Job Description

Details

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Reference number

433864

Salary

104,365 - 117,800
SCS Pay Band 1 Competition Specialist
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

SCS Pay Band 1

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Office of the Chief Economic Adviser

Type of role

Economist

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Belfast, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Manchester

About the job

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Job summary

The Director of Econometrics leads the CMA's Econometrics Team, a group of seven econometricians responsible for designing and delivering quantitative analysis to inform CMA decisions. The role entails liaising with other economists and CMA professionals to identify opportunities for econometric analysis, coordinating the delivery of this analysis, and communicating the results to decision makers. The Director of Econometrics provides both intellectual leadership and sound people management to ensure that the analysis delivered is of high quality and reflects best practice, and that the CMA makes markets work well in the interests of consumers, businesses and the economy.


The Econometrics Team is part of the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser, a supportive and inclusive team of professionals who work collaboratively to solve problems and deliver robust economic analysis to support the CMA's functions. The Director of Econometrics works with other directors to foster this culture of collaboration and inclusion.


The Director of Econometrics also represents CMA economists and econometricians externally and is an active member of the CMA's Leadership Team.

Job description

To identify opportunities for econometric and quantitative analysis in CMA cases, and provide strategic advice on the interpretation and limitations of this analysis. To coordinate the design and delivery of econometric analysis in CMA cases, working with the broader case teams and other professions to identify risks and ensure that agreed outputs are delivered on time and to specifications. To lead a team of around seven econometricians and be responsible for supervising their work and development, and for developing the team's capacity through recruitment and training. To provide advice and quality assurance to economists on inquiries in relation to quantitative analysis, including participating directly in more complex inquiries. Alongside other Economics Directors, to support the Chief Economic Adviser in providing professional leadership for economics work at the CMA and ensuring that the economic work is of consistently high quality and is appropriately communicated to specialist and other audiences. To be a key member of the OCEA's Leadership Team with shared responsibility for managing and developing economists, driving forward talent management, and improving staff capability through recruitment, coaching, mentoring and staff and work management. To ensure that a "culture of economics" is developed and maintained, in which economists share information on cases, provide analytical support to each other, cascade development ideas and feel part of a professional grouping in the CMA. To work with the OCEA's Leadership team to ensure the effective allocation of work across economists to ensure effective delivery but also to stretch opportunities for economists. To represent the CMA effectively in front of external parties by communicating the CMA's views and work clearly and compellingly, and building relationships of influence with stakeholders.

Person specification

The following selection criteria will be used to assess applications:

Postgraduate degree in economics with a strong econometric and empirical component

(Lead Criteria)

; A strong track record of applying econometrics in competition or regulatory inquiries (and/or an established research record in empirical IO), with experience in both structural and reduced-form approaches; Experience of leading and delivering complex projects involving technical economic analysis, within defined resources and tight timescales; Experience of managing and developing teams of more junior economists and working effectively with other professional groups; Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate and explain complex issues with clarity and precision to both specialist and non-specialist audiences both orally and in writing; Evidence of excellent interpersonal and representation skills and experience of negotiating and exerting influence with senior decision makers.

Qualifications

Postgraduate degree in Economics or Econometrics

Behaviours

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


Making Effective Decisions Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Leadership Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:


Econometrics

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 104,365, Competition & Markets Authority contributes 30,234 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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 our candidate pack.

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 our candidate pack above.

Applicants new to the Civil Service will be recruited at the minimum of the pay band for the grade of the position into which they are appointed. Only in exceptional circumstances will a salary above the minimum be considered, based on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications demonstrated through the recruitment process, and also equity with staff internal to the CMA.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
At application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate your suitability for the role in line with the essential criteria in the person specification, the Civil Service Success Profile Framework.


The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review), an Individual Leadership Assessment and an interview, which will include a written exercise or presentation.


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 essential selection criteria (as included on the role profile attached and listed above under 'Person Specification') in your application.


An initial sift based on criteria 1 (Lead Criteria) may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification will then be considered.


The closing date for applications is Monday 3rd November 2025 (23:55pm).


We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date and time.


Shortlisting will take place 4th-7th November 2025.


Successful candidates at the shortlisting stage will be asked to participate in an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA) which is a one-to-one psychological assessment of candidates in recruitment and selection for Senior Civil Service (SCS) roles. Candidates will complete a range of questionnaires on-line, the outputs of which are explored during a structured interview of approximately 1-2 hours with an assessor. The ILA must occur prior to interviews taking place. The assessment does not lead to a pass or fail decision; rather, it is intended to highlight areas of strength and possible concerns which the panel can probe at interview.



The ILA Assessments have been scheduled to take place from 10th - 21st November 2025.


(Please note that where an individual has been assessed for an individual leadership assessment via Civil Service Resourcing and applies for another SCS post at the same pay band within a two year period, it is now policy to automatically re-use the original report).


Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 24th November 2025. Those invited to interview will be asked to prepare a presentation or complete a written exercise, details of which will be provided in advance of the interview.


The interview will be a 1-hour panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience elements outlined in the role profile.


Interviews will be face-to-face or via Teams and face-to-face will take place in the London CMA office in Canary Wharf. Arrangements will be discussed closer to the time of interview booking.


Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these time frames, please let us know in your application.

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.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our

candidate guidance

for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .



See our vetting charter .
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) 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : CMA Recruitment Team Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Further information

If your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Recruitment@cma.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.