About the job

Job summary

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.

We are recruiting to the position of Strategic Communications Lead, who will help us establish a strong central strategic communications function based on content development, planning, channel expertise, insight, and evaluation.

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 post holder will contribute to the running of the strategic communications team and take on lead responsibility for the following roles:

• Programming: Advise on external communications programming in the CMA, including case announcements, speeches, op eds, events, publications, campaigns and compliance.

• Planning: Produce a co-ordinated forward plan for CMA comms and external engagement activity that demonstrates how our work aligns with key messages and priorities. This forward plan is a critical tool to help us manage resource and communicate strategically for maximum impact.

• Reputation management: Pro-actively identify themes or events which pose risks or opportunities from a communications perspective. Build strategies to manage these including leveraging horizon scanning capabilities.

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:

• Outstanding communication skills, both oral and written, with high levels of sensitivity and judgment and the ability to influence outcomes effectively through persuasive argument.(Lead Criteria)

 

• Expertise in strategic communications with a strong track record of performance and delivery (Lead Criteria)

 

• Experience in planning and delivering communications strategies based on insight and evidence of delivering work at pace and to set deadlines.

 

• Authority and credibility to influence and engage successfully with CEO/Exco/senior leadership, colleagues and external partners in complex or politically sensitive situations.

 

• Experience of working collaboratively, building effective relationships with colleagues and senior decision makers, and delivering in partnership with other organisations or departments with related goals or responsibilities.

 

• Ability to balance and prioritise multiple competing and changing demands whilst remaining resilient and highly motivated.

 

Desirable:

• Understanding of the CMA’s role and powers would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,100, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £15,417 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 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. 

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

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 role will close 11:55pm Monday 3rd June 2024.

The sift will take place 3rd June to 13th June 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 24th June. 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, Technical Skills 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.  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.