Public Policy Manager

at  Ofcom

Closing Date:
10/06/2024
Group:
Corporate Group
Management Level:
Senior Associate
Job Type:
Permanent
Job Description:
Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 10th June and therefore we advise getting your application in no later than midnight on Sunday 9th June.
Team overview
The Public Policy team sits at the centre of Ofcom. We act as the bridge between Ofcom – and its work as an independent body – and the wider public policy and political developments that affect the sectors we regulate. Our London-based team leads and coordinate Ofcom’s engagement with UK Government, ensures Ofcom is accountable to Parliament, and leads Ofcom’s work as part of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (the ‘DRCF’) on a range of digital matters. We work with teams across Ofcom to ensure that the wider public policy context is properly considered.
Working closely with the Chair & Chief Executive’s Office, the team’s role is to support the Board, senior management and the wider organisation to ensure Ofcom acts as an effective regulator which fully understands and participates in public debates about making communications work for everyone. The work of the team is fast paced, rewarding and collaborative – blending both internal and external stakeholder engagement.
We are a team which embraces flexible working. We welcome applications from job sharers, part-time workers and other flexible patterns.
Purpose of the Role

We are looking for up to four experienced policy or public affairs professionals to join our team. You will help lead and shape our work under one of our key sector portfolios, working closely and collaboratively with colleagues across Ofcom to deliver on our objectives effectively. You will have experience of working in or closely with Government, have an understanding of shaping and communicating policy, and be accomplished at quickly building strong and collaborative relationships. You could be working on any one of our exciting portfolios including;

• Networks and Communications: The team manages our work with Parliament and Government on all telecoms issues, including Gigabit roll out, PSTN switch off and consumer issues encompassing social tariffs and in-contract prices rises. Additionally, we oversee the relationship with DSIT on network security and resilience issues; assist colleagues working on Postal issues and lead the relationship with DBT; and lead on the sponsorship relationship between DSIT and Ofcom.
• Online safety: Ofcom already regulates some video-sharing platforms and is taking on a broader – and novel – online role under the landmark Online Safety Act which passed last year. Implementing the Act requires a significant programme of work, including codes of practice, guidance and related secondary legislation. The team manages relationships with stakeholders in Government and Parliament and liaises closely with Ofcom policy colleagues to develop policy. We play a key role in briefing senior management, escalating issues quickly.
• Broadcasting: The team manages Ofcom’s relationship with Parliament and Government on a range of broadcasting issues. Upcoming policy areas of note include implementation of the media bill, the future of TV distribution and our Public Service Media Review. The team is also likely to be involved in the forthcoming BBC Charter Review.
• Digital: the team monitor and engage with Government policy on AI and digital competition as well as digital policy developments in the wider regulatory landscape. This includes leading Ofcom’s work through the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF). The DRCF includes Ofcom, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who cooperate on a range of common digital interests.

Requirements of the Role

• Engage directly and confidently with officials in Government, leading engagement with Government and Parliamentarians on work related to your portfolio.
• Take a leading role in Ofcom’s policy-making by providing expert advice on the external context for our work.
• Use excellent judgment and knowledge of the wider policy and political context to identify any risks to Ofcom’s work programme and to resolve or escalate these as appropriate.
• Help co-ordinate Ofcom’s wider external relationships, including seeking alignment with Government’s external engagement plans and set direction for parliamentary engagement related to your portfolio.
• Keep up to date on Ofcom’s work within your portfolio, including monitoring external developments closely and via internal decision-making processes.
• Provide accurate and plain English written materials and briefings – and manage correspondence with MPs ensuring that it is of a consistently high standard.
• Contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Public Policy team supporting cross cutting projects and other work, where relevant and appropriate.
• Work with colleagues in Ofcom’s offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with colleagues in our communications team, to ensure a joined-up approach, including development of joint handling plans for major projects and publications and engagement with parliamentarians across the Nations.

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Excellent political/governmental understanding and aptitude.
• Experience working in, or with, Government / Parliament preferable
• Comfortable with ambiguity, confident taking the lead and driving work independently
• Demonstrable ability to master a broad and complex policy brief.
• Proven ability to demonstrate good judgement to gain the respect and trust of senior colleagues and stakeholders; ability to manage upwards/sideways.
• Experience of thinking creatively and proactively to identify risks and opportunities early.
• Able to deliver work with multiple contributors with an eye for detail and quality.
• Confident and adaptive communicator, both spoken and written, with strong presentation skills and proven ability to represent and persuade at senior levels inside and outside an organisation.
• Takes an agile approach – willingness to respond to changing timescales and priorities.
• Strong organisational skills: can demonstrate a track record of managing priorities across a complex workload.

As part of your application, please tell us in no more than 800 words what skills you feel you would bring to the role, how you meet the criteria and what area/s of Ofcom’s work are of interest to you.
Ofcom has a clear mission: to make communications work for everyone. To be able to deliver on this, we want our organisation to reflect the diversity of background, experience, upbringing and thought that exists across the UK. We aim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible – no matter your social background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or disability.
Where positions are listed as full-time, we remain open to reduced hours, part-time arrangements, job shares, and other flexible working options. From day one, we champion flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual needs.
We also warmly welcome applicants who are returning to the workforce after a break – for whatever reason. If you have taken time away and are ready to rejoin, we look forward to reviewing your application.
Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If you need information in an alternative format or have specific preferences, please contact our recruitment team at
resourcing@ofcom.org.uk
or call 0330 912 1378.
As a Disability Confident employer, we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles. Learn more about this scheme here.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/jobs/disability-confident-scheme

• Engage directly and confidently with officials in Government, leading engagement with Government and Parliamentarians on work related to your portfolio.
• Take a leading role in Ofcom’s policy-making by providing expert advice on the external context for our work.
• Use excellent judgment and knowledge of the wider policy and political context to identify any risks to Ofcom’s work programme and to resolve or escalate these as appropriate.
• Help co-ordinate Ofcom’s wider external relationships, including seeking alignment with Government’s external engagement plans and set direction for parliamentary engagement related to your portfolio.
• Keep up to date on Ofcom’s work within your portfolio, including monitoring external developments closely and via internal decision-making processes.
• Provide accurate and plain English written materials and briefings – and manage correspondence with MPs ensuring that it is of a consistently high standard.
• Contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Public Policy team supporting cross cutting projects and other work, where relevant and appropriate.
• Work with colleagues in Ofcom’s offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with colleagues in our communications team, to ensure a joined-up approach, including development of joint handling plans for major projects and publications and engagement with parliamentarians across the Nations