About the job

Job summary

At the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), our new powers regarding consumer protection enforcement work will require increased research work. As a result, market research at the CMA is growing significantly, and we are looking for a Market Research Director to join the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser.

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.

You can read more about working at the CMA in our candidate pack.

Job description

The role

As the Market Research Director, you will be responsible for ensuring that the work carried out by the Market Research and Statistics Team (MR&S) is of high quality, represents current international best practice, and ensures the CMA has maximum impact in contributing to making markets work well in the interests of consumers, businesses and the economy.

You will work flexibly across the full range of projects the CMA undertakes and be accountable for the quality of research and statistical analysis across the CMA’s work, such as investigations into mergers and markets, competition and consumer enforcement cases, and regulatory appeals.

You will provide strategic direction, professional leadership, advice and quality assurance to MR&S on cases and will be accountable for ensuring the team adapts and develops to the changing needs of the organisation and external developments.

About you

You will have a 2.1 or equivalent, and have substantial client or research agency experience of directing high quality and complex market or social research projects across a range of markets/topics, this is essential.

You will also need significant experience and understanding in all aspects of quantitative and qualitative research, and survey design, particularly questionnaire design.

Effective leadership skills and the ability to manage and develop high-calibre researchers and statisticians is equally important.

Applied experience in antitrust enforcement, merger reviews, market studies and investigations and digital markets would be an advantage but is not essential.

We encourage applications for any of the CMA offices (Belfast, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Manchester). 

The successful candidate must be willing to achieve SC Clearance.

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

Application closing date: 11.55pm on Monday 13th May 2024.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application. For tips on how to make the most your application, please have a look at our guidance document.

1) At least a 2.1 or equivalent undergraduate degree (Lead Criteria).

2) Substantial client or research agency experience of directing high quality and complex market or social research projects across a range of markets/topics simultaneously to demanding timetables (Lead Criteria).

3) Significant experience and understanding in all aspects of quantitative research and survey design, particularly questionnaire design.

4) Significant experience and understanding in all aspects of qualitative research design.

5) Experience of effective leadership and strong team working skills with demonstrable ability to manage and develop high-calibre researchers and statisticians and work effectively with other professional groups.

6) Evidence of excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate and explain complex issues with clarity, simplicity and precision to both specialist and non-specialist audiences both orally and in writing, and experience of negotiating and exerting influence with senior decision makers.

7) A commitment to creating an environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion and promotes a culture of respect towards colleagues at all levels.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £96,923, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £26,169 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

The selection process will comprise of the Sift (CV & application review), an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA) and an interview.

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.

The sifting dates are Tuesday 14th - 21st May 2024.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA) and an interview.

The ILA will take place Thursday 23rd May to Thursday 6th June 2024.

Interviews will be held Tuesday 11th – Friday 21st June.

Those invited to interview will be asked to prepare a presentation at the beginning, based on a topic or case study provided in advance of the interview. After the presentation there will be a panel interview lasting approximately 1 hour in length where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills outlined in the role profile.

Interviews will be conducted in-person at the CMA office in Canary Wharf, London. Virtual interviews, via Microsoft Teams, can be discussed if attending in-person is not possible.

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.

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.