Assistant Secretary, Director (Designate) of Criminal Justice International Cooperation

Legislation currently being progressed (the ‘Criminal Justice International Cooperation Office Bill 2025’) will establish the Director of the Criminal Justice International Cooperation Office (CJICO) as a corporation sole acting independently in the performance of their functions.

The creation of the CJICO will provide a cohesive approach to digital regulation in the criminal justice space by centralising the necessary skills and expertise, providing a single point of contact for cross-border judicial cooperation on e-Evidence, and ensuring a streamlined regulatory framework.

Main Duties of the Job

The Director will be expected to lead on recruitment and organisational preparation, as well as business process mapping and service provider registration, assisted by an already established Implementation Team within the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

In carrying out their functions, the Director will be required to work with domestic judicial and law enforcement bodies and those of other Member States, EU institutions, and senior representatives of major service providers.

The Director, as head of the organisation, will also take on the role of strategically leading the CJICO, guiding the organisation towards meeting its objectives and ultimately fulfilling its statutory responsibilities.

Essential Requirements

Candidates suitable to fill this role should have experience working in an EU and international context at a high level, with a range of stakeholders, including industry leaders and senior officials. Candidates would also benefit from legal expertise, given the complex nature of the decisions that will be required of the Director (including on issues of fundamental rights and freedoms).

The successful candidate will:

• Have a clear understanding, or the capacity to quickly develop an understanding, of the regulatory ecosystem in Ireland and the EU, including the complex interplay between various legislative instruments to which service providers are subject.
• Have significant experience in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrate a strong and proven record of achievement at a senior level, evidencing the necessary strategic vision, leadership, and management of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Possess exceptional managerial and organisational ability, including the ability to think and operate strategically, and implement change in a complex, dynamic, fast-moving legal and regulatory environment.

Information about the Organisation

It is envisaged that the CJICO will comprise four main divisions aligned with the roles arising under the e-Evidence Package and will also have Corporate Affairs and Legal Divisions to support these functions. Staff across these divisions will act with delegated authority to carry out the functions of the Director for International Cooperation, as delegated by the Director.
The CJICO must be ready to discharge its statutory obligations immediately upon commencement of the Regulation on 18 August 2026
The CJICO is being set up on a phased basis. At full operation from 2028, it is anticipated that the office will comprise 150 staff working across its divisions.

Selection Process Details

This is a Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) position.

Further information on this significant opportunity including details on how to apply, is available on www.publicjobs.ie

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday 4th June 2026.

For more information and to apply: https://bit.ly/ILN_Ad_ASDCJ

If you feel you would benefit from a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Michelle Noone at michelle.noone@publicjobs.ie.

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.