About the job

Job summary

Are you ready to boost your career in this intellectually stimulating role where your actions will directly influence the competitive landscape of the UK’s economy? Join the CMA and apply your legal, regulatory, economic, or business acumen alongside proven project management skills for the benefit of the public good.

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.

Job description

The CMA Mergers team investigates mergers that could lessen competition, addresses anti-competitive behaviour, and protects consumers from unfair practices. Our high-profile investigations are split into two phases. In phase 1 merger cases Principal Case Officers ensure that any substantive issues are investigated fully, evidence is presented accurately, decision reasoning is explained clearly, and merger investigations run smoothly. In phase 2 merger cases, Principal Case Officers primarily coordinate and project manage the work of large multi-disciplinary teams. In this role, Principal Case Officers can also contribute to the analysis of substantive features of those cases. Across both phases our work spans across all economic sectors, offering you a unique perspective on how businesses operate and compete.

As a Principal Case Officer, you can also contribute to CMA practices, policy, and know-how, further developing your professional expertise in areas that are of interest to you. Working in diverse teams of varying seniorities, you will learn directly from experts in their fields, who are equally passionate about implementing competition law for the public good.

We deeply care about your career development. Around sixty per cent of our Assistant Directors come from Principal Case Officer roles. Other former Principal Case Officers have progressed to take up legal posts in the CMA Legal service and private practice; as well as other professional roles across the Civil service and private sector.

About you

To be successful at application stage, you must demonstrate a proven track record of working in merger control, competition enforcement or a regulatory environment, for example as a lawyer, economist or delivery specialist. You will also be asked to demonstrate your ability to undertake analytical work, and your experience of successfully delivering projects, working both autonomously and with multi-disciplinary teams and delivering results within challenging timeframes with limited resources.

Key Responsibilities

Delivery: ·       Lead and/or project manage merger cases on a day-to-day basis, liaising with colleagues to ensure adherence to the relevant timetables and statutory deadlines. Develop influential relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and act as a lead point of contact for external parties. ·       Prepare and finalise a wide range of internal- and external-facing documents required during the CMA’s merger investigations, including reports, working papers and decisions. In preparing these documents, PCOs must ensure they are consistent with legislation, published CMA guidance, established practice of the CMA, and best practice worldwide. ·       Lead contributions to and, as appropriate, chair internal and external meetings in phase 1 merger cases. When project managing a phase 2 merger case, lead the organisational requirements to ensure the timely and successful outcome of the case project.   ·       Identify and proactively manage risks, taking action where necessary and escalating as appropriate. Analysis: ·       Analyse critically the body of factual, legal, economic and other evidence in phase 1 merger cases. This often involves complex legal and economic issues, which a PCO must understand and discuss in internal and external meetings where the outcome of the case is under review. Analyse and process information and data received by the case team in phase 2 merger cases.   ·       Supported by the Mergers management team, work with economists, lawyers and financial analysts to ensure that decisions are based on accurate, well-reasoned and evidence-based analysis. Leadership: ·       Manage the contributions of other team members in a way that makes the most of their specialist skills, knowledge and abilities. ·       Act as staff manager, as required, liaising with work managers to monitor work allocation, assisting in developing colleagues through performance management and identifying training needs. ·       Encourage a respectful working environment that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusiveness. Other work to assist the Mergers team: ·        Assist in the development of new practices and know-how within the wider Mergers team. ·       Contribute, and encourage others to contribute, to the achievement of the CMA’s broader policy objectives and initiatives.

Person specification

• A proven track record of working in merger control, competition enforcement or another regulatory field, for example as a lawyer, economist or project manager (Lead criteria).
• Excellent project management skills in a legal or regulatory environment, including successfully delivering projects within challenging timeframes. (Lead Criteria)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including drafting documents and reports for internal and external audiences.
• The ability to undertake analytical work, including experience of gathering, analysing and managing information from a variety of sources.
• Strong experience of working collaboratively, building relationships internally and externally, including with senior decision-makers and stakeholders.

To find out more about the CMA please click below:

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/

Please note that for exceptional international candidates, we may be able to sponsor your right to work, subject to your eligibility to work for the Civil Service. Sponsorship will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,100, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £15,957 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) a case study/task with written paper submission and an interview in a CMA office or via Microsoft Teams, to include a presentation based on the written paper.

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 role profile) will then be considered.

The sift will take place between 17 - 23 April 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 week commencing 7th and 13th May 2024.

The first part of the interview will comprise of a presentation (based on your written paper) with follow up questions. Details will be forwarded to you with your invitation to interview. The second part of the interview will be a 45 minute -1 hour panel interview where 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.