Head of Cloud Services Regulation

Job Description

Strategy & Economics

This role is based in the Strategy & Economics function of our client , which is led by the Director - Strategy and Economics. The Strategy and Economics function resides within the Commissioners' Office and the principal areas of responsibility are:

• The Strategic Planning process;
• Research;
• Data Strategy and Analytics;
• Economic Advice and professional leadership of economics; and,
• International Activities.

In practice these five distinct roles operate in a complementary and overlapping fashion.

The role and responsibilities

In this senior technical role, you will support the development and execution of our client 's cloud services regulation strategy and framework development under the EU Data Act Regulation.

You will provide expert education, advice and guidance to senior management on both the technical and commercial aspects of cloud services, supporting our client to be prepared to take on our emerging EU cloud regulatory responsibilities.

You will collaborate closely with internal teams and external stakeholders across the sector, positioning our client as a key player in shaping the future of cloud regulation.

Your leadership will be instrumental in building a high-performing, technically proficient team, to ensure Ireland's regulatory framework is well aligned with evolving European objectives and standards in cloud services regulation.

Key responsibilities:

Technical and Strategic Leadership:

• Provide expert advice on cloud services and regulation to the Director of Strategy and Economics and senior leadership.
• Develop and execute strategies to prepare our client for new regulatory responsibilities related to Cloud Services and other digital functions.
• Evaluate technical solutions to support future cloud regulatory functions and obligations.
• Monitoring technological and relevant commercial developments of relevance for the cloud services sector.

Team Development and Management

• Build and lead a team of cloud and data experts to provide technical support and oversight for emerging regulatory functions.
• Oversee the procurement, management and governance of external consultants, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and regulatory frameworks.

Stakeholder Management

• Represent our client at national and international technical regulatory forums, including relevant European Commission meetings and European Data Innovation Board sub-groups, to ensure our client 's active involvement in sharing cloud services regulations and policies at the European level.
• Build collaborative networks with key players in the cloud sector and regulatory bodies.

Technical Regulatory Responsibilities:

• Monitor and evaluate emerging EU Digital policies related to cloud services.
• Align our client 's strategies with European directives and legislative initiatives to ensure regulatory coherence and compliance.

Qualifications and Experience required

Essential

• Education: An honours degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field, or significant relevant experience in cloud architecture.
• Experience:
  • Extensive experience with cloud infrastructure, data governance, and cloud services operations, with a deep understanding of technical, security and compliance requirements,
  • Extensive experience with Microsoft Azure.
  • Experience in advising senior management on technical and commercial aspects of cloud services, with a strong focus on continuous learning / upskilling for evolving technologies and their impact on existing / future strategy.
  • Strong engagement and collaboration skills with a proven track record in delivering cross divisional, multi stakeholder projects.
  • Strong experience of managing and developing a team.
  • Excellent communications and influencing skills including:
• Proven experience in communicating clearly, effectively, and knowledgeably about all aspects of a strategy,
  • experience in drafting documents for internal / external publication,
• presentation skills with the ability to understand and express technical detail clearly within a multi-disciplinary environment.

Desirable

• Experience across multiple cloud environments including Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and/or AWS particularly advantageous
• Strong experience working within or alongside regulatory bodies, with a solid understanding of European cloud services regulations, data privacy laws, and evolving EU regulatory landscape, particularly under the Data Act.
• Familiarity with EU legislative processes, including transposition of directives into national law.
• Experience representing organisations at national and international forums.

Core Competencies & Skills for the Role

In addition to your technical qualifications and experience, you will bring professional competencies and skills in the following core areas:

• Strategy & Leadership (Expert) Creates a climate of cooperation where people strive to achieve common organisational goals. Takes a broad view. Anticipates future developments and applies this to operational situations.
• Technical Knowledge & Continuous Improvement (Expert) - Possesses a command over the technical and professional skills for a particular discipline. Keeps an open mind. Demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement.
• Analytical & Critical Thinking (Strategic) Objectively analyses and evaluates information in order to identify patterns between situations that are not obviously related. Develops and clearly articulates solutions to complex problems.
• Communicating & Influencing (Strategic) Communicates clearly, confidently and respectfully. Engages, persuades and convinces others to follow a particular course of action. Ensures all relevant parties are appropriately updated and notified.
• Planning and Organising (Expert) Establishes and monitors priorities, systematically differentiating between urgent, important and unimportant tasks. Plans and manages activities to consistently deliver results. Meets objectives within agreed predetermined time frames and deals with urgent operational situations expeditiously.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.