Job summary
Are you a visionary leader with a passion for digital forensics, e-discovery, and internet intelligence?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Digital Intelligence to lead the Digital Intelligence team and strategic development, operational delivery of our digital capabilities.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of digital intelligence at the CMA and make a significant impact on the UK economy.
About the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. Our work is wide ranging, ambitious and often new and challenging.
We have a vital role to play in relation to many important challenges facing the UK, including improving productivity, economic growth, and the resilience of our economy; mitigating cost of living pressures; and addressing the power of large digital firms and the potentially unprecedented opportunities and risks of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
In this context, the CMA has established an Executive Directorate for Data, Technology, and Insight (DTI), which consolidates our capability and activity across these areas of growing importance. This includes our expertise in data science, data engineering, artificial intelligence, behavioural science, technology insight, and digital forensics, as well as technology systems, architecture, digital products and tooling.
Job description
What you will do
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Digital Intelligence to lead the strategic development and operational delivery of our digital capabilities. This includes overseeing critical areas such as digital forensics, e-discovery, and internet intelligence, which underpin the CMA’s investigations into anti-competitive behaviour, mergers, and consumer protection issues.
Why join us
You will have the opportunity to be a pivotal member of the Data, Technology and Insights (DTI) Leadership Team and contribute to the CMA’s strategic direction, digital transformation, and capability development to ensure we remain a cutting-edge regulator in an increasingly digital economy.
What you will need
You will be a proven leader that can not only drive strategic transformation and continuous improvement, but inspire and develop specialist digital teams by championing a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
You will have significant experience in a senior technology leadership with experience leading on major transformation programmes and a focus on digital forensics, cyber investigations and demonstrable.
You will have a strong understanding of legal and technical frameworks underpinning digital evidence, e-discovery processes, and internet intelligence and a strong ability to communicate and influence at senior levels.
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.
Essential Experience
- Proven track record of senior leadership in digital forensics, cyber investigations, or related fields within a regulatory, law enforcement, intelligence, or governmental context, with the ability to shape, engage, motivate, develop and mentor teams. (Lead Criteria)
- Demonstrable experience in managing multidisciplinary digital teams and driving strategic transformation. (Lead Criteria)
- Strong understanding of legal and technical frameworks underpinning digital evidence, e-discovery processes, and internet intelligence.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills at executive and ministerial levels. Proven ability to communicate and influence effectively with senior stakeholders and non-IT professionals.
Desirable
- Experience in a fast-moving digital, technology, or intelligence organisation.
- Familiarity with relevant UK and international legislation including GDPR, RIPA, PACE, and CMA-specific statutory powers.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £97,923, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £28,368 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 (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.
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, and the CMA values.
The CMA value being tested at interview are:
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 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.
The closing date for applications is 7 July 2025 (23:55pm).
We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date and time.
Shortlisting will take place w/c 14 July 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 21 July - 01 August 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).
During this time, shortlisted candidates will also be offered an informal chat with the vacancy holder.
Interviews are planned to take place from 11 August 2025 onwards. 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 take place in the London CMA office or via Microsoft Teams.
Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these timeframes, 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.
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
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 the Civil 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 :
- Tom Skidmore
- 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
Director of Digital Intelligence - Role Profile
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(pdf, 167kB)
