Assistant Director, Technology Insight

As Assistant Director of Technology Insight, you will have substantial opportunity to make a real difference, shaping how we think about the regulation of data and technology markets, and of the activities and systems of large technology companies that affect our lives.

The Technology Insight (TI) team, within Strategic Insight, Analysis & AI, advises multidisciplinary CMA case and project teams. Our work includes helping to define the scope of CMA investigations, analysing trends in digital markets, designing remedies to address harms to competition and consumers. We critically assess evidence, consider societal impacts of technology, and communicate technical concepts to colleagues from other CMA professions, including lawyers, economists and senior decision makers.

You will work directly on multidisciplinary teams investigating complex cases and projects with a data or technology focus. You will help determine the key areas for investigation and the technical evidence and analysis required to assess them. You will provide strategic direction for the technologist input to cases. You will take responsibility for delivery of these inputs, including overseeing the work of other technologists working on your cases.

No two cases are the same. One month you might be examining the role of AI in digital markets, the next exploring cybersecurity ecosystems, cloud infrastructure, software platforms or emerging technologies. You will work alongside economists, lawyers, behavioural scientists and data specialists to tackle novel problems where there are often no established answers.

You will play a significant role in shaping the future direction of the Technology Insight profession at the CMA, helping build new capabilities, develop colleagues and influence how the organisation understands emerging technologies. You will also have staff management responsibility for Senior Technology Insight Advisers, and you will be part of the management team for DTI contributing to the effective operation of DTI and development of colleagues and capabilities within the Group.

In addition, there will be opportunities to work collaboratively across other aspects of the DTI portfolio, such as proactively monitoring trends in emerging technologies that affect consumers and competition (including developing a pipeline of future cases) and developing the CMA’s capability and approach to regulating complex sociotechnical systems that use AI and machine learning.

Person specification

Essential:

• Significant experience of building, researching, evaluating or investigating complex technology-enabled systems, including how people, organisations and technology interact to shape outcomes.
• Experience researching, analysing, and communicating (in writing and verbally) complex information about technical subjects, including to non-technical and senior audiences.
• Experience leading, developing and supporting technical or analytical professionals, creating an environment where people can perform at their best and continue to grow.
• Experience of exercising judgement in situations involving uncertainty, incomplete evidence or novel technological developments.
• Demonstrable ability to build and leverage strong relationships both inside and outside the organisation, including with senior stakeholders.
• Active interest in technology and digital markets, and in understanding how technological developments can affect competition, consumers, innovation and wider societal outcomes.

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

• Data Scientist capability framework as described in the Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession. (Lead Data Scientist)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £84,800, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £24,566 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.
• 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.