Closing Date:
07/02/2025
Group:
Strategy and Research Group
Management Level:
Senior Associate
Job Type:
Permanent
Job Description:
Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Friday 7 February, and therefore we advise getting your application in no later than midnight on Thursday 6 February.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV, along with a covering letter of no more than 400 words outlining your suitability and experience for the role based on the essential criteria below. Please also outline if you have a preference for one of the specialisms listed below. Please upload your CV and covering letter as one document.
About Ofcom
As the UK’s communications regulator, we’re delivering vital work that helps keep the UK connected and shapes the future of how we’ll stay connected with each other.
Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to TV, radio, the postal service, wireless devices and online services. And we need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.
About the team you’ll be part of
Do you want to be at the heart of helping to ensure that communications works for everyone, now and in the future? Do you want to grapple with issues that include the future of online platforms, the future of public service media, the successful deployment of 5G networks, as well as Ofcom’s own corporate strategy?
We are looking for curious, analytical candidates who enjoy getting stuck into new challenges. We welcome diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives in our team. Your background might be in industry, consulting or the public sector, but you should have experience working in or around at least one of the industries that Ofcom regulates: broadcasting (including on-demand), online services and social media, telecoms and digital infrastructure, or postal services. We expect you to have a passion for delivering good outcomes for citizens and consumers across our remit.
Since we were established in 2003, Ofcom has had responsibilities to regulate the TV, radio and video-on-demand sectors, fixed and mobile telecoms, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. In 2017 we also took over regulation of the BBC. In 2022 we were given responsibility for delivery and oversight of the groundbreaking online safety regime.

The Strategy and Policy team plays a pivotal role in setting the Ofcom’s strategic direction and ensuring that the organisation has a clear pathway to deliver against its key priorities. We are also at the forefront of providing the organisation with the strategic insight and analysis needed to anticipate future challenges and opportunities that exist within our rapidly evolving sector. Our work takes a broad range of forms, but key responsibilities include:

• Thought leadership on emerging policy issues – working collaboratively with other teams to decide Ofcom’s position on new or cross-cutting consumer, public policy and competition issues
• Horizon scanning and market/strategic insight – understanding how the communications sector may develop in future to inform our wider policy programme
• Delivering Ofcom’s strategic priorities – leading major projects that set the future direction of regulation in the sector
• Ofcom’s corporate strategy – working with senior management and the Board to set Ofcom’s strategy, define its priorities and assess their delivery.

We have a clear focus on supporting the development and wellbeing of all our colleagues. Our culture is underpinned by four important corporate values: excellence, agility, collaboration and empowerment.
The purpose and scope of the role
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the most strategically significant organisational and policy questions that Ofcom faces across the breadth of its remit. In this role you will ensure that our projects run on schedule and produce high-quality outputs, while yourself producing high-quality strategy analysis. You will coordinate delivery teams and work with a wide range of internal and (to a lesser extent) external stakeholders.
As a Senior Strategy Manager you will be expected to have a high degree of experience leading multi-disciplinary teams across a diverse portfolio of work. You may take project-direction responsibility for certain projects, requiring sound judgement in managing upwards, either to a Director or a Principal.
Your key responsibilities
Your responsibilities will consist of a combination of the areas below, with the relative weight of each to be agreed between you and your line manager from time to time in view of business needs. We have multiple roles available: if you have a strong preference over the balance of, e.g., horizon scanning and policy work, please express this in your covering letter.

Horizon scanning

• Programme management of products in the wider Strategy & Policy Horizon Scanning portfolio including insights briefings
• Deepening organizational understanding of the driving forces affecting future development of the sectors we regulate
• Building a shared understanding or consensus amongst a range of stakeholders about key emerging issues and how to tackle them

Project management and delivery

• Managing strategic projects, under the guidance of more senior colleagues, including taking ownership of key day to day responsibilities (e.g. timelines, budget, governance, internal and external stakeholders)
• Taking an active role in setting direction for projects, in dialogue with senior stakeholders.
• Depending on the circumstances, either overseeing or leading the delivery of high-quality reports for publication and presenting the results to internal and external stakeholders
• Managing upwards and exercising good judgement in proactively managing and mitigating risks
• Occasionally acting as Project Director, with ultimate responsibility for the quality of output and for liaising with internal clients at Director level

Analytical work and thought leadership

• Applying robust analytical approaches, including identifying the key questions to answer and developing hypotheses
• Contributing proactively to debates about strategic, policy and organisational issues; providing thought leadership within the Strategy & Policy team and across the wider organisation.
• Representing Ofcom at external meetings and developing an external network to improve Ofcom’s understanding of stakeholder positions

Team management

• Taking responsibility for managing, motivating and developing junior colleagues in your capacity as Project Manager or Director
• Contributing to the ongoing development of the team and Ofcom as an excellent place to work

The skills, knowledge and experience you’ll need for success

Essential

• You must have a proven track-record in at least one of the following areas (if you have a preference to specialise in one of these, please state this in your cover letter):
• Strategy development: fundamental strategy skillsets, including experience of leading and undertaking strategic analysis and influencing direction. These might be demonstrated through experience working in management consultancy, an in-house strategy team, or a horizon-scanning role.
• Policy development: including establishing frameworks for thinking about regulatory issues; considering policy objectives, theories of harm and potential remedies on contentious or novel policy areas; and an awareness of the wider political context behind policy
• Horizon scanning: You should have a proven ability to monitor emerging industry and/or technical developments, identifying strategically significant trends and their relevance to regulatory objectives.
• Sector understanding: You should have a solid understanding of the structure, business models, incentives, commercial practices and trends within at least one of the following industries: broadcasting (including on-demand), online services and social media, telecoms and digital infrastructure, or postal services.
• Executing plans: You should have a proven track record of managing complex or cross-disciplinary projects, programmes and teams. You should be able to form, lead and motivate project teams to deliver high quality work in a timely way, while also developing colleagues so they can reach their potential.
• Articulating ideas: You must be able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing, and to produce publication-ready text. You should be able to tailor arguments for different audiences.
• Channelling influence: You should have a proven track record influencing colleagues, including successful upwards management of senior leaders, through formal and informal channels. You should have a proven track record of exercising judgement and proactive risk management.
• Harmonising work: You should be able to collaborate effectively with colleagues from different specialisms and backgrounds, incorporating multiple perspectives and involving colleagues from different disciplines to solve problems.
• Autonomy: a proven track record of being able to work autonomously and effectively with guidance from project sponsors. You should be able to flag and manage potential risks appropriately.

Desirable:

• Empowering development: You should be able to demonstrate teamwork and management skills and the ability to delegate to and motivate others. You should be able to demonstrate how you have built a positive culture and how you have role-modelled through your actions in your previous roles.
• Stakeholder engagement: a proven track record of successful relationship building with senior stakeholders and demonstration of an energetic and positive approach to engagement.
• Agility: an ability to work at pace to a high standard in the context of ambiguity and changing requirements.

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://careers.ofcom.org.uk/careers/how-we-hire/

• Thought leadership on emerging policy issues – working collaboratively with other teams to decide Ofcom’s position on new or cross-cutting consumer, public policy and competition issues
• Horizon scanning and market/strategic insight – understanding how the communications sector may develop in future to inform our wider policy programme
• Delivering Ofcom’s strategic priorities – leading major projects that set the future direction of regulation in the sector
• Ofcom’s corporate strategy – working with senior management and the Board to set Ofcom’s strategy, define its priorities and assess their delivery