About the job

Job summary

As the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) rolls out governance changes, we have an exciting opportunity for a Committee Secretary to grow their corporate governance expertise within a world-leading government body.

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.

The role

The Committee Secretary plays a vital role in providing exceptional secretariat support and governance oversight to our main executive and non-executive committees. Key duties will include:

• Handling the logistics of committee meetings, ensuring smooth operation and effective coordination.
• Providing briefings for committee Chairs, keeping them well-informed and equipped for decision-making.
• Evaluating and reviewing the papers and advising the Chair particularly in the context of the current roll out of governance changes.
• Collaborating closely with project teams, acting as their primary point of contact, offering guidance, and resolving any issues that may arise.
• Ensuring the production of accurate and concise minutes that capture key complex discussions and decisions.
• Collaborating with and advising committee Chairs on agenda setting and future work programs, aligning them with good governance practices, as well as our organisational strategy and objectives.

This role also presents a unique chance for personal and professional growth as you will also have the opportunity to gain an ICSA Level 4 Certificate in Corporate Governance qualification. This certification will provide you with a robust foundation in corporate governance frameworks and codes. It will empower you to navigate complex governance structures, proactively mitigate potential issues, and provide invaluable support to our organisation.

What you will need

The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of working effectively with senior management and building strong relationships across all levels of an organisation. Excellent written and oral communication skills and experience of delivering accurate, well-drafted and clear records of complex, technical discussions in a secretariat or similar environment are also essential. Strong organisational skills, with the ability to operate at pace, juggle competing priorities, plan and negotiate effectively are 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 15th January 2024

Job description

- To run a number of the CMA’s main committees including but not limited to:

• Liaison with project teams to book them into Committees
• Preparation of agendas with the agreement of Committee chairs, including liaising and advising the Chairs on the prioritisation of agenda items, and the associated management of busy agendas
• Evaluation and review of the papers both as a quality check and also to understand the purpose of the papers and advise the team or the Chair accordingly on whether it’s the right committee, how long it might need, etc, particularly in the context of the current roll out of governance changes 
• Circulation of papers and meeting instructions to attendees in a timely manner
• Minuting complex and technical discussions for the Committees producing and agreeing timely, clear and accurate records.
• Maintenance of a clear and organised file of committee correspondence, papers, minutes and agendas
• Management of the logistics for these meetings.

- To act as the first point of contact for project teams seeking advice about, or time or action from committees, offering guidance and support, reviewing submissions and resolving any issues.

- To develop the future programme of work for the committees, working closely with the Board Secretary, the other Committee Secretary, the Director of the Executive Office, Security and Performance, and members of the CMA leadership team to ensure that the committees are aligned and follow the CMA’s strategy and objectives.

- To provide secretariat support to the CMA’s Advisory Committee (a diverse group of colleagues who inform, support and constructively challenge senior decision-making).

- To ensure adherence to CMA procedures and good governance practice, advising on committee reviews, terms of reference and membership.

- To support and advise the Board Secretary and Director of the Executive Office, Security and Performance, including on matters of governance and  associated projects, particularly in the context of the roll out of current governance changes.

- To lead communication between the committees and CMA staff, including through intranet guidance, a weekly update on committee activity, occasional internal presentations and responding to queries.

- As a member of the Executive Office team, to support the Executive Office leadership team and actively contribute to the seamless running of the team and committees, including covering the Board Secretary and other Committee Secretary role during absences, as well as working on relevant corporate and cross-office projects.

Given the outward facing and collaborative nature of this role, the role holder will be expected to work closely with colleagues across the CMA, liaising with all aspects of the organisation, sharing best practice and role modelling effective delivery and behaviours.

Person specification

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

• Excellent written English and oral communication skills and experience of delivering accurate, well-drafted and clear records of complex, technical discussions in a secretariat or similar environment. (lead criteria)
• Strong organisational skills, with proven abilty to operate at pace, juggle competing priorities, plan ahead and negotiate with others in a busy, high pressure environment. (lead criteria)
• Experience of working successfully with senior management and an ability to develop and maintain good working relationships at all levels, including during difficult or challenging circumstances. (lead criteria)
• Experience of advising senior staff on governance good practice.
• Experience of dealing with confidential or sensitive matters, and an ability to deliver difficult messages with diplomacy and tact.

If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to SC level and possibly DV level.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,924, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £11,589 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 either in person at the London office or virtually, by Microsoft Teams.  

An initial sift based on criteria 1, 2 and 3 (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 15th 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 between 30th January and 16th February 2024.

There are two interview stages for this role; the first is a panel interview of 45-60 mins where questions based on behaviours and experience will be assessed. Candidates successful at this stage will then be invited to a second stage interview with the Directors.

There will also be a written test and a presentation, the topics of which will be provided to candidates a week in advance of the first stage interview. The presentation will be an oral one lasting for 5 mins which candidates will be asked to deliver at the first stage panel 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.