About the job

Job summary

Can you get to the heart of consumer issues without losing sight of the bigger picture? Do you want to use your skills to help communicate our headline hitting consumer, markets and competition work? As the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) public profile and role continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced press officer to play a leading role in our Communications team.

The Strategy, Communications and Advocacy (SCA) Directorate is at the heart of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), working across the organisation on a wide range of high-profile cases and projects, to make sure the important content the CMA generates is communicated clearly and effectively to everyone in the UK.

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

In the past year alone, we’ve covered issues from fuel prices, to baby formula, to the way the vets market is working. These are the things that really matter to people – particularly as they deal with cost-of-living pressures. With that in mind, we’re looking for an experienced press officer who is adept at telling the human story, without losing the nuance of technical or complex details.

As Senior Media Relations Officer, you will assume responsibility for leading and delivering CMA communications, which may include overseeing major announcements, ensuring accurate reporting or rebutting a critical narrative by a national newspaper.

You will collaborate with colleagues in the Strategy, Communications and Advocacy Directorate to ensure our communications are integrated and professional, producing high quality press products (press releases, Q&As and communication plans) which achieve their goal and appeal to the right audience.

In addition to this, you will provide assured and effective media handling advice to colleagues across the CMA on a range of high profile and exciting projects. You will identify audiences for individual projects and advise on strategies to communicate with them effectively. You will also accurately predict and respond to media agendas, acting as an authoritative and accurate spokesperson.

You will be expected to be part of an out of hours rota and manage some early morning announcements. This role could also include line management responsibilities in the future.

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:

• Significant experience of working in a busy press office, including on consumer-related issues. (Lead criteria)
• Proven experience of managing national, regional and trade media in proactive, reactive and crisis situations, spotting reputational difficulties and ensuring the organisation is adequately prepared to respond to them. (Lead criteria)
• Proven experience of writing accurate, engaging press products with clear and concise messaging, and tailoring this to suit different audiences.
• Demonstrable experience of writing and delivering effective communication plans that raise the profile of an organisation and its work.
• Evidence of building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and persuading other (often more senior) colleagues on communications issues.
• Ability to work independently and at pace, effectively managing work priorities to meet specified deadlines, even during busy periods.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,000, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £12,420 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.

Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and experience for each of the following selection criteria (as included on the role profile and listed above under 'Person Specification') in your application.

The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review), in-tray exercise and an interview. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation. 

Please note that interviews will be held in-person at the Canary Wharf CMA office.

The role will close 11:55pm Tuesday 30th July 2024.

The sift will take place 1st August to 05th August 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 week commencing 12th August. There is 1 interview stage for this role. Part of your overall assessment will consist of a task which will be completed as either an in-tray assessment or immediately prior to the interview. Details of this will be shared when interview invitations are shared.

The interview will be a 45-60 minute panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours, Experience and Values 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.  You can also email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.

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.