About the job

Job summary

Are you excited about the potential of tech, but concerned how it may affect society? Join us and shape how digital markets develop and make a real difference for people and businesses online.

About us

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is a world-leading government body, established to make sure competition works in people’s favour and businesses treat their customers fairly. We are expanding our presence in Manchester and the city will be an important hub for our growing Digital Markets Unit (DMU). The DMU will focus 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.

It is an exciting time to join the CMA’s Digital Markets Unit – we are passionate about what we do and offer a supportive environment, with opportunities to be involved in a wide range of interesting work.

The role

This exciting opportunity places you at the forefront of promoting greater competition and innovation in vital digital markets, such as online search, social media, app stores, and online marketplaces, directly benefiting UK consumers and businesses.

In this role, you will craft policy, guidance, and frameworks for the new digital markets regime. Your work will be crucial in deepening understanding of key digital sectors, which is essential for determining 'Strategic Market Status' and shaping regulatory approaches. A significant part of this role involves collaboration. You will work alongside other regulators, both domestically and internationally, to strengthen cooperation and create a more effective, coherent regulatory landscape.

Your contributions will extend beyond policy and planning. You will actively participate in case and project work within digital markets, collaborating with colleagues across the CMA. This hands-on work will provide valuable insights that will inform the strategic direction of the Digital Markets Unit.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to mentor junior team members, fostering their growth and performance. This position is pivotal not only in governance but also in driving innovation and leadership in one of the most dynamic sectors.

About you

Previous experience studying or working in a digital-related field may be helpful but is not essential. We are looking for people from a range of backgrounds, with transferable skills. This could include experience in one of the following fields: accountancy, advocacy, data analysis/science, economics, government, law, project management, regulation, research, teaching/academia, technology.

Essential for this role is a proven track record in thriving within multi-disciplinary team environments, demonstrating an exceptional ability to deliver tangible results under stringent deadlines. You should exhibit robust skills in fostering relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders across various professional spheres, showcasing an ability to navigate and synergize different perspectives.

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.

We actively promote mental and physical wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme, a varied programme of wellbeing initiatives and a network of mental health first aiders.

The Digital Markets Team (DMU) will host a drop-in session for prospective candidates interested in working for the CMA. Candidates are invited to join a virtual session where the team will explain the work of the DMU and you can hear from existing team members about their experiences. Recruiting managers will be on hand to ask any questions you may have about the vacancies in team.  

We will run the session over Microsoft Teams from 17.30 on 18.30 on 15th January 2024, to register your interest please visit - Live Q&A Event: working in the CMA’s Digital Markets Unit Tickets, Mon 15 Jan 2024 at 17:30 , Eventbrite

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 for applications: 11:55pm on Monday 22 January 2024

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Job description

The Principal Digital Markets Adviser, Digital Markets Unit will lead and contribute to the delivery of the CMA’s work to prepare for and oversee a new pro-competition digital markets regime. The Digital Markets Unit has been established to promote greater competition and innovation in digital markets, to the benefit of consumers and citizens. Our work focuses on some of the most important digital markets used by consumers and business in the UK, like online search, social media, app stores and online marketplaces. The unit is currently operating in shadow form, pending legislation to establish it formally and provide it with new regulatory powers. This role will focus on leading and contributing to work to prepare for and implement this new regime, including building our evidence of digital markets, analysing potential harms and setting the rules to address them, horizon scanning, communications and engagement with key stakeholders.  We are also actively building a new programme office within the unit, providing opportunities for project management as the team expands. We are looking for people with transferable skills and encourage applications from individuals with a diverse range of backgrounds and skills.  You will be working as part of a team to establish a world-leading digital markets regime that supports competition and innovation, for the benefit of consumers. You will work flexibly within the Digital Markets Unit and  either specialise in a single area or split your time across a number of projects, including providing support to digital projects led by other parts of the CMA.   Responsibilities may include: Planning and contributing to our work to develop the policy, guidance and legislative framework for the new digital markets regime, working closely with Government as legislation passes through Parliament, providing expertise and advice based on the CMA’s knowledge and experience. Leading and contributing to work building our understanding and evidence base in key digital sectors which will underpin future assessments of ‘Strategic Market Status’ and inform specific projects to promote competition or address harms to consumers or innovation. Supporting work building our horizon scanning and markets insights function, working closely with colleagues in the CMA’s Data, Technology & Analytics unit (DaTA) who lead on understanding technologies. Working to establish the CMA as a centre of excellence in digital markets regulation, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and building knowledge and expertise. Leading workstreams within the newly established Programme Office within the Digital Markets Unit, providing project management support to plan timelines and track milestones, identifying and managing risks and supporting contributions to wider CMA governance. Working with other regulators with responsibilities for digital markets, both domestically and internationally, to strengthen cooperation and deliver a more effective, coherent regulatory landscape. Supporting in delivering case and project work in digital markets, working closely with colleagues across the CMA and using learnings from this work to inform the future work of the DMU. Line management responsibility for junior members of the Digital Markets Unit, supporting individual development and providing timely feedback on performance.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application. If you do not meet the lead selection criteria in your application, the panel will not be required to score your application against the remaining essential criteria of the role.

Essential:

• Experience working within multi-disciplinary teams to successfully deliver results, working to challenging timescales (lead criteria).
• Experience building relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external, including those from other professional backgrounds (lead criteria).
• Demonstrable experience of developing recommendations, drawing on analysis of a wide range of information and identifying and communicating key risks.
• Proven experience in communicating effectively (both verbally and in writing) with a range of audiences, tailoring communications appropriately and securing buy-in to ideas.

Desirable:

• Experience in one or more of the following fields: digital markets, using data and technology, management and delivery, analytical, research, policy, government, regulatory, economics, or legal.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,133, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £14,885 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 virtually. 

An initial sift based on the 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, below and in the attached role profile) will then be considered.

• Experience working within multi-disciplinary teams to successfully deliver results, working to challenging timescales (lead criteria).
• Experience building relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external, including those from other professional backgrounds (lead criteria).
• Demonstrable experience of developing recommendations, drawing on analysis of a wide range of information and identifying and communicating key risks.
• Proven experience in communicating effectively (both verbally and in writing) with a range of audiences, tailoring communications appropriately and securing buy-in to ideas.

The sift will take place week commencing w/c 22 January 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 from w/c 19 February 2024

Successful candidates at the shortlisting stage will be invited to interview.

Candidates who are invited to interview will be asked to complete a written assessment in advance of the interview and present this to the Panel. Further information on the topic of the assessment and presentation will be provided alongside the invitation to interview. The second part of the interview will involve questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the role profile. In total, we expect the interview to last no longer than 1 hour.

Existing CMA staff can apply for this position and remain working from their current office location

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.