Economics Adviser

As an Economics Adviser, you will join a strong, diverse team of economists, working in a collaborative, collegiate atmosphere to provide and manage economic input into a diverse range of cases. This includes investigations into mergers and markets, competition and consumer enforcement, regulatory appeals, as well as the work of CMA’s Office of the Internal Market and Subsidy Advice Unit. It is also expected that the government will soon provide the CMA with powers to implement a new pro-competitive digital markets regime. Consequently, you will be joining the CMA at an exciting time when the first investigations under the UK’s new digital markets regime will be launched.

In addition to this campaign, the CMA is also relaunching an Economist Returners Programme, aimed at recruiting Economics Advisers among professionals who have taken a career break – of three years or more – from working as a professional economist. This opportunity is being advertised separately here, or by searching Civil Service Jobs for CMA2081 Economics Adviser (Returner Programme).

About the CMA

At a time when the UK economy faces unprecedented challenges including the rising cost of living, it is vital the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is able to provide high-quality economic analysis to inform effective interventions in markets, influence policies and protect both consumers and businesses. 

At the CMA, economics is at the heart of everything we do. We tackle high-profile cases and offer intellectual leadership in how to analyse potential harm to competition and champion the consumer. Recent cases in which economists played a critical role include the Microsoft/Activision and Adobe/Figma merger inquiries and the housebuilding and road fuels market studies.

What you will do

With the opportunity to work flexibly across the full range of our projects, or to specialise in certain areas, you will be the lead economist on some cases, or lead on a particular area of analysis in more complex cases. You will be responsible for carrying out and/or supervising economic analysis relevant to the project, including presenting results and providing economic advice to colleagues across different professions and decision makers. You will have opportunities to manage and develop others, and to contribute to the development of the CMA’s economics capability. You will be working in a stimulating environment with autonomy, responsibility, and direct access to key decision makers. We are an international team; our economists have a range of backgrounds and nationalities.

We are looking for economists with practical work experience in applying microeconomic analysis to real world problems. While a good understanding of competition and/or regulatory economics would be an advantage, it is not essential and the CMA prides itself on ensuring that staff can grow and develop their skills. Since economics is at the heart of everything the CMA does, you must also be able to write clearly and to present economic concepts to non-technical audiences in a way that engages, informs and drives decision-making.

What we can offer you

As well as being a hugely rewarding, diverse and stimulating place to work, you will have an opportunity to work for the public good while stretching and developing yourself in doing so. If you’re looking for a role that combines intellectual challenge with excellent opportunities for career development, we’d like to hear from you. 

We offer generous benefits, including an excellent pension scheme, at least 25 days’ leave (increasing to 30 over five years), and generous maternity/paternity leave provision. The CMA supports flexible working, for example ensuring that staff working on a part-time basis can work on the full range of CMA projects. You can also take advantage of interest-free season ticket loans, a cycle to work scheme and our employee well-assistance programme. 

The CMA, like many other organisations, operates 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 looking for applicants to be based in our Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London or Manchester offices. CMA staff in all of our offices work together in an integrated way across the full range of projects. The CMA also supports staff wishing to travel between offices to work with their colleagues in-person. 

To find out more about this opportunity and working for the CMA please click the APPLY button.

Please visit our economist LinkedIn page.  Please also have a read of our blog to learn more about being an Economist at the CMA.

The closing date for applications is 11.55pm on Tuesday 9th April 2024.

Please note that for exceptional international candidates, we may be able to sponsor your right to work in the UK, subject to your eligibility to work for the Civil Service. Sponsorship will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The CMA is an accredited Disability Confident Employer, and we are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming suitably qualified applicants from all backgrounds. 

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.