Officer, Finance and Governance - Data Protection and Compliance

Key Details:

Location: Galway or Kerry

Contract: Temporary, Specified Purpose Contract, Full-time (Approximate end date September 2027)*

*The specific purpose of this contract is to cover a temporary internal move.

Salary: €58,528 – €83,697 (starting at the first point of the scale)

Closing date: Monday, 2 November 2026 at 3pm

Application Form: Failte Ireland_Officer, Finance and Governance - Data Protection and Compliance _Temp_Application Form.docx

Job Purpose: 

The Officer, Finance and Governance - Data Protection and Compliance supports the effective delivery of data protection and compliance management across Fáilte Ireland. The role contributes to personal data protection compliance by ensuring that appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place and effective, and that the organisation can demonstrate, monitor and report on compliance with the GDPR and the Irish Data Protection Acts. The role also plays a key role in strengthening Fáilte Ireland's compliance and governance framework through compliance monitoring, reporting and assurance activities, while promoting the consistent application of policies, procedures and regulatory obligations across the organisation. 

Job Description/ Key Areas of Responsability: 

Data Protection Compliance Management 

• Act as the first point of contact for internal and external privacy queries. 
• Ensure the appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place to ensure effective data protection governance and reporting including:

• Risk identification and risk management (privacy by design & default)
• Control management
• KPI identification and reporting

• Support colleagues and divisions, managing data protection service desk queries
• Manage data protection governance documentation, supporting the Data Protection Officer (DPO) in relation to governance management and reporting.
• Ensure Personal Data Requests and Data Breach procedures are effectively monitored, managed, responded to, logged and reported on.
• Prepare submissions to the Data Protection Commission on behalf of the DPO where required and maintain all related logs.
• Ensure Records of Processing Activities are well managed and kept up to date in line with Article 30 of the GDPR.
• Actively manage the Privacy by Design and Default procedure
• Conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments and Legitimate Interest Assessment
• Work with teams across the organisation to reduce and remove risks from divisional GDPR risk registers.
• Manage a programme of continuous development, identifying and addressing improvement opportunities.
• Keep abreast of data protection legislation and guidance from the Data Protection Commission.

Compliance Management

• Manage, monitor and track processes and procedures used to support organisational compliance with key areas of legislation, including compliance logs, policy and procedure updates and registers.
• Manage the effective operation of outsourced legal services by establishing clear contact and escalation protocols, ensuring Fáilte Ireland staff can access the appropriate legal support and promptly addressing delayed responses or uncertainty about points of contact.
• Work with teams across the organisation to ensure compliance with legislation including Official Languages Act and the Public Sector and Human Rights Duty
• Work with teams across the organisation to reduce and remove compliance risks 
• Ensure the maintenance and continuous improvement of Fáilte Ireland’s governance framework, ensuring that policies, procedures, are clearly documented, current and applied consistently.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable public-sector governance requirements across Fáilte Ireland working in partnership with the Governance Team and relevant stakeholders

Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement and Programme Delivery

• Produce senior management compliance reports for the DPO, Executive Team and Audit, Risk and Registration Committee.
• Support effective staff training and develop training or briefing content on legislative compliance, including GDPR.
• Manage external legal service provider contracts, ensuring effective ways of working, reporting arrangements and SLAs are in place.
• Contract, budget and relationship management with the outsourced legal services provider
• Manage and report on service quality and conduct annual reviews in a timely manner.
• Manage budget and resources as required and ensure procurement and purchasing are in line with Fáilte Ireland policy.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues across all teams.
• Provide regular detailed reports to stakeholders, including the level and evaluation of work activity, and escalate high-risk issues as required.
• Develop and deliver an annual plan of work
• Work as part of project teams and manage projects as required. 
• Comply with all aspects of organisation policy and promote good governance across the team.
• Ensure procurement, expenditure and activities are managed in line with Fáilte Ireland policy, public spending obligations, public financial procedures, and delegated authority.
• Ensure plans are delivered in line with agreed budgeted spend.

People Management

• Manage all staff reporting to the position to effectively train, evaluate, motivate, delegate, and monitor their activities.

Carry out all other duties as required and participate as a full member of the Finance and Governance team

Person Specification: 

The successful candidate will have: 

• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills. 
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information securely.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work accurately with confidential information
• Strong administrative and organisation skills
• Ability to build trusted working relationships with senior stakeholders. 
• High levels of professionalism, discretion and confidentiality. 
• Strong problem-solving ability and attention to detail. 
• Commitment to continuous improvement and governance best practice. 
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. 
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic environment.

Essential Criteria:

In order to be eligible to apply for this role you must have / demonstrate in your application form the following:

• A minimum of 3 years' relevant experience in a data protection compliance role is required 
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the GDPR core principles and data subject rights including knowledge of relevant legislation, demonstrated through work experience. 
• Holder of a recognised privacy credential 
• Practical experience processing, reviewing, managing and redacting documents for Data Subject Access Requests. 
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.  
• A professional qualification (min level 6 under the QQI framework) in a related discipline (Business, Law, Governance, Public Administration, Finance or a related discipline) 

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience using compliance management databases. 
• Experience assisting with or delivering basic data protection training to staff. 
• Experience supporting governance and compliance activities through work experience 

Key Competencies

• Decision Making
• Managing Relationships
• Communicating Effectively
• Planning and Managing Work

Office Location and Blended Working:

We do not ask for addresses as part of the application process, however it is the responsibility of the candidate to acknowledge the base location of the role. The successful candidate must regularly work from and attend the base office location of the role.

Please note: Remote working from outside the State is not permitted other than in exceptional circumstances. As this role is within the Irish public service, the post-holder must carry out a minimum of 80% of their working time within the State (Republic of Ireland). Candidates who reside in Northern Ireland must be able to meet this requirement.

• This role requires travel, with attendance at a number of national and regional locations / sites on an annual basis.

Selection Process: 

Shortlisting will be based on applications and the selection process may involve two competency based interviews. A panel of successful candidates may be formed following the selection process.

Interview Attendance Requirement: 

Candidates must be available to attend an in-person interview at the location and date specified by Fáilte Ireland. Please note that the location of the interview may vary from the base location of the role.

Salary and Benefits

€58,528 – €83,697*.

*This role will be filled in line with Public Pay Policy at Point 1 of the relevant Salary Scale unless the successful candidate is appointed from an existing public sector role.

The Annual Leave allowance for this post is 27 days.

Further details on the benefits on offer can be found in the Why Work with Fáilte Ireland? | Fáilte Ireland · Failte Ireland

How to Apply

Conscia will be managing all aspects of the recruitment process on behalf of Fáilte Ireland

On this page, you can click on and download the Application form below:

Failte Ireland_Officer, Finance and Governance - Data Protection and Compliance _Temp_Application Form.docx

Applications for this role are ONLY accepted on submission of a completed Application Form, available to download directly above.

You can also submit your completed Application Form by clicking "Apply for Job". Please note that CVs and Cover Letters should not be submitted. No enquiries or canvassing may be made to Fáilte Ireland.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Monday, 2nd November 2026 at 3pm (Irish time). Applications will not be accepted after this deadline. Late applications will be ineligible for consideration. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have allowed sufficient time for transmission of your application.

An acknowledgment email will be issued in respect of all applications received (this email will acknowledge receipt and it will not confirm eligibility or otherwise).

If an applicant does not receive an acknowledgement email within two working days of the date of submission, the applicant should contact failte@consciatalent.com to ensure the application has been received.