Chief Economic Adviser
Job summary
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the UK’s principal competition and consumer protection authority. We promote competition and protect consumers with a clear end goal in mind: to drive economic growth and improve household prosperity. The CMA has a range of powers, which it uses to undertake a wide variety of cutting-edge, high profile and complex work, spanning merger and market inquiries, competition and consumer law enforcement, subsidy advice and internal market advice. If you are a highly influential senior leader motivated to shape the CMA’s essential work in the public interest, playing a pivotal role in the leadership of our economists and related teams, then this could be the ideal role for you.Job description
As Chief Economic Adviser, you will have direct accountability for the quality of economic work carried out by the CMA and strategic leadership of the Economist profession.
You will be an advisor to the CMA Board and a member of the Senior Executive Team, contributing to the development and implementation of organisational strategy and the delivery of a positive, respectful and inclusive culture. You will provide expert advice and guidance to ensure the CMA’s approach to analytics and economics is robust and best in class across all its tools and functions.
This is an exceptional opportunity to play a unique strategic and operational leadership role in an ambitious and purpose driven organisation, and to continue to take the CMA forward as the volume, breadth, complexity and importance of the work we undertake extends to new frontiers.
For full details about the role and working at the CMA you can review the attached role profile and candidate pack.
About you
You will bring to the role exceptional experience of working as a senior economist on competition law cases with a proven strong track record of taking strategic decisions and providing high quality and impactful economic advice. You will have strong inclusive leadership skills gained in organisations of similar size and complexity and your communication and influencing skills will equip you to manage complex, high-level stakeholder relationships.
The benefits
Your benefits package will include a competitive contributory pension scheme and generous annual leave, plus opportunities for flexible and hybrid working. The package also includes childcare benefits, and season ticket and bicycle loans. The Civil Service is committed to becoming the most inclusive employer in the UK and we want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us. In return for your dedication, you will enjoy our commitment to your career and development.
Person specification
It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria.
- Excellent competition economist with exceptional academic and professional qualifications and experience, holding at least a degree in a branch of economics relevant to competition policy.
- Exceptional experience of working on the economics of competition law cases with a proven strong track record of taking strategic decisions and providing high quality and impactful economic advice and the ability to debate economic analysis at the most senior level.
- A track record of strong inclusive leadership skills at a senior decision making/executive level within an organisation of similar size and complexity, with demonstrable experience of developing a clear vision and promoting a strong culture of openness to challenge, collaboration and delivery to achieve robust and impactful outcomes.
- Substantial experience of leading, planning and directing cases that involve applying cutting edge technical and theoretical concepts, and working to tight deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with proven ability to communicate, influence and explain complex issues with clarity, simplicity and precision to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £140,000, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £40,558 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.
- Access to our benefits platform which includes retail discounts, cycle to work scheme and payroll giving. Employees can also sign up for season ticket loans.
- 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, flu vaccinations and eye tests. We also have flexible working options and family friendly policies.
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.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
The CMA has retained Audeliss to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position, application process and timelines and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service, and how to apply, please review the candidate pack.
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the application process no later than the advert closing date, which is 23:55 on 9 February 2026.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete the following;
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages), giving examples of how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.
- A completed Diversity Questionnaire. We’re committed to implementing and monitoring our equality and diversity policies with the aim of recruiting, retaining and promoting staff regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. You will be asked to complete the diversity questionnaire when you make your application via Civil Service Jobs.
Sift stage
You will receive email acknowledgment of your application through the online process.
The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the essential criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
At the longlist meeting scheduled for w/c 23 February 2026, applications will be sifted to select those candidates demonstrating the best fit with the posts. Longlisted candidates will be invited to a preliminary interview with Audeliss to discuss the role and their suitability in more detail.
Following the preliminary interview, a panel shortlist meeting will take place scheduled for w/c 9 March 2026 where the results of the preliminary interviews will be discussed. Those candidates who demonstrate strongest suitability will be invited to the interview stage.
The timeline later in the candidate pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Unfortunately we are only able to provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.
Interview stage
If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a series of assessments which could include psychometric tests and a staff engagement exercise and you will have the opportunity to speak with the vacancy holder prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.
You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification noted above and included in the candidate packand attached role profile.
Interviews will consist of questions in which candidates will be expected to build on the information provided in their personal statement and CV. Candidates may be asked to prepare a short presentation on a topic to be advised if/when invited to the interview stage. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.
Assessments will be held 30th March - 11th April 2026.
Panel interviews will be held w/c 20 April 2026. Interviews will be face-to-face at our London office at The Cabot in Canary Wharf. We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews.
If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to SC level.
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.
As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Selection will be on merit. If you wish to apply under the DCS, you should include this in your application. It is not necessary to state the nature of your disability.
If you feel that you may need a reasonable adjustment to be made, or you would like to discuss your requirements in more detail, please contact adjustments@cma.gov.uk in the first instance.
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 (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : louise@audeliss.com
- Email : scsrecruitment@cma.gov.uk
- Telephone : 02037386580
Recruitment team
- Email : scsrecruitment@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.applications@audeliss.com
Follow link to apply
applications@audeliss.comAttachments
Role Profile - Chief Economic Adviser 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 180kB)Share this page
Salary range
- £140,000 - £160,000 per year