Strategy Manager

at  Ofcom

Closing Date:
05/09/2024
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 Thursday 5th September, and therefore we advise getting your application in no later than midnight on Wednesday 4th September.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter in one document. Your cover letter should be no more than 500 words and should outline how you meet the essentials skills and experience listed below. Please note, applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
About the team you’ll be part of

The Strategy and Policy team plays a pivotal role in setting the Ofcom’s strategic direction and ensuring it 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 this rapidly evolving space. Our work takes a broad range of forms, but key responsibilities include:

• 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
• 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

We have a clear focus upon 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 breath of its remit. The successful candidate will coordinate delivery teams and work with a wide range of internal and (to a lesser extent) external stakeholders, and will need to be willing to work across the full range of areas that our team is responsible for and across all of the sectors Ofcom regulates. Strategy & Policy Managers typically manage multidisciplinary project teams and report to a Project Director, typically a Principal.
Your key responsibilities

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
• Manage upwards, exercise good judgement in proactively managing and mitigating risks

Analytical work and thought leadership

• Leading policy development in specific areas and providing advice and guidance to others across a range of policy areas
• Applying robust analytical approaches, including identifying the key questions to answer and developing hypotheses
• Contributing proactively to debates about strategic, policy and organisational issues, within the Strategy & Policy team and across the wider organisation.
• At times 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
• 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 should have a demonstrable ability to…

• Executing plans: lead teams across a portfolio of projects, taking ownership of progress against deadlines and production of deliverables, shaping projects and identifying necessary work proactively
• Lead, with the support of a Principal or similar, at least one of
• strategic policy development – including establishing or using analytical frameworks for thinking about regulatory policy
• competitive strategy analysis - including an understanding of key drivers of profitability in different industries
• internal corporate strategy and planning – whether in a commercial or public-sector context
• Articulating ideas: communicate clearly both orally and in writing, and producing text suitable for publication in a policy/regulatory context.
• Harmonising work collaborate effectively with colleagues from different teams, specialisms and backgrounds

Desirable

• Scanning horizons: effectively manage upwards and proactively manage risks and mitigate before they occur, exercising good judgement
• Channelling influence: tailor arguments to different audiences
• Understanding of commercial dynamics in our sectors
• Experience in strategy development in a commercial setting

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

• 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
• 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 issue