Director of Legal Affairs (PO)

Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA)

MARA is the independent body responsible for the sustainable management of Ireland’s diverse and unique maritime area. Established in July 2023, as part of the biggest reform of marine governance in Ireland in almost a century, MARA will be key to the transformation of our maritime governance regime.

To realise its ambition, MARA is looking for motivated, dynamic and passionate people to join its team. This is an unrivalled opportunity to join a new agency at the early stages of its journey and to be at the forefront of managing Ireland’s extensive maritime resource.
Specifically, we are seeking to recruit a Director of Legal Affairs (Principal Officer Level) to manage MARA’s legal team, to lead MARA’s in-house legal function and to provide effective, strategic legal advice to MARA.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Director of Legal Affairs shall lead and manage a team of solicitors and support staff dealing with a variety of legal issues. They will be responsible for the management of the relationship with external solicitors and counsel and shall oversee any tendering process for external legal support. The in-house legal team will have the role of legal knowledge management and of ensuring the widespread sharing of legal knowledge within MARA to improve decision making.

They may also be required to introduce and implement technology to streamline and improve the delivery of legal services.

The Chief State’s Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) is currently providing legal support to MARA on a transitional basis. The DOLA will be expected to work with the CSSO for a period of time in the delivery of legal services to MARA.

Full information, including the application process, is available in the information booklet.

REMINDER: CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS WEDNESDAY 18 September @ 5PM. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.