About the job

Job summary

Are you looking for an opportunity where you can use your quantitative and qualitative research expertise to make a positive impact on the UK economy and society?

Join the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and play a pivotal role leading a number of research projects that support our work to ensure competition works in people’s favour and businesses treat their customers fairly.  

About the 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.

From conducting market studies and investigations and investigating mergers that could restrict competition, to enforcing competition and consumer law across the whole economy – the interests of the consumer are at the core of all CMA activity.

The role

In this newly created role, you will play a key leadership role in the CMA’s Market Research and Statistics team, working closely with the CMA’s Digital Markets Unit and will be part of a growing team of researchers and statisticians working on a diverse portfolio of research to support the CMA’s work.

The Digital Markets Unit focuses on some of the most important online markets used by consumers and businesses in the UK, including search, social media, app stores and online marketplaces. Its research strategy will involve running a wide range of research projects with consumers and businesses.

What you will need

Significant experience and understanding of all aspects of quantitative research and survey design, particularly questionnaire design, is essential. You will need a strong understanding and experience of qualitative research design, with considerable client or research agency experience of leading market or social research projects across a range of markets/topics.

You will also need experience of the design, development, management and timely delivery of multiple projects.

The ability to communicate research results (both verbally and in writing) in a clear and impactful way to non-technical audiences is equally important.

To find out more about the CMA please click below:

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

Further information on the CMA can be found on the our YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

Closing date for applications: Monday 12th February 2024

Job description

Overall lead on a number of research projects to provide evidence on CMA cases, primarily those within the DMU (being responsible for the quality and timely delivery of MR&S DMU research projects) – oversee the work of and work with lead research adviser and case teams (comprised of economists, digital market and behavioural specialists and other CMA professionals) to assess whether research is required and to advise on the most appropriate research approach to take to provide suitably robust evidence to inform decisions.

Alongside DMU colleagues, lead on the development of a research strategy for the DMU -this will involve working closely with DMU colleagues to understand what evidence they will need to support digital cases and the overall DMU strategy as well as working closely with other MR&S team leaders.

Supervise the procurement and project management of research contracts –working closely with research advisers and colleagues in our commercial team procuring and managing a range of contracts which will range from relatively small, straight-forward projects to high value, complex studies.

Lead on survey and qualitative research design for the DMU the post-holder will be expected to supervise and, where relevant, take the leading CMA role in (sometimes complex) sample and questionnaire/discussion guide design, working closely and collaboratively with the research contractor and CMA colleagues in this.

Lead on smaller scale in-house surveys or qualitative research across a number of cases – the CMA mainly currently uses Qualtrics software for some smaller-scale survey work and is developing an in-house qualitative research offer. The post-holder will be required to supervise and, where relevant, run in-house surveys and to work with the other assistant directors and research advisers in developing our in-house qualitative offer (e.g. working in small teams to undertake a relatively small number of depth interviews as initial exploratory scoping work on potential new cases)

Supervise and lead on analysis and reporting, working closely with research advisers and contractors to define analytical frameworks and develop presentations and reports. In some cases, the post-holder will be expected to conduct the data analysis themselves and develop and deliver presentations and working papers sometimes to senior decision-makers on cases and to senior stakeholders who are the subject of cases.

Line management of research advisers and others in the MR&S team to monitor their performance and aid their development.

Keep up to date with and provide thought leadership on developments in market and social research and develop strong networks in the industry - this will involve liaising with other government departments, regulators agencies and professional bodies including the Government Social Research profession, Market Research Society and Social Research Association as well as relevant experts and networks within and outside of government. As this post will be leading research for the DMU, developing a strong understanding of digital research will be essential. The post-holder will be expected to lead and develop viewpoints on the applicability of new research methodologies and techniques to the research work of the DMU.

Enhance capability in the use of market and social research to inform the CMA’s work. Within the CMA, this will involve training and other knowledge-sharing events, eg promoting the benefits of MR&S expertise. Externally, this will involve ensuring the CMA can have access to a sufficiently sized contractor base who understand the research needs of the CMA and are able to deliver research that meets the high standards of evidence required to inform case decisions. This will involve networking and representing the CMA externally at industry events and platforms.

Person specification

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

• Significant experience and understanding in all aspects of quantitative research and survey design, particularly questionnaire design. (Lead criteria)
• Strong understanding and experience of qualitative research design. (Lead criteria)
• Substantial client or research agency experience of leading market or social research projects across a range of markets/topics.
• Experience of management of the process of the design, development, management and timely delivery of multiple projects concurrently (ideally in a leading role), in cross-disciplinary teams and to tight deadlines.
• The ability to communicate research results (both verbally and in writing) in a clear and impactful way to non-technical audiences, including to senior audiences.
• Demonstrable ability/experience to manage and develop others
• Ability to build and develop strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders including senior level stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience of using survey software for both survey design and analysis would be beneficial but is not essential
• Experience of conducting qualitative research (e.g. undertaking depth interviews or running focus groups) would be beneficial but not essential
• Experience and/or interest in digital markets and in policy evaluation

Benefits

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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

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 conducted in-person at a CMA office or virtually by Microsoft Teams.

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

• Significant experience and understanding in all aspects of quantitative research and survey design, particularly questionnaire design. (Lead criteria)
• Strong understanding and experience of qualitative research design. (Lead criteria)
• Substantial client or research agency experience of leading market or social research projects across a range of markets/topics.
• Experience of management of the process of the design, development, management and timely delivery of multiple projects concurrently (ideally in a leading role), in cross-disciplinary teams and to tight deadlines.
• The ability to communicate research results (both verbally and in writing) in a clear and impactful way to non-technical audiences, including to senior audiences.
• Demonstrable ability/experience to manage and develop others
• Ability to build and develop strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders including senior level stakeholders

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 (above and in the attached candidate pack) will then be considered.

The sift will take place week commencing 29th 12th February 2024.

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 4th March 2024

The first part of the interview will comprise of a written exercise for which no preparation is required and a short presentation to be delivered at the start of the interview. The second part of the interview will be a 45-60 minute panel interview in which you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the role profile.

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.