Senior Economics Director

Job summary

The Competition and Markets Authority is the UK�s principal competition and consumer protection authority. We help people, businesses and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. We adopt an integrated approach to our work, selecting those tools we believe will achieve maximum positive impact for people and the UK economy.

We derive our powers from the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and our work is overseen by a Board and led by the Chief Executive and Senior Team. Decisions in some investigations are made by independent members of a CMA panel.

The Senior Economics Directors play a critical role in helping the CMA to respond to the new challenges arising from the UK�s exit from the EU and the increase in the CMA�s responsibilities.

The Role

The Senior Economics Directors�will be a key members of the Chief Economic Adviser�s�(CEA)�leadership�team.��Reporting to the CEA, the post holders will work alongside the Deputy Chief Economic Adviser (DCEA) to�support�the�CEA in leading the economists, market researchers, statisticians and econometricians (the �economics�profession�)�at�the�CMA�and�being�responsible�for�the�quality�of�economic work carried out by the CMA.

Along with the CEA and the DCEA, the post holders will be responsible for leading, monitoring and developing staff operating in the economics profession.

The� will provide you with full information relating to the role.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

To support the CEA and DCEA in leading the economics profession at the CMA, ensuring the development of a strong, intellectually rigorous and responsive culture. To be responsible for providing guidance on individual cases from their early stages, particularly with reference to those cases raising complex economic issues. To support the CEA and DCEA in ensuring that the economic work carried out by the CMA is of consistently high quality, represents state-of-the-art thinking, plays a key role in ensuring that the CMA makes maximum impact and is appropriately communicated to specialist and other�audiences. To�build�strong�collaborative�relationships�with�those�leading�case�teams�to�ensure effective economic evidence to support�decisions. To be responsible for ensuring a �culture of economics� is maintained in which economists share information on cases, provide analytical support to each other, cascade development ideas and feel part of a professional�grouping. To have direct line management responsibility for several SCS PB1 Economic Directors. To support the CEA and DCEA in managing and developing the talents of the 150+ economists at the CMA and to ensure we continue to attract and retain high quality economists at the CMA. To be accountable for ensuring the optimal allocation of economic resources across�the�CMA�s�projects�to�ensure�the�effective�and�robust�delivery�of�the�CMA�s caseload. To be a strong external advocate for competition in the UK, Europe and internationally and build strong relationships with counterparts, including competition and regulatory authorities, Government Departments, economic academics and consultants, and to represent the CMA externally through public�speaking engagements, including potentially as an expert witness in litigation.

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�.

Excellent competition economist with impressive academic and professional qualifications and experience, holding at least a Masters degree in a branch of economics relevant to competition policy.� Considerable experience of working on the economics of competition law cases, with a proven strong track record of providing high quality and impactful economic advice. Evidence of the ability to�lead, plan and direct cases, working to tight deadlines,�using cutting edge technical and theoretical concepts. Ability to debate economic analysis with the foremost academic and consulting economists. Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate and explain complex issues with clarity, simplicity and precision to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. A track record of strong leadership and team management in all aspects of people management and development, including priority setting, recruitment, staff appraisal, career development and motivation.� A commitment to promoting a culture of respect, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �128,966, Competition & Markets Authority contributes �37,361 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

You�ll also get:

25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years), plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for the King�s birthday. In addition, you�ll be able to access a wide range of other types of leave as and when you need it, including generous maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption options, as well as paid special leave for volunteering. Season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, flu vaccinations and eye tests. Access to the Civil Service Sports & Leisure, giving discounted gym membership, high street discounts, free access to UK wide attractions and a free Tastecard. A range of wellbeing benefits, including an employee assistance programme, flexible working options and family friendly policies, regular networking events and professional learning opportunities at work.

You can read more about our benefits in the .

We follow the Senior Civil Service Pay Rules for civil servants who secure a SCS role at the CMA, including existing CMA staff. Existing civil servants will retain their current SCS salary or move to the advertised salary minimum if appointed to a SCS role on level transfer, whichever is the greater.

If promoted to a new SCS role, they will receive a 10% pay increase or move to the advertised salary minimum, whichever is the greater.

Applicants new to the Civil Service may be considered for appointment at a salary higher than the advertised salary minimum depending on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications.

Our Values

We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for�Excellence.​ We treat everyone with Respect and are Collaborative and�Inclusive.​

Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values:�Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.

You can read more about life at the CMA in the .�