Project Assistant, Markets

Details
Reference number

435875

Salary

£31,085 - £33,323

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.

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Administration / Corporate Support

Project Delivery

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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

Location

Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester

About the job
Job summary

Are you self-organised, a good communicator and able to maintain information with accuracy and pace?

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking a Project Assistant to play a central role in the day to day running of Markets projects.

Current and recent Markets work has covered road fuels, housebuilding, funerals, mobile ecosystems, online platforms and veterinary services and electric vehicle charging.

About the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the UK's world-leading government body established to make sure competition works in consumers' favour and businesses treat their customers fairly. What we do really matters and makes a difference to people's lives.

We provide the opportunity to work across all sectors of the UK economy, undertaking objective, evidence-based analysis that can have a direct and substantial impact on the economy and economic prosperity.

Job description

What you will do

You will assist in the preparation of project documentation including scoping and planning projects, and manage evidence and data relating to Markets examinations.

You will research and summarise specific topics and information that is directly relevant to markets projects.

You will liaise with a range of stakeholders within the CMA and externally, including government, relevant businesses, industry associations and consumers.

What you will need

You will be self-organised with strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritise workstreams to meet deadlines.

You will be a good communicator, both orally and written, with the understanding of how to tailor this to the needs of different audiences.

You will have strong data and information management skills with an eye for accuracy.

You will also have strong digital literacy skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, particularly Outlook, Word, SharePoint, Excel and PowerPoint.

What we can offer you

In return 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, 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 flexible working options.

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.

• Strong administrative and organisational skills, including the ability to pay strict attention to detail and accuracy, and successfully prioritise work in order to meet deadlines (lead criteria).
• Strong oral and written communication skills tailored to the needs of different audiences either orally or in writing (lead criteria).
• Strong interpersonal skills, with experience of contributing through working as part of a team.
• Strong data and information management skills and a demonstrable understanding of the importance and risks associated with the improper use, handling and disclosure of information.
• Strong digital literacy, in particular with a focus on Microsoft Office applications and sound experience of document creation, data handling and storage.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,085, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £9,005 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

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation. Interviews will be either conducted either virtually, by Microsoft Teams, or in-person at a CMA office. The interview will also include a presentation or written exercise, details will be provided in advance.

Sift stage

An initial sift based on criteria 1 and 2 (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 (above, below and in the attached candidate pack) will then be considered.

• Strong administrative and organisational skills, including the ability to pay strict attention to detail and accuracy, and successfully prioritise work in order to meet deadlines (lead criteria).
• Strong oral and written communication skills tailored to the needs of different audiences either orally or in writing (lead criteria).
• Strong interpersonal skills, with experience of contributing through working as part of a team.
• Strong data and information management skills and a demonstrable understanding of the importance and risks associated with the improper use, handling and disclosure of information.
• Strong digital literacy, in particular with a focus on Microsoft Office applications and sound experience of document creation, data handling and storage.

The sift will take place week commencing 17th November 2025.

Interview stage

If your application is successful you will be invited to attend an interview. You will be notified via email to log-in to your Civil Service Account and book your interview slot. You will be sent an email with full details of your arrangements for interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing 8th December 2025

The interview will be a 45-minute-1 hour panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the role profile. The interview will also include a presentation or written exercise, details will be provided in advance.

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

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.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Tom Skidmore
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

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 in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission

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