Director of Consumer Affairs

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:

DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS (CFT 2)

A. 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.

B. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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

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

C. ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must possess:

1. Master’s Degree in Economics or Law or Business Administration.
2. Bachelor’s Degree in Economics or Law or Business Administration.
3. Minimum of eight 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 Director of Consumer Affairs must:

1. Strong knowledge of the Competition and Fair Trading Act, (CFTA,2024) and the Consumer Protection Act, (CPA,2003);
2. Strong analytical skills, with an ability to grasp new and complex concepts and areas of law quickly and accurately;
3. Intellectual ability and capable of analysing problems rigorously and from all angles, showing sound practical judgment as well as academic ability
4. The ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team engaged in complex issues with complex relationship with stakeholders outside the organisation; and
5. Strong leadership skills.
6. Be computer literate;
7. Be self-motivated, assertive and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
8. Be of high emotional intelligence, integrity, discretion and have excellent negotiating skills; and
9. Be an avid team builder.

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.