Programme Support Officer

Job summary

The Digital Markets Unit has been established to promote greater competition and innovation in digital markets, to the benefit of consumers, under the new digital markets competition regime. Our work focuses on some of the most important digital markets used by consumers and business in the UK, like online search, social media, app stores and online marketplaces.

The new digital markets competition regime, under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, came into force on 1 January 2025, and the Digital Markets Unit has since launched three Strategic Market Status (SMS) investigations – one into Google’s search services, and one into each of Apple and Google’s mobile ecosystems.

A Digital Markets Programme Support Officer will primarily be part of a multidisciplinary team working on a SMS investigation (or other related preparatory investigation work). This may include supporting stakeholder engagement, document management and other administrative support. The Programme Support Officer will also provide wider administrative support to the DMU (including supporting other DMU teams when required).

What you will get from the role

It is an interesting time to join the Digital Markets Unit. We offer the opportunity to influence the shape of digital markets, delivering meaningful outcomes that ensure competition in these markets works well for UK businesses and consumers and supports wider investment and growth in the UK economy.

The opportunity also offers a unique insight into some big strategic challenges. Digital markets continue to evolve at pace, including with the advent of AI. We are also navigating the role of antitrust in digital markets within broader political and international debates. Lastly, with the opportunity to start afresh, we are working through how to most effectively deliver our work – including embedding the 4Ps framework.

We are fully committed to being a flexible, respectful and inclusive employer. It is a priority to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we welcome applications from under-represented groups.

You can read more about working at the CMA in our candidate pack

Job description

• Supporting the DMU case team’s planning and execution of investigations, including working effectively with other CMA professions.
• Supporting the team’s stakeholder engagement activity, including contributing to the preparation of meeting related materials (agendas, briefs, trackers), taking accurate minutes and ensuring that stakeholder databases and materials are kept up to date.
• Contributing to the drafting of correspondence, written and oral summaries, and team discussions.
• With guidance and as required, analysing information (such as internal documents and submissions) that can contribute to the team’s assessment of information.
• Maintaining best practice document and case management systems, including providing administrative support to the team to help encourage use these systems effectively.
• Providing some wider administrative support to the Digital Markets Unit, which may include supporting on wider DMU matters (meetings, bookings, requests), reporting, monitoring, recruitment and onboarding related tasks.

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 guidance document.

• Experience working independently and prioritising work to deliver to tight deadlines in a busy work environment (Lead criteria).
• Experience undertaking administrative duties, such as preparing reports, creating and maintaining databases and/or carrying out record keeping (Lead Criteria).
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor your approach depending on the audience.
• Some demonstrable experience of building effective relationships with individuals and teams whether that is internal or external to the organisation

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,330, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £9,366 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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

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.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application and sift stage

• 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, which will include a presentation. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation.
• 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 criteria (as included on the role profile attached and listed above under 'Person Specification') in your application. Your personal statement should be no more than 1250 words.
• An initial sift based on the first criteria point (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. 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.
• We may raise the score required at sift stage to progress to interview if we receive a high number of applications and take through the highest performing candidates to the interview stage.
• Successful candidates at sift will be invited to an interview which will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Interview stage

• At the CMA we apply a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you and we use the Success Profiles framework assessing the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the advert and attached role profile.
• The interview will be a 45 minute-one hour panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the role profile.
• A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Timeline (the dates outlined below are indicative and may be subject to change)

• The advert closing date is 23 November 2026 (23:55). We are not able to accept late applications.
• The sift is scheduled to take place between 24 November and 04 December 2026.
• Interviews will be held from the week commencing 14 December 2026. Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams.

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 basic (or equivalent) 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.

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 : Serena Connor
• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

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.

Attachments

Programme Support Officer Role Profile Nov 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 128kB)