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About the job
Job summary
Whether you have expertise in competition and markets, economic regulation, or a related policy field, in this role you will make a real difference to the lives of consumers and make a positive impact on the UK economy.
As an Assistant Director in the Markets team, you will play a central role in supporting our Markets cases and projects, working alongside government departments, regulators and other stakeholders.
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.
Our Markets function is a core part of the CMA’s work. The Markets team examines markets that do not appear to be working well and uses a range of policy-based and other solutions to introduce positive changes in the interests of consumers, which deliver real impact for people, as seen most recently in our work.
About the role
As Assistant Director you will take responsibility for key aspects of Markets projects including assessing whether markets, policies and regulations are working well, planning and driving Markets cases and projects forward and bringing leadership and vision to multi-disciplinary professional teams.
You will be responsible for delivering high-quality, robust and timely outputs and will make a key contribution to setting the direction and strategy for Markets work in the CMA.
About you
Strong experience related to competition and markets, or economic regulation, or in a related policy field is essential, as is experience of leading and delivering successful projects by working effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
You should also possess excellent analytical and policy skills, along with a solid understanding of the policy-making process and how this affects markets and consumers.
An ability to draft a range of documents such as formal reports and more informal presentations, for a wide variety of audiences, is also important, in addition to strong experience of working collaboratively and building influential relationships with key stakeholders.
To find out more about this opportunity and about working for the CMA, please see below and click on the APPLY button.
Further details on the CMA can be found on the CMA’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.
Application closing date:11.55pm on Tuesday 2nd April 2024.
Job description
As Assistant Director, Markets you will:
Policy and delivery
- Lead or support work on a range of issues relating to markets. This might include, for example, identifying and developing proposals for new Markets work, building understanding of the effect of existing and proposed policies or regulations, influencing Government policy which is likely to have an impact on markets, and taking forward cross cutting strategy projects to inform CMA policy and procedures.
- Lead, motivate and manage multi-disciplinary professional teams, including setting and reviewing ambitious but achievable deadlines and priorities and fostering effective team working.
- Shape the framing, argument and presentation of Markets projects, both at the start and as the project progresses, taking account of wider policy and market context and resourcing implications.
- Ensure that decisions are founded on clear, accurate, well-reasoned and evidence-based analysis, including, as appropriate, carrying out or overseeing analysis to ensure that work is delivered to a high quality, to time and within budget.
- Identify and proactively manage risks, taking action where necessary and escalating as appropriate, to ensure decisions are robust and defensible.
Leading and managing
- Be a staff manager, supporting colleagues to develop their careers and fostering talent and carrying out performance reviews and other tasks.
- Contribute to the overall leadership and development of the Markets team, including on corporate and policy projects, by coaching and mentoring staff; and by capturing and sharing best practice across the CMA.
Stakeholder management
- Develop and maintain fair, open, professional and proactive engagement with parties and other external stakeholders, including national and international partners, often at senior levels.
Person specification
It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application and / or at interview.If you do not meet the lead selection criteria in your application, the panel will not be required to score your application against the remaining essential criteria of the role:
- Strong experience related to competition and markets, or economic regulation, or in a related policy field. (Lead Criteria)
- Experience of leading and delivering successful projects (or work streams within projects), through working with multi-disciplinary teams and using sound analysis to take well-judged decisions. (Lead Criteria)
- Strong analytical and policy skills; understanding of the policy-making process and how this affects markets and consumers. (Lead Criteria)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to draft a range of documents such as formal reports and more informal presentations, for a wide variety of audiences.
- Strong experience of working collaboratively and building influential relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
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.
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/ .
If you’re already a civil servant being appointed on level transfer, you’ll retain your existing terms, including annual leave. Where you’re being promoted, however, you’ll receive the greater of a 10% pay increase or the new grade minimum. Applicants new to the civil service may be considered for appointment at a salary higher than the starting point indicated above (depending on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications).
The CMA, like many other organisations, have moved to 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.
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.
The CMA is an accredited Disability Confident Employer. Disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review) and an interview. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation sent when you schedule your interview slot, note interviews will be either in person or virtual via MS Teams.
An initial sift based on lead criteria 1, 2 and 3 may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application then progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification of the role profile will then be considered.
Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and recent practical experience for each of the following selection criteria in your application:
- Strong experience related to competition and markets, or economic regulation, or in a related policy field. (Lead Criteria)
- Experience of leading and delivering successful projects (or work streams within projects), through working with multi-disciplinary teams and using sound analysis to take well-judged decisions. (Lead Criteria)
- Strong analytical and policy skills; understanding of the policy-making process and how this affects markets and consumers. (Lead Criteria)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to draft a range of documents such as formal reports and more informal presentations, for a wide variety of audiences.
- Strong experience of working collaboratively and building influential relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally.
The sifting dates are 3rd - 12th April 2024.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an interview.
You will be notified via email to log-in to your Civil Service Account to book your interview slot. You will then be sent an email with full details of your arrangements for interview.
Interviews will be held between Wednesday 24th April and Wednesday 1st May 2024.
If selected, the interviews will be held either in person or virtually via MS Teams.
On the day of the interview you will attend a panel interview. The panel interview will be approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour in length where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the role profile.
The first part of interview will be a presentation for which advance preparation is required, details of which will be sent to you before the interview.
If you have any inquiries relating to your application, you can email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.
Reasonable adjustments:
In order for a person with disabilities not to be put at a disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process.
For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
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