CMA1853 Assistant Directors - Antitrust and Cartels

Competition & Markets Authority

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 25th September 2023

 

Details

Reference number

313437

Salary

£73,512 - £79,408
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Grade 6
G6C

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Economist
Intelligence
Investigation
Legal Services
Operational Delivery
Senior leadership

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

3

Contents

Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester

Job summary

Are you an experienced competition specialist? Or keen to apply your experience of complex litigation, enforcement or regulatory cases in a new area?

A career defining opportunity to make a positive impact on the UK economy and society, playing a pivotal role leading investigations into a variety of competition law infringements.

About the Competition and Markets Authority (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.

About you 

A proven track record of working in competition enforcement or as a competition lawyer or economist is essential. Alternatively, you may also have relevant experience as a lawyer, litigator, investigator or adviser, with experience of complex enforcement or regulatory cases.

A proven track record of undertaking complex analytical work, including gathering analysing and managing evidence and complex information.

Experience of leading and managing successful projects and multidisciplinary teams.

You will also need excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead, influence and motivate people and build rapport with senior decision makers and stakeholders.

What we can offer you

The CMA is a hugely diverse, rewarding and stimulating place to work – an opportunity to work for the public good and to stretch and develop yourself in doing so. We offer generous benefits, including an excellent pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%, at least 25 days leave (increasing to 30 over five years), and generous maternity/paternity leave provision. You can also take advantage of interest-free season ticket loans, a cycle to work scheme, and our extensive flexible working options.

To find out more about this opportunity please click on the APPLY button.

CMA – Working for the CMA , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

Or our LinkedIn page:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/competition-and-markets-authority/

Closing date: 11:55pm on Monday 25 September 2023

Job description

Working in a multi-disciplinary case team with talented investigators, lawyers, economists and delivery professionals, you will play a key role working on the CMA’s Competition Act 1998 portfolio, driving forward the investigation of one or more suspected competition law infringements. You will lead on many aspects of investigations, from initiation all the way through to decision making and beyond, supporting our Litigation team in any appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

You will be responsible for setting the direction and strategy for investigations, ensuring cases are robustly planned, gathering and analysing complex factual, economic and legal evidence, identifying and managing legal and economic risks and will draft key investigation documents, including statements of objections and final infringement decisions.

Leading by example, you will ensure that the Antitrust and Cartels teams deliver to a high quality, to time and budget and achieves the aims set out for investigations.

In addition to progressing a major investigation, you may help to develop intelligence leads, apply for search warrants for inspections, bring proceedings to disqualify a director, or devise a media campaign to amplify the deterrence message of a successful enforcement outcome.

You may also get involved in the development of cartel and antitrust policy at a national and international level and have opportunities to represent the CMA externally

We are also currently advertising for Principal Case Officer roles in the Competition Enforcement Teams. To be considered for both, you will need to submit a full application for each vacancy however may be offered a single interview at the higher grade if your application is deemed suitable for consideration for both.

The CMA will be hosting a virtual event on Monday 18th September 2023 between 17:00 – 18:15 via Microsoft Teams. Candidates will have the opportunity to find out more about the organisation and the opportunities available. To register for the event please click here.

Person specification

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

  • A proven track record of working in competition enforcement; or as a competition lawyer or economist; or as a lawyer, litigator, investigator or adviser with experience of complex enforcement or regulatory cases. (Lead criteria).
  • A proven track record of undertaking complex analytical work including experience of gathering, analysing and managing evidence and complex information from a variety of sources and presenting information to an audience. (Lead criteria).
  • Experience of leading and managing successful projects (or work streams within projects), to specification, whilst working with multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to draft a range of documents including technical reports and documents for publication, for a wide variety of audiences.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to lead, influence and motivate people and build rapport with senior decision makers and key internal and external stakeholders.

Behaviours

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

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to draft a range of documents including technical reports and documents for publication, for a wide variety of audiences.
Alongside your salary of £73,512, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £19,848 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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/.

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. We work at least 40% of our time from our office locations across the UK.

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.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details about application requirements 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. Interviews will be either conducted via Microsoft Teams.

An initial sift based on criteria 1 and 2 (Lead Criteria) may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification (listed below and in the attached candidate pack) 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 experience for each of the following selection criteria (as included on the role profile) in your application:

  • A proven track record of working in competition enforcement; or as a competition lawyer or economist; or as a lawyer, litigator, investigator or adviser with experience of complex enforcement or regulatory cases. (Lead criteria).
  • A proven track record of undertaking complex analytical work including experience of gathering, analysing and managing evidence and complex information from a variety of sources and presenting information to an audience. (Lead criteria).
  • Experience of leading and managing successful projects (or work streams within projects), to specification, whilst working with multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to draft a range of documents including technical reports and documents for publication, for a wide variety of audiences.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to lead, influence and motivate people and build rapport with senior decision makers and key internal and external stakeholders.

    The sift will take place week commencing 9th October 2023.

    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 and book your interview slot. You will be sent an email with full details of your arrangements for interview.

    Interviews will be held week commencing 16th October 2023.

    The first part of the interview will comprise of a 45 minute in-tray exercise for which no preparation is required. The second part of the interview will be a 45 minute -1 hour panel interview in which you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the candidate pack. Candidates will also be required to deliver a pre-pared 5 minute presentation, details for which will be provided prior to the interview.

    Reasonable adjustments

    We want to make sure no one is at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

    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 example, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional. You might also require additional time to complete a timed assessment or a sign language interpreter to support with the relaying of information.



    Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

    Security

    Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
    People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

    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
    Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

    Working for the Civil Service

    The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

    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).
    The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
    The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
    Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

    Contact point for applicants

    Job contact :

    • Name : recruitment@cma.gov.uk
    • Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

    Recruitment team

    • Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

    Further information

    If your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Recruitment@cma.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

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