Skip to main contentCMA1881 Principal Case Officers
Competition & Markets Authority
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 25th September 2023
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About the job
Job summary
Are you an experienced competition specialist, or have experience of litigation, enforcement or regulatory work, looking to make a positive impact on the UK economy and society?
As a Principal Case Officer, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference, helping to protect consumers, working on a variety of competition law investigations.
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 a delivery role in competition enforcement or in a similar enforcement or regulatory field is essential. Alternatively, you may have relevant experience as a competition lawyer or economist, or as a lawyer, litigator, investigator, consultant or adviser, with experience of complex enforcement or regulatory cases.
You will need experience 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.
Experience of leading and managing successful projects is equally important. You will also need excellent verbal and written communication skills including an ability to draft a range of documents, including technical reports.
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 our Antitrust and Cartels enforcement teams, you will play a central role in a multi-disciplinary case team, investigating one or more suspected competition law infringements. You will contribute to 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 advise on the direction and strategy of an investigation and devise robust project plans to support this. You will be responsible for gathering and analysing factual, legal and economic evidence as well as contributing to key investigatory steps. This will include the drafting of documents and correspondence and contributing to internal and external meetings.
When driving forward project plans, you will be pro-actively managing risks and procedural aspects of the investigation, including protecting rights of defence.
In addition to progressing a major investigation, you may also help to develop intelligence leads, apply for a search warrant for an inspection, 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 roles in the Competition Enforcement Teams at Assistant Director level. 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 working in a delivery role in competition enforcement or in a similar enforcement or regulatory field; or as a competition lawyer or economist; or as a lawyer, litigator, investigator, consultant or adviser with experience of complex enforcement or regulatory cases. (Lead criteria)
- A proven track record 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 workstreams within projects), to specification, whilst working in 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 colleagues 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.
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/.
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, and 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.
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 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 working in a delivery role in competition enforcement or in a similar enforcement or regulatory field; or as a competition lawyer or economist; or as a lawyer, litigator, investigator, consultant or adviser with experience of complex enforcement or regulatory cases. (Lead criteria)
- A proven track record 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 workstreams within projects), to specification, whilst working in 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 colleagues 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.
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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
Job contact :
- Name : recruitment@cma.gov.uk
- Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk
Further information
