeing external consultancy inputs where required.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Postgraduate qualification in economics, business, finance, data analytics, public policy, or other equivalent qualification.
• Experience undertaking economic assessments of regulatory proposals, including cost-benefit analysis, impact assessment, market analysis and the evaluation of policy interventions.
• Experience working effectively in multidisciplinary teams, integrating economic analysis with legal, technical and policy inputs to support the development and implementation of regulatory measures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex economic and regulatory issues to technical and non‑technical audiences, including senior management, decision‑makers and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the capacity to make reasoned judgements based on available information and evidence.

Desirable

• Knowledge of, cybersecurity and cyber resilience matters, together with familiarity with Irish and EU legislative frameworks underpinning regulatory oversight in this area, including the NIS1 and NIS2 Directive and the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive.
• Experience working on issues relating to cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, digital regulation and/or risk management within a regulatory, public policy or industry environment.
• Experience in modelling economic impacts and assessing regulatory options using appropriate quantitative and qualitative techniques, including using Excel, R and other analytical tools.
• Proven ability to draft documentation and consultations that are rational, clear and evidence-based, with a particular emphasis on conducting Regulatory Impact Assessments and supporting regulatory decision‑making.
• Demonstrated experience of contributing to and delivering regulatory programmes or economic initiatives within a regulatory, public sector or industry environment.
• Experience of working within an independent regulatory authority, government department, public body or European institution.
• Experience working within an regulatory supervision and enforcement framework, including supporting compliance assessments, investigations, enforcement actions or other regulatory interventions.
• Experience managing and overseeing external economic consultancy projects, including defining requirements, reviewing methodologies and outputs, and ensuring deliverables meet regulatory objectives and quality standards.