Vacancy Description

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is a corporation sole which is operationally independent of Government. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for appointing the GCA.

The GCA will carry out the following functions:

• Advise large retailers and suppliers on the Groceries Code;
• Publish guidance on when and how investigations will proceed, how enforcement powers will be used and the criteria it intends to adopt in deciding the amount of any financial penalty;
• Investigate possible breaches of the Groceries Code by large retailers;
• Where an investigation finds that a large retailer has breached the Groceries Code, decide whether to make recommendation to the retailer, require it to publish information about the investigation or impose a financial penalty on the retailer;
• Arbitrate disputes between large retailers and their direct suppliers, or appoint another person to do so;
• Report annually on his or her work; and any recommendations made for changes to the Groceries Code.
• Leading and managing a small office of around 7 staff including Accounting Officer responsibility for the GCA’s levy funded budget.
• At the end of every year, the Adjudicator must publish an annual report and send it to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Competition and Markets Authority.
• Obtain the Secretary of State’s consent to set the levy that it requires designated retailers to pay towards its expenses.

Person Specification

The GCA is a high profile and key appointment. The successful candidate will need to quickly get to grips with the regulatory, policy and political environment in which the GCA operates and be able to:

• Articulate a clear vision of how the GCA can support a fair, efficient and competitive groceries sector in the UK;
• Ensure that the GCA is able to properly and efficiently discharge its statutory duties; and
• Develop GCA’s key relationships with the Designated Retailers, suppliers, media, Government, sector bodies and other major stakeholders.

We particularly welcome applications from diverse candidates who meet the selection criteria.

Essential Skills

• The ability to oversee investigations in a commercial environment, and have strong negotiation and arbitration or mediation skills;
  
• The ability to provide specialist advice and guidance of a commercial or procedural nature.
• The ability to act with impartiality and with sound judgement;
• Strong ambassadorial and advocacy skills that inspire key stakeholders including the media, Government, business sectors, retailers, suppliers and consumers;
• The ability to provide sound strategic direction and a compelling vision that inspires stakeholders;
• The ability to oversee a team and manage the organisation’s budgets, resources and financial reporting.

Desirable criteria

The post holder would also be able to offer some of the following:

• Knowledge of UK contract, commercial and competition law including the Groceries Code.
• Previous experience of the retail sector or groceries supply chain.
• The ability to bring enforcement action, especially in a commercial or financial context.
• The ability to develop their own unique way of regulating and achieving behaviour change.

Additional Information

The term of the GCA is expected to be a four-year appointment, with the possibility of re-appointment which is subject to Ministerial approval.

The post will be based in London although the post holder may be required to travel across the Great Britain.

How to Apply

The closing date for applications is 11.30 pm 16^th December. Late applications will not be accepted.

To apply for this post please

• Complete the online application form – Click Here
• Submit your cover letter and CV to publicappointments@beis.gov.uk

Please ensure that you include “Groceries Code Adjudicator” in the subject box, making it clear which specialist role you are applying for.

Expenses will not be paid for your travel and subsistence when attending interview except in exceptional circumstances, in which case please contact the BEIS public appointments email, as listed below. Reasonable adjustments can be made for candidates for both the interview and the role, if you require this then please also contact the BEIS public appointments email.

If you have any queries regarding the application process, you can contact the BEIS Campaign Manager, Khalid Khan at publicappointments@beis.gov.uk

Applicant packs can be provided in other formats upon request.