The bureaucratic deck?

Bureaucratic deck is describing it in terms of a deck of cards. It implies a random but fair process. When the deck is stacked, someone is cheating.

1.Yes...the system in his office.
2. Stacked against ....implies that the system does not allow him to show his talents. It does not necessarily imply that any individual is responsible for this since they may all be victims of an impersonal system.

These are good answers.

Thanks!