About the job

Job summary

At the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), economics is at the heart of everything we do. We tackle high-profile cases, analyse potential harm to competition, champion the consumer and offer intellectual leadership. Econometric analysis plays an important part in our decisions, and is likely to become even more important as the UK has left the EU and we have become responsible for assessing larger and more complex cases.

As an Econometrics Adviser, you will join a strong team of specialist econometricians to deliver complex analysis in collaboration with CMA case teams. 

Job description

What you will do

As an Econometrics Adviser, you will be expected to provide input into a range of cases, including investigations into mergers and markets, competition and consumer enforcement, and regulatory appeals. You will typically lead the econometric workstream in these cases. You will be responsible for designing an identification strategy, gathering the necessary data, carrying out the analysis, and presenting your results to the rest of the team and the decision makers. In more complex projects you will work as part of a small team of econometricians, and you will be responsible for managing more junior staff and sharing work effectively with others.

You will have opportunities to manage and develop others, and to contribute to the development of the CMA’s econometric capability. It’s an environment with autonomy, responsibility and direct access to key decision makers.

We are looking for high calibre economists specialising in Empirical Industrial Organisation or econometricians with a good understanding of industrial organisation and competition economics. Having a PhD in economics is an advantage. It is essential you have the ability to write clearly and present to non-technical audiences in a way that engages, informs and drives decision-making.

If you’re looking for a role that combines intellectual challenge with excellent opportunities for career development, we’d like to hear from you.

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 and to stretch and develop yourself while doing so.

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

Further details on the CMA can be found on the CMA’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

Information about the work of the CMA can also be found by visiting our economist LinkedIn page. Please also have a read of our blog to learn more about being an Economist at the CMA.

Application closing date: 11.55pm on Friday 8th March 2024.

Person specification

Key responsibilities will include the following:

Delivery of econometric analysis:

Econometric Advisers are responsible for delivering complex quantitative and econometric analysis in their projects. Their work typically involves: identifying testable hypotheses, developing a methodology to test these hypotheses, gathering appropriate evidence, conducting econometric/other advanced empirical analysis, and discussing the results and whether they are consistent with the other evidence on the file.

The post holders are responsible for ensuring that their analysis is delivered on time and to a high standard. They typically develop a workplan that is shared with their case team. They are also expected to provide support and guidance to case teams performing quantitative analysis for inquiries, including providing advice on appropriate approaches to test the hypotheses of interest, and identifying potential problems or limitations in the analysis.

Econometric advisers typically work within CMA case teams. They attend team meetings for their cases, and are expected to participate in broader discussions about the evidence and direction of the case. They also attend meetings with case parties and contribute to discussions on evidence gathering and interpretation.

Provide quality assurance of econometric evidence:

Econometric advisers are expected to work with the Assistant Director/ Director of Econometrics in ensuring the quality of the econometric evidence used within the CMA. They provide robust and constructive quality assurance by reviewing econometric analysis carried out by other members of the econometrics team, elsewhere in the CMA, and by external contractors. They are also expected to assess the validity and robustness of econometric evidence and other advanced empirical analysis submitted by parties to inquiries.

Communication:

Econometric Advisers are expected to establish effective working relationships with case teams, decision makers, and external stakeholders (such as parties to the investigation). A key aspect of the role is the ability to present econometric analysis clearly and accurately, both orally and in writing, and explain technical or specialist subjects to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Staff management and development:

The Econometric Adviser will line manage an Assistant Econometrician and is responsible for providing constructive feedback and coaching on a regular basis, and identifying learning and development opportunities. In addition, they may work-manage economists outside the Econometrics team when they undertake quantitative work.

Wider responsibilities:

Econometric Advisers are expected to contribute to the development of the capability of the econometric team by sharing knowledge and experience with others and, when appropriate, delivering training and participating in recruitment activity. They may occasionally represent the CMA at public events and conferences.

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, 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 around what this will entail 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 sent when you schedule your interview slot.

Interviews will he held at the CMA office in London. If you are unable to attend in-person, a virtual interview via MS Teams can be made available on request, however we would like to signal a preference for an in-person interview in London where possible.

An initial sift based on lead criteria 1 and 2 may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application then 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 recent practical experience for each of the following selection criteria in your application:

1) Ideally, have (or be in the process of obtaining) a PhD in economics with a focus on empirical industrial organisation or econometrics. At a minimum, have a post-graduate degree with a demonstrable focus on empirical industrial organsation or econometric analysis with industrial organisation/ competition economics (Lead Criteria).

2) Practical experience in the use of a range of econometric techniques (including cross-sectional, panel data and structural analysis), and experience of the design, development, management and timely delivery of econometric analysis (Lead Criteria).

3) Experience in using R and/or Stata or other econometric software.

4) Experience in presenting and communicating technical and complex econometric analysis to non-technical audiences.

5) Experience of forming and developing influencing relationships with key stakeholders and working in multi-disciplinary teams.

6) Ability to manage others’ work and support their development, and to contribute to the development of the CMA’s economics capability.

The sifting dates are Monday 11th – Wednesday 13th March 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 to book your interview slot. You will then be sent an email with full details of your arrangements for interview.

Interviews will start during week beginning 25th March 2024.

You will be asked to complete a task ahead of the interview, details will be shared at the time of invite to interview. You will attend a Panel interview. The panel interview will be approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour in length where you will be asked questions based on Behaviours, Technical skills and Experience outlined in the role profile.

If you have any inquiries relating to your application, you can email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.

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. 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.