CMA1868 - Head of Advocacy

Competition & Markets Authority

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 12th June 2023

Details

Reference number

290076

Salary

£73,512 - £79,408

Job grade

Grade 6

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Strategy, Communications and Advocacy

Type of role

Analytical
Economist
Governance
Policy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Location

Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester

About the job

Job summary

The CMA is the UK’s world-leading government body established to make sure competition works in consumers’ favour and businesses treat their customers fairly. Be it taking enforcement action against drug firms accused of overcharging the NHS, investigating concerns about hotel booking websites’ practices, or conducting major studies into whether vulnerable consumers are being ripped off by certain industries, what we do really matters.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking to appoint Head of Advocacy to lead the CMA's competition advocacy function. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work alongside a diverse and talented team situated at the nexus of policy development and economic analysis.

The Advocacy, Nations and External Relations (ANER) team is the CMA’s centre for stakeholder engagement with governments, parliaments, business and consumer groups in all four nations. A core part of its work involves providing information, advice and recommendations to the UK Government and the devolved administrations on how best to harness competition and promote the interests of consumers.

As a key member of the ANER senior leadership team, you will play a pivotal role in advising governments on the impact of policies on markets. You will champion the development of government capacity and capability, advocating for policies that foster healthy competition, and actively shape the CMA's stance on emerging competition policy and market issues, building strong relationships with governments to advocate for competitive practices.

Job description

Offering role model leadership, you will oversee the CMA's engagement with government and public bodies, providing formal and informal guidance to government officials. Your invaluable advice will ensure that the CMA remains at the forefront of competition advocacy, navigating interactions with governments and policy makers effectively. You will also develop a strategic plan for the CMA's advocacy function, considering internal changes and the evolving external landscape.

You will have an undergraduate degree or master's in economics or equivalent knowledge gained through professional experience in competition, regulation, and public policy development. A robust understanding of government policy priorities and the intricacies of policy and law-making processes is essential. Your ability to apply economic concepts to policy appraisal and evaluation would be highly desirable, as will your aptitude for gaining comprehensive knowledge of unfamiliar markets or policy domains.

You must demonstrate exceptional communication skills, both oral and written, and be able to present complex material to diverse audiences, from non-technical to specialist. Effective management of competing demands, initiative, and informed judgment will be key to your success.

The CMA prides itself on being a great place to work and strives to ensure that staff have the opportunity to grow and expand their skills portfolio. As well as being a hugely rewarding, diverse and stimulating place to work, you will have an opportunity to work for the public good whilst stretching and developing yourself in doing so.

Person specification

The key responsibilities will include:

Role model leadership within the team as part of the ANER senior management team, managing a team of economic and policy specialists.
Oversee the prioritisation and delivery of informal and formal economic analysis, advice and support to government on the impact of current and potential policy (including regulation, law and other interventions) on competition, consumers and markets. Allocate the team's analytical resources to support the delivery of such advice to government in all parts of the UK.
Develop a new strategic plan for the CMA’s advocacy function, anchored in the new CMA strategy and medium-term ambitions. Drawing on the advocacy portfolio to date, this will outline the potential for the advocacy function in the context of internal changes and the external environment.
Develop and lead a programme of work to raise awareness and develop capability among officials and elected representatives (in central, devolved and local governments) of how government action can affect competition and consumer outcomes, and how the CMA can support their assessment of such effects.
Oversee the CMA’s interaction with government on formal (Ministerial) requests for work, ensuring as far as possible that they are consistent with the CMA’s remit and powers, and reflect its ability to add value.
Support colleagues across the CMA to identify opportunities to advise government that might arise from their work; and assist them in devising strategies to manage associated risks and opportunities that come from engaging with government on policy questions.
Monitor and co-ordinate planned cross-CMA engagement on public consultations and provide appropriate timely information to the CMA Executive Committee.
Monitor and shape the development of potential advocacy projects across the CMA, providing advice to teams and to the top of the office on the merits and trade-offs of alternative projects, and their salience to the CMA’s strategy.
Build trusted relationships with key officials in government departments, and develop networks with wider stakeholders, to help build and grow awareness in government of the CMA’s work, and of its advocacy role.
Promote and maintain awareness of the CMA’s casework; proactively identify and capitalise on opportunities that might arise to support and advise government; and follow up on formal recommendations made by the CMA to government and public bodies.
Work with colleagues across the CMA, including the Office of the Chief Economic Advisor and project teams, to ensure that relevant knowledge and expertise from colleagues across the organisation is brought to bear on our support and advice to government.
Contribute to written articles and speeches and developing the CMA’s thinking on emerging policy and markets issues.
Any other reasonable duties.

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

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about

Or our LinkedIn page:

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

Closing date: 11.55pm on Monday 12th June 2023.

Behaviours

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

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

Technical skills

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

Applied Economics

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. 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.

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.

Things you need to know

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.

Please note that interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams only.

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 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 experience for each of the following selection criteria (as included on the role profile) in your application:

1) An undergraduate degree in economics; or a master’s in economics; or demonstrable equivalent knowledge acquired through professional experience in the fields of competition, regulation and public policy development (lead criteria)

2) A strong understanding of government policy priorities, the processes by which policy and law is made and implemented and how it can affect market outcomes (lead criteria)

3) Demonstrable expertise in applying economic concepts to policy appraisal and evaluation

4) Ability to acquire, at speed, a detailed knowledge of unfamiliar markets or policy areas

5) Ability to balance multiple competing and changing demands, use initiative, and make informed judgements and manage a portfolio of work across a team

6) Experience in communicating and presenting complex material to a range of audiences, from non-technical to specialist, both orally and in writing

7) Experience of working collaboratively, building effective relationships with colleagues and senior decision makers, and delivering in partnership with other organisations or departments with related goals or responsibilities

8) Experience of developing and motivating staff and providing oversight and review of their work

The role will close at 11.55pm on Monday 12th June 2023.

The sift will take place between 13th - 15th June 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 take place w/c 26th June. There is 1 interview stage for this role.

1st part of the interview process will be a written exercise which shall be given to you a week before the interview.

The interview will be a 45-60-minute panel interview where you will be asked to do a 5 min verbal presentation on the topic which is already been sent to you followed by questions based on the Behaviours, Technical and Experience skills outlined in the role profile.

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

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 Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

Apply and further information

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
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.