Chief Executive Officer / Pension Regulator, The Pensions Authority

Job summary

The Pensions Authority wishes to appoint a new CEO/Pensions Regulator to build on the organisation's strong foundations and achievements to date, and to lead the Authority as it continues to evolve its supervisory approach in response to significant change and increasing complexity across the pensions landscape.

The CEO/Pensions Regulator is the statutory office holder responsible for leading the Pensions Authority and working closely with the Board to ensure the effective delivery of its statutory and regulatory mandate. This includes overseeing the regulation and supervision of compliance with the Pensions Act, providing high-quality policy advice to Government, driving organisational performance and capability, and representing the Authority at national, European and international levels.

The CEO will provide visible, values led leadership, ensure strong governance and financial stewardship, and drive continuous improvement to protect pension benefits and support a well regulated, sustainable pensions system.

Main Duties of the Job

• Ensure the Authority effectively fulfils its statutory mandate and upholds the highest standards of public service.
• Lead the Authority in supervising compliance with the Pensions Act by scheme trustees, PRSA providers, registered administrators and employers, including taking appropriate enforcement action.
• Lead the Authority’s continued development and application of its supervisory practices, that are forward-looking, and risk based.
• Lead the Authority’s roll out of pension scheme authorisation to ensure that all pension schemes that operate in the market operate do so to a standard that adequately protects pension savers.
• Lead the communication and delivery of the Authority’s 2025-2029 strategy, translating strategic priorities into clear, funded and measurable operational plans. Be capable of setting the future strategic direction and vision for the Authority and mobilising the people, technology and resources to deliver that direction and vision.
• Provide expert, timely and well reasoned advice to the Minister for Social Protection on pensions policy, regulation, legislative change and emerging domestic, EU and international issues.
• Effective stewardship of significant financial resources, supported by appropriate engagement with the Audit and Risk Committee of the Pensions Authority.
• Contribute to EU and international pensions policy through participation in relevant regulatory and policy fora.

A full list of duties and eligibility criteria can be found in the Candidate information Booklet.

Information about the organisation

The Pensions Authority is a statutory body established under the Pensions Act 1990. The Authority supervises compliance with the Pensions Act by scheme trustees, personal retirement saving account (PRSA) providers, registered administrators and employers. Additionally, the Authority is responsible for advising the Minister for Social Protection on pension matters generally.

The Authority is responsible for the oversight of occupational pension schemes and personal retirement savings accounts (PRSAs), totalling over €162 billion of retirement savings. These savings represent a very important part of the retirement plans for many individuals, and the objective of the Authority’s supervision is to achieve good outcomes for contributors through the supervision of trustees and of PRSA providers. The Pensions Authority is also required to report annually on the operation of the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA).

Details

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday 3rd of September 2026.

If you feel you would benefit from a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Ms. Niamh McGuinness at niamh.mcguinness@publicjobs.ie

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

Recruitment for this role is managed by publicjobs.