VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT PLACEMENT

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The Competition and Fair Trading (CFTC) is a Statutory Corporation established to enforce the Competition and Fair Trading Act (CFTA) Chapter 48:09 of the Laws of Malawi. The objective of the Act is to safeguard and encourage competition and fair trading in Malawi. In this regard, the commission is responsible for ensuring that businesses are not engaged in anti-competitive trade practices; and regulating and monitoring monopolies and concentration of market power thereby strengthening efficiency of production and distribution of goods and services, securing the best possible conditions for freedom of trade, safeguarding consumer welfare and setting a favourable operating environment for expansion of the country’s entrepreneurship base.

In order to fulfil its mandate effectively and efficiently with strategic leadership and management, excellent and rare opportunities have arisen to engage qualified persons of Malawian origin to fill Executive Management positions of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS; AND DIRECTOR OF COMPETITION tenable at its Head Office in Lilongwe. The CFTC therefore invites applications from suitable candidates to fill these positions on a three (3) year employment contract.

These are highly demanding positions that requires persons who have demonstrable capacity to initiate strategic leadership, administrative and managerial innovations geared at making CFTC a vibrant and competitive institution. The following are the required personnel and work-related traits for the positions:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (CFT 1)

SUMMARY OF THE JOB:

Under the direction of the Board of Commissioners, the Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission and is responsible for overall management and operation of the Commission and ensuring the effective administration and implementation of the Competition and Fair Trading Act.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following are the key duties and responsibilities of the Executive Director:

1.Managing and directing the enforcement and implementation of the Competition and Fair Trading Act and ensure that the Commission’s functions are performed according to set procedures and guidelines:

• Developing appropriate policies, procedures and strategies for enforcement and implementation of the Act in accordance with international standards;
• Directing and overseeing investigations into cases of violation of the provisions of the Act and providing the necessary support to ensure that the investigations are done according to set procedures and guidelines;
• Developing appropriate advocacy and sensitisation strategies and programmes for the popularisation of the Competition and Fair Trading Act; and
• Coordinating and managing market studies aimed at assessing the state of competition in various sectors of interest as identified from time to time.

2. Developing and managing partnerships for effective implementation and enforcement of the  Act.

• Maintaining high level contacts with relevant stakeholders including sector regulators and other law enforcement agencies and developing appropriated cooperation strategies for effective enforcement of the Act; and
• Developing and managing partnerships and collaboration with other national and regional Competition Authorities and international competition bodies for cross-border enforcement of competition law, benchmarking and sharing of best practices.
• Coordinating, managing and supervising departmental heads to ensure effective functioning of the Commission:
• Developing short and long-term organizational goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures for the Commission;
• Providing leadership, guidance and direction to ensure timely and effective execution of planned activities; and
• Conducting periodic appraisals of performance of the Commission’s functions and providing appropriate backstopping services to heads of departments.

3. Managing the resources of the Commission and ensure that they are effectively and efficiently used:

• Overseeing all accounting functions of the Commission including those necessary for auditing, budgeting, financial analysis, capital asset and property management and payroll in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, board and Public Finance Management policies and procedures, and all other applicable rules and guidelines; and
• Exercising oversight over all aspects of human resource management including but not limited to hiring and termination, and ensuring that members of staff are motivated and have the appropriate skills to perform their duties.

1. ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must possess:

1. Master’s degree in Economics or Business Administration or Law.
2. Undergraduate degree in Law or Economics or Business Administration.
3. A PhD in either of the above will be an added advantage.
4. Have at least ten (10) years’ post qualification experience in private/public sector development, of which five (5) must be in an executive management position.

2.COMPETENCIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate for the position of Executive Director must:

• Have good knowledge of industrial economics or managerial economics or competition economics/law;
• Have strong analytical skills, with an ability to grasp new and complex concepts and areas of law and economics quickly and accurately;
• Have strong analytical skills, with an ability to grasp new and complex concepts and areas of law and economics quickly and accurately;
• The ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team engaged in complex issues with complex relationships with stakeholders outside the organization, and able to relentlessly advance of the meritocracy;
• Ability to balance priorities and coordinate work effectively in order to meet deadlines and deal with high workloads, together with a willingness to be flexible;
• Strong management skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Be computer literate;
• Be self-motivated, assertive and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Be of high emotional intelligence, integrity, discretion and have excellent negotiating skills;
• Be an avid team builder; and
• Consistent balance between the interest of various stakeholders including, the public, private sector, government and staff.

1. DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS (CFT 2)

1. SUMMARY OF THE JOB:

The Director of Consumer Affairs shall be responsible for safeguarding consumer welfare by spearheading the regulation of unfair trade practices and ensure that consumers are aware of their rights.

       2.PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following are the key duties and responsibilities of the Director of Consumer Affairs which includes advising the Executive Director on matters relating to consumer welfare and providing leadership in the performance of departmental functions including but not limited to:

• Formulating and developing needed policies, procedures, and guidelines for addressing unfair trade practices;
• Investigating cases relating to unfair trade practices and providing the necessary backstopping;
• Modelling innovation, creativity, collaboration, and excellence and encouraging these attributes among staff in the Directorate;
• Provide expert input into development of strategies for enforcement and fostering compliance with the Competition and Fair Trading Act;
• Liaising with other Departments and sector regulators to ensure effective enforcement of the Competition and Fair Trading Act;
• Provide guidance in preparing technical reports on cases investigated and market analysis studies;
• Identify training needs of staff in the Directorate in order to enhance staff performance;
• Manage research and donor funded projects;
• Conduct hearings and facilitate mediations on unfair trade practices brought to the Commission
• Provide input into development and review of competition and fair trading regulations and guidelines;
• Produce advocacy and education materials;
• Organise and conduct events for dissemination of information on consumer protection; and
• Developing work plans and budgets for the activities of the Directorate.

3.ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must possess:

• Master’s Degree in Economics or Law or Bussiness Administration.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics or Law or Bussiness Administration.
• Five (5) years’ post graduate work experience in a related field of which, three (3) years must be at senior management level.

4.COMPETENCIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate for the position of Director of Consumer Affairs must:

• Have strong knowledge of the Competition and Fair Trading Act (CFTA) and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA);
• Strong analytical skills, with an ability to grasp new and complex concepts and areas of law quickly and accurately;
• Intellectual ability and capable of analysing problems rigorously and from all angles, showing sound practical judgment as well as academic ability
• The ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team engaged in complex issues with complex relationship with stakeholders outside the organisation; and
• Strong leadership skills.
• Be computer literate;
• Be self-motivated, assertive and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Be of high emotional intelligence, integrity, discretion and have excellent negotiating skills; and
• Be an avid team builder.

1. DIRECTOR OF COMPETITION (CFT 2)

1. SUMMARY OF THE JOB:

The Director of Competition is responsible for ensuring that market conditions are conducive to competition and that the conduct of business operators does not impede competition as well as ensuring that mergers and acquisitions are consummated in a manner that does not impede opportunities and scope for competition. The primary duty of the Director of Competition is to be the focal point for Mergers and Acquisitions and ensure that business operators do not engage in anti-competitive business practices.

2.PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following are the key duties and responsibilities of the Director of Competition:

i. Advising the Executive Director on matters relating to regulation of mergers and acquisitions     and anti-competitive business practices.

ii. Providing leadership in the performance of departmental functions including but not limited        to:

• Developing strategies and procedures for regulating mergers and acquisitions and anti-competitive
• Reviewing and investigating mergers and acquisitions and anti-competitive business practices;
• Conducting market analyses to ensure maintenance of competitive market conditions;
• Drafting technical reports and papers on mergers and acquisitions and anti-competitive business practices;
• Conducting public hearings on anti-competitive business cases under investigations by the Commission; and
• Undertaking advocacy activities to foster compliance with provisions of the Act relating to mergers and acquisitions and anti-competitive business practices.

 iii.Liaise with other directorates and sector regulators to ensure effective enforcement of the           Competition and Fair Trading Act.

iv.  Identify training needs of officers in the Division in order to enhance staff performance;

v.   Managing research and donor funded projects.

vi.  Developing proposals for review of competition and fair trading regulations and guidelines;

vii. Developing workplans and budgets for the Division; and

viii. Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Director.

3.ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must possess:

• Master’s degree in Economics or Business Studies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics or Business Studies.
• Five (5) years post graduate work experience in a related field of which three (3) must be at senior management level.

4.COMPETENCIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate for the position of Director of Competition must:

• Have strong knowledge of competition economics and its application;
• Strong analytical skills, with an ability to grasp new and complex concepts and areas of law quickly and accurately;
• Ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team engaged in complex issues with complex relationship with stakeholders outside the organisation; and
• Be computer literate;
• Be self-motivated, assertive and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Be of high emotional intelligence, integrity, discretion and have excellent negotiating skills; and
• Be an avid team builder.

D.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

CFTC shall offer an attractive employee benefits package to successful candidate in accordance with its emolument structure (commensurate with qualifications and experience) which includes salary, medical insurance, and membership to Contributory Medical Scheme.

 E.METHOD OF APPLICATION

Candidates should submit their applications with: (i) an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV); (ii) Names and Contacts of Three Traceable Referees, at least one of whom should have been a first or second level supervisor of the applicant within the last five (5) years; and (iii) copies of their Academic and Professional Qualifications. Please quote the job title being applied for on the envelope. The application should be sent to the address below not later than Friday, the 30^th August, 2019:

The Comptroller of Statutory Corporations,

P.O. Box 30061,

Capital City,

LILONGWE 3.

Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.