About the job

Summary

The Director of Markets role is a career defining opportunity to oversee and manage high profile and sensitive market investigations and studies, central to the CMA’s mission to make markets work well in the interests of consumers, businesses, and the economy. If you have experience of delivering complex projects within a competition, regulatory or related policy context, either as an economist, financial adviser or as a lawyer, this role is likely to be of great interest.

Job description

The work of the Markets groups is of vital importance. Our recent work on digital markets – including the market study into online platforms and digital advertising (looking at Google and Facebook) is regarded as world-leading, not only laying the foundations for the regulatory framework currently being taken forward in the UK, but also in shaping the debate on this vital issue amongst legislators and regulators internationally. Our work is also wide ranging. Recent and current projects include market studies into mobile ecosystems, electric vehicle charging, the audit sector, children’s social care services, and market investigations into funeral services and emergency telephone networks.

As part of the broader team of directors, you will be responsible for the development and delivery of major high-quality market investigations, market studies or policy projects. This will involve setting the strategic direction, managing multidisciplinary teams, and engaging with key external partners including politicians and other policy makers in Whitehall, regulators, consumer and business groups. As a senior member of the CMA’s Markets Group’s leadership team, you will also be responsible for supporting staff development and promoting an inclusive team culture and an environment that celebrates diversity and respectful treatment of staff.

If you are excited about the opportunity to bring objective analysis to bear and shed light on often complex sectors, please apply. In your application you will need to evidence a combination of sound judgment, an understanding of the political and stakeholder landscape, and an ability to communicate persuasively and clearly, through a successful track record in delivering multi-disciplinary projects, coaching and mentoring staff, and senior level stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

- To lead teams to deliver high-quality market investigations, market studies or policy projects in a timely and effective manner, and which have maximal effect in improving the position of consumers.

- To lead multi-disciplinary teams of economists, financial advisers and lawyers, setting the strategic direction, and taking responsibility for delivery.

- To manage the risks of a challenging work programme in terms of delivery, reputation, and litigation.

- To lead and maintain open, professional and proactive engagement with key external partners including politicians and other policy-makers in Whitehall, regulators, consumer and business groups.

- To support the development of the portfolio of future projects, identifying and exploring priority areas for future work.

- To develop our people and to build capability within the CMA through coaching, learning, development, mentoring and performance management.

- To participate in an open and collegiate manner in the markets senior management team, as well as in the CMA’s senior leadership team.

- To represent the CMA’s work externally at conferences and seminars, and also in the media.

- To role-model the CMA’s values by promoting a culture that celebrates diversity and the respectful treatment of all colleagues.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

All CMA employees enjoy the following benefits package:

• An excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions

• 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years)

• Favourable consideration of flexible working

• Generous maternity/paternity leave provision

• Interest-free season ticket loans

• A supportive employee assistance programme

• Cycle to work scheme

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 are 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, but not more than the advertised mid-point, depending on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications.

During the Covid-19 pandemic period, CMA staff have been required to work from home to continue delivering our objectives. The CMA, like many other organisations, will move 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. Our staff work at least 50% of their time from their office location.

The CMA are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. It is a priority to make our workforce as diverse as possible and we welcome applications from under-represented groups, including ethnically diverse people, people with a disability, and people with diverse gender identities.

The CMA is an accredited Disability Confident Employer and are Stonewall Diversity Champions. Disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.