CMA2040 Case Officers, Antitrust and Cartels

Do you offer excellent administrative and research skills and excellent attention to detail?

Do you want to realise your potential in a world leading organisation and develop your career where your work will make a positive impact on the UK economy and society?

Join the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Competition Law Enforcement team and provide vital support on a variety of cases.

About the CMA

We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. Our work is wide ranging, ambitious and often new and challenging.

The CMA’s Competition Law Enforcement team is responsible for uncovering and investigating suspected anti-competitive arrangements, such as price fixing, bid rigging, market sharing, and abuses of dominant positions under UK Competition law. We currently have investigations in the digital (see Google, Meta and Apple) and pharmaceutical sectors and others involving labour markets, financial services, demolition services, the recycling of end-of-life vehicles and the supply of fragrances.

The role

You will work with a Principal Case Officer to support the smooth running of legal cases and investigations and ensure that due process is followed.

The key aspects of the role will vary with different projects, but will include:

• In-depth research and analysis of legal documents to contribute to the team’s understanding of issues in the case
• Reviewing and piecing together evidence and information from various sources during an investigation
• Assisting with producing documentation necessary at various stages of cases, such as agendas, minutes, presentations, analysis, summaries of meetings, reports and correspondence
• Data and record management
• Assisting with evidence gathering, including planning and executing inspections

There may also be opportunities to work in other areas of the CMA, including on projects involving market-wide studies and investigations, consumer protection and investigating mergers.

You will also assist with the CMA’s enforcement programme more generally, including the development of antitrust/cartel policy at a national and international level.

What you will need

• Achieved or expect to achieve at least a 2:2 at degree level or similar equivalent.
• Strong research and analytical skills as well as the ability to gather and present information.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work successfully, using various techniques and systems to meet deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience of drafting and producing a range of documents, are equally important.

We currently have 3 vacancies;

• 2 x Case Officer in Antitrust (available in Edinburgh, London and Manchester)
• 1 x Case Officer in Cartels (available in Edinburgh and London)

As a Case Officer, your responsibilities will include;

Delivery

• Support the Principal Case Officer to run the case in a way that ensures due process is followed, that all stakeholders are treated fairly and that the case meets the CMA’s transparency standards.
• Identify relevant sources of information and carry out in-depth research as necessary to contribute to the team’s understanding of the issues in the case, always mindful of the applicable legal framework.
• Assist with evidence gathering, including planning and executing inspections.
• Review evidence (including systematically piecing together evidence and information gathered from disparate sources during an investigation to understand the full evidential picture).
• Analyse evidence and information in detail to establish the facts in the case, always keeping in mind the applicable legal framework.
• Produce a wide range of formal and concise documents to include items such as agendas, minutes, presentations, analysis, summaries of meetings, reports, correspondence, as well as internal and external case papers. This will also include reviewing materials for quality, accuracy and confidentiality.
• Ensure that administrative and organisational tasks including internal and external meetings on cases, visits and hearings are efficiently carried out and documented.
• Ensure accurate electronic and hard copy distribution of papers, managing filing systems for correspondence, make sure documents and case records are established and maintained.
• Develop and implement processes for the disclosure of material to external parties, ensuring the identification and protection of confidential information.
• Take responsibility for own work (and if applicable, own workstream), including delivery to time, quality and within budget, and identify risks and escalate as appropriate.
• Assist the Directorate’s management team as required.

Stakeholder relationships

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with both the case team and others across the CMA, and with external stakeholders.
• Opportunities to represent the CMA by acting as lead point of contact for some external parties.

Development and leadership

• Proactively develop own skills, knowledge and career in the CMA. Treat all colleagues and stakeholders with respect. Whilst the role holder will typically not have staff or work management responsibility, there may be opportunities to manage junior team members.

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application:

• Achieved, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:2 at degree level or similar equivalent. (Lead criteria).
• Demonstration of strong research, evidence review and analysis skills, with experience of gathering, reviewing, summarising and presenting information (Lead criteria).
• Demonstration of attention to detail, perseverance in pursuit of the facts and, ideally some experience of the constraints of operating within a government/administrative law context.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work successfully, using various techniques and systems, in order to meet deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience of drafting and producing a range of documents that can be tailored to the needs of different audiences.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with experience of working collaboratively as part of a diverse team and supporting others in the delivery of work.
• Demonstration of competent IT skills in the use of the Microsoft Office suite.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

As well as the interesting and varied work you’ll do to contribute to effective competition in the UK, and to ensure consumers get a good deal when buying goods and services, you’ll also benefit from:

• An exceptionally generous pension scheme with a significant employer contribution and range of options, including a tax-free lump sum at the point of retirement and injury, ill-health and life assurance benefits
• 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years), plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for the King’s birthday. In addition, you’ll be able to access a wide range of other types of leave as and when you need it, including generous maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption options, as well as paid special leave for volunteering
• Season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, flu vaccinations and eye tests
• Access to the Civil Service Sports & Leisure, giving discounted gym membership, high street discounts, free access to UK wide attractions and a free Tastecard
A range of wellbeing benefits, including an employee assistance programme, flexible working options and family friendly policies, regular networking events and professional learning opportunities at work
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Any move to the CMA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Like many other organisations, we operate a hybrid working model with a mix of office and home working. We believe this supports us to deliver our best work while allowing the flexibility to maintain balanced and healthy lives.

If you’re already a civil servant being appointed on level transfer, you’ll retain your existing terms, including annual leave. If you are being promoted you’ll receive either a 10% pay increase or the new grade minimum, whichever is the greater. Applicants new to the civil service can be considered for appointment at a salary higher than the starting point indicated above, but not more than the advertised mid-point, depending on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications.

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We want a diverse workforce that reflects the consumers we serve. We welcome applications from under-represented groups, including ethnically diverse people, people with a disability, people with diverse gender identities and from people of different ages.

We are an accredited Disability Confident Employer and disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

Our Values

The CMA delivers impactful outcomes for people, business and the UK economy. We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for Excellence. We treat everyone with Respect and are Collaborative and Inclusive.

Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values: Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.

Job contact :

Name :
Tom Skidmore
Email :
recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
recruitment@cma.gov.uk