Head of Speechwriting

The Strategy, Communications and Advocacy (SCA) team is at the heart of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), working across the organisation on a wide range of high-profile cases and projects, to make sure the important content the CMA generates is communicated clearly and effectively to everyone in the UK.

If you are a deeply effective communicator with a strong track record of performance and delivery, we have an excellent opportunity for a Head of Speechwriting. The successful candidate will shape narratives that support organisational priorities, influence key audiences, and strengthen the CMA's voice across public platforms.

About the 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.

It's a fascinating time to be at the heart of competition and consumer protection as our lives become increasingly digital and society grapples with the unique power of large technology firms.

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

This is a key role operating at the heart of the CMA, helping ensure our work is well understood by key audiences and maximising its impact. Reporting to the Director of Communications, the role will oversee speechwriting delivery and coordinate the CMA's speaking function, working directly with CEO and Chair on their external messaging.

You will work across a busy and varied brief, ranging from tackling cost of living issues to merger control to regulating the world's biggest digital firms. This role blends high-quality writing with strong analytical capability, political and policy awareness, and the ability to advise on messaging in complex environments. The successful candidate will shape narratives that support organisational priorities, influence key audiences, and strengthen the organisation's voice across public platforms.

The role holder will be responsible for:

• Speechwriting: Lead a speechwriting function that will flex between co-ordination of 'self-serve' speechwriting by frontline teams, through to full-service delivery for Chair, CEO, and other senior staff.
• Executive communications: Plan and coordinate CEO and Chair external communication in coordination with the CMA communications team.
• Content development and activation: Create and deliver pro-active strategic comms content such as op eds, forewords and blogs based around key priorities and moments and in support of key strategic themes such as the case for competition.
• Collaboration: Establishing and developing excellent working relationships with senior staff, in particular the CEO and Chair, to enable effective delivery of key content. Matrix management responsibilities for speech delivery across the CMA.

To find out more about the full role responsibilities, please review the attached role profile.

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 . 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:

• Expertise in speechwriting with a strong track record of performance and delivery in complex policy, regulatory, economic or corporate environments. (Lead Criteria)
• Outstanding communication skills, both oral and written, with high levels of sensitivity and judgment and the ability to influence outcomes effectively through persuasive argument. (Lead Criteria)
• Authority and credibility to influence and engage successfully with CEO/Exco/senior leadership colleagues and external partners in complex or politically sensitive situations. (Lead Criteria)
• Proven aptitude for leadership, with the ability to build and lead inclusive teams and motivate people both within a team and beyond their authority.
• Significant experience leading and delivering a portfolio of work at pace including effective scoping of work and setting of clear responsibilities.
• Experience of working collaboratively, building effective relationships with colleagues and senior decision makers, and delivering in partnership with other organisations or departments with related goals or responsibilities.
• Ability to balance and prioritise multiple competing and changing demands whilst remaining resilient and highly motivated.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Speechwriting

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. 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 .

Closing date: 2 March 2026.