CMA1978 Director, Advocacy, Nations and External Relations

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role at the centre of stakeholder engagement and influencing policy making that is crucial to protecting consumers and keeping markets competitive.

Join the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as Director of Advocacy, Nations and External Relations (ANER) and maximise the impact of our work to support people, businesses and the UK economy. The CMA faces far-reaching changes in the external operating environment and equally material changes to our own responsibilities and functions. The ANER team is the CMA’s centre for stakeholder engagement, so sits at the heart of this.

About us

The CMA exists to protect the market conditions for competitive, fair-dealing businesses to innovate and thrive, so people can be confident they are getting great choices and fair deals, and the whole UK economy can grow productively and sustainably. We are deeply committed to this work, which is intellectually stimulating, continually evolving and increasingly high-profile in nature.

This an exciting time to be at the CMA as we evolve and adapt to meet far-reaching changes in our external operating environment and to our own responsibilities and functions. Alongside our existing powers and responsibilities (for merger control, markets, competition and consumer law enforcement), we also now provide advice on government subsidies and the UK’s internal market. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill 2023 will also give significant new powers to our Digital Markets Unit to oversee a new pro-competition regulatory regime for the most powerful digital firms.

The role

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Advocacy and External Engagement, you will lead a multidisciplinary team (economists, policy and communications professionals) to be a key interface between the CMA, government, parliament, business and consumer groups in all four nations of the UK. You will play a key role in helping the CMA to navigate our complex external environment, as well as managing the risks and maximising the impact of our work for people, businesses and the UK economy.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Analysing existing and proposed policy and advising governments and public authorities on its impact on competition and consumers
• Overseeing the CMA’s engagement with government departments in the UK
• Developing the CMA’s engagement with existing and new stakeholders and partners, including parliamentarians and other policy-makers, regulators, consumer and business groups
• Leading on the development and execution of a CMA-wide external relations strategy
• Promoting and increasing wider understanding of the CMA’s work and compliance with competition and consumer law
• Managing reputational risks and contributing to written articles and speeches to represent the CMA

This a challenging but hugely rewarding role. Leading a team of around 20, you will work closely with colleagues across the Strategy, Communications and Advocacy directorate, the Senior Executive Team, the CEO, the Chair and the Board who will seek your support and advice on the CMA’s most critical issues.

About you

You will need relevant experience of policymaking and advocacy in order to ensure the CMA has an effective voice in policy development. Expertise in political, economic and legal frameworks and consumer and competition policy issues is essential.

Strong analytical skills gained in a competition, regulatory or related policy context are equally important.

You will also need the ability to influence and collaborate with senior colleagues and decision-makers as well as strong leadership skills.

What we can offer you

The CMA is a hugely diverse, rewarding and stimulating place to work – an opportunity to work for the public good and to stretch and develop yourself in doing so. We offer generous benefits, including an excellent pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%, at least 25 days leave (increasing to 30 over five years), and generous maternity/paternity leave provision. You can also take advantage of interest-free season ticket loans, a cycle to work scheme, our employee assistance programme, and our extensive flexible working options.

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

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/

The closing date for applications is Monday 20th November 2023.

• Lead and embed cross-CMA approaches to advocacy, external relations and compliance to ensure co-ordination, strategic alignment and maximum impact.
• Shape and oversee the CMA’s engagement with government and parliament across all four nations of the UK, in line with the CMA’s statutory remit and its strategy.
• Develop the CMA’s open, proactive engagement with existing and new stakeholders and partners, including parliamentarians and other policy-makers, regulators, consumer and business groups. Building trusted relationships.
• Lead the team to be a centre of excellence and insight on the external environment. Monitoring the stakeholders and substance that impact the CMA’s work, and advising teams and seniors across the office accordingly.
• Promote and maintain awareness of the CMA’s casework; proactively identify and capitalise on opportunities that might arise to support and advise government; and follow up on formal recommendations made by the CMA to government and public bodies.
• Manage reputational risks and prioritise a challenging and dynamic work programme.
• Contribute to written articles and speeches and represent the CMA externally in speaking engagements.
• Provide strong leadership to staff within ANER, acting as a role-model for the CMA’s values. And be an active member of the Directorate leadership team. Develop our people and build capability within the CMA through coaching, learning, development, mentoring and performance management.
• Lead and promote co-ordination of activities and overarching strategy between ANER and broader SCA colleagues across Strategy and Communications, thinking holistically about planning, execution, and maximisation of impact.

This role profile is not exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of responsibility and may be amended in light of the changing needs of the organisation.

The CMA is seeking to appoint the best qualified candidate for this role and welcomes applications from under-represented groups.

When completing your written application, please ensure you provide evidence, metrics, and examples (as far as you are able), in response to the Essential Criteria below, and against which your application will be assessed: The successful candidate must be willing to achieve SC Clearance.

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application:

• An in-depth understanding of the political, economic and legal framework within which the CMA operates, and of consumer and competition policy issues. (lead criteria)
• Exceptional communication skills and a proven ability to influence and collaborate with senior colleagues and decision-makers within organisations, and with external stakeholders. (lead criteria)
• Strong analytical skills in a competition, regulatory or related policy context. A track record of applying these to deliver complex initiatives in tight timescales, leading to high quality outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and networking skills with the ability to build deep and productive relationships across the range of different stakeholders with which the CMA interacts.
• Strong leadership attributes with a proven ability to balance competing and changing demands, using experience and initiative to make informed judgements and manage a complex portfolio of work across a team.
• Commitment to inclusivity and the CMA’s values, demonstrable experience of managing the development of staff through coaching, mentoring and performance management.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

As well as the interesting and varied work you’ll do to contribute to effective competition in the UK, and to ensure consumers get a good deal when buying goods and services, you’ll also benefit from:

• An exceptionally generous pension scheme with a significant employer contribution and range of options, including a tax-free lump sum at the point of retirement and injury, ill-health and life assurance benefits
• 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.

Any move to the CMA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

Like many other organisations, we operate a hybrid working model with a mix of office and home working. We believe this supports us to deliver our best work while allowing the flexibility to maintain balanced and healthy lives. We work at least 40% of our time from our office locations across the UK.

If you’re already a civil servant being appointed on level transfer, you’ll retain your existing terms, including annual leave. If you are being promoted you’ll receive either a 10% pay increase or the new grade minimum, whichever is the greater. Applicants new to the civil service can be considered for appointment at a salary higher than the starting point indicated above, but not more than the advertised mid-point, depending on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications.

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We want a diverse workforce that reflects the consumers we serve. We welcome applications from under-represented groups, including ethnically diverse people, people with a disability, people with diverse gender identities and from people of different ages. 

We are an accredited Disability Confident Employer and disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

Our Values

The CMA delivers impactful outcomes for people, business and the UK economy.​ 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.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above.
This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and
conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your
personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any
absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you
to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Job contact :

• Name : Marc Batt
• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk