Chief Executive Officer

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT PLACEMENT

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) is a Statutory Corporation established to enforce the Competition and Fair Trading Act of 2024. 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 anticompetitive 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 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS; 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 require 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:

1. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CFT 1)

A. SUMMARY OF THE JOB:
Under the direction of the Board of Commissioners, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for overall management and operation of the Commission and ensuring the effective administration and implementation of the Competition and Fair Trading Act.

B. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following are the key duties and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer:

i. 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.

ii. 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.

iii. 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.

iv. 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.

C. 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. Minimum of ten years’ experience post graduate work experience in a related field at senior management level.

D. COMPETENCIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate for the position of Chief Executive Officer must:

1. Have good knowledge of industrial economics or managerial economics or competition economics/law;
2. Have strong analytical skills, with an ability to grasp new and complex concepts and areas of law and economics quickly and accurately;
3. Have strong analytical skills, with an ability to grasp new and complex concepts and areas of law and economics quickly and accurately;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. Strong management skills and ability to work under pressure.
7. Be computer literate;
8. Be self-motivated, assertive and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
9. Be of high emotional intelligence, integrity, discretion and have excellent negotiating skills;
10. Be an avid team builder; and
11. Consistent balance between the interest of various stakeholders including, the public, private sector, government and staff.

3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

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

4. 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 Monday, the 30th March, 2026:

The Comptroller of Statutory Corporations,
P.O. Box 30061,
Capital City,
LILONGWE 3.