Group Director, Enforcement

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How to Apply

Russell Reynolds Recruitment is managing this vacancy on behalf of Ofcom. Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on 25th of October. Please apply to this role through this link:

GROUP DIRECTOR - ENFORCEMENT

Purpose and scope of the role

This is a newly created role, reflecting the growing importance of Ofcom’s enforcement work, especially as we implement the Online Safety Act. The Group Director, Enforcement will be a member of Ofcom’s Senior Management Team and report directly to the Chief Executive. They will lead the Enforcement Group, a team of around 110 colleagues, which until now has been part of our wider Legal and Enforcement Group. The Group Director will ensure focus and coherence at a time of growing regulatory responsibilities and increasing complexity in Ofcom’s work.

The Enforcement Group identifies and responds to non-compliance affecting consumers and competition in the online safety, telecommunications and postal sectors, as well as competition matters in broadcasting. It routinely monitors complaints, analyses evidence and takes swift action where we see harm, including opening formal investigations, issuing penalties and seeking redress where appropriate. Its work covers enforcement of both Ofcom’s ex ante regulatory rules, and our ex post competition powers and powers under consumer protection legislation, which we hold concurrently with the Competition and Markets Authority. The group also leads Ofcom’s dispute resolution processes in telecoms, postal services and broadcasting. It works closely on cross-cutting issues with the separate content standards enforcement team in Ofcom’s Broadcasting & Media Group and the criminal licence enforcement function in our Spectrum Group.

The Enforcement Group works extremely closely with policy teams across Ofcom, especially those responsible for online safety, infrastructure and connectivity where the Group is exercising enforcement activity on their behalf. Especially close working is needed to ensure that Ofcom makes coherent choices about where to use enforcement tools, and where supervision or other mechanisms would achieve a better and/or faster outcome for consumers.

As Group Director, you will lead and ultimately be accountable for the work of teams investigating high profile, contentious cases. You will be comfortable making decisions, articulating the rationale behind them, and leading engagement with senior external stakeholders.

We are looking for a strong leader with experience in enforcement who can energise, motivate and provide direction for a highly capable and diverse group, leading with clarity and confidence through ambiguity and change, supporting transformation where required and providing stability during periods of sustained pressure or scrutiny.

A collaborative leadership style is essential, as Ofcom works to a highly matrixed structure across multiple locations. This is particularly important as member of the Senior Management Team, where the Group Director, Enforcement will need to forge strong and constructive relationships to ensure their group works closely in partnership with others.

Key responsibilities

• Lead Ofcom’s overall strategy and approach to enforcement, in close collaboration with other Group Directors, and as part of Ofcom’s wider corporate strategy.
• Lead the Enforcement Group (around 110 colleagues), inspiring and motivating the team, working in close collaboration across Ofcom, including with our Board and professional functions. Ensure the agility, pace and effectiveness of the Enforcement Group for the future, ensuring it attracts, retains and develops diverse talent with the broad range of experience and skills required.
• Oversee the work of the Enforcement Group, delegating responsibility and accountability effectively whilst managing risk across overall strategy, the workplan and portfolio of cases and projects, ensuring they are delivered to time, quality and cost.
• Build very strong working relationships between the Enforcement Group and its policy partners in online safety, infrastructure and connectivity, ensuring that the overall strategy is clear for each area. This includes how decisions are made about whether enforcement or other compliance tools are most appropriate in individual cases.
• Maintain existing strong links between the Enforcement Group and Ofcom’s Legal Group led by our General Counsel, and Ofcom’s other groups.
• As a member of Ofcom’s Senior Management Team, play a full role in leading the whole organization alongside the CEO and other members of SMT, including our transformation programme.
• Act as an independent, authoritative voice internally and externally on all of Ofcom’s key strategic areas / themes, challenging internally and acting as an ambassador externally. Be able to discern the key issues, explain, engage and communicate Ofcom’s strategic focus with credibility at the most senior levels of the industry and to a wide range of stakeholders, including government.
• Champion Ofcom’s values of Excellence, Respect, Collaboration, Empowerment and Agility, creating the conditions for an inclusive, high-performing and resilient culture where people feel supported and accountable for delivering outcomes that matter.

Experience and skills

• Experience of competition, consumer and/or regulatory enforcement: in depth experience and understanding of competition, consumer and/or regulatory enforcement - this can include general competition and consumer law enforcement gained either in an enforcement specific role or heavy involvement with an enforcement function, gained in a policy role and/or within a regulated industry, private advisory role or government.

• Track record of close collaboration: you will work closely with your fellow Senior Management Team members and will be comfortable contributing fully to the joint leadership of the organisation and accountability for its output, working in an open, collegiate and collaborative way.

• Leading the Group: significant senior leadership experience at an Executive level - strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and lead teams of experts, and to work collaboratively with colleagues and teams across Ofcom.

• Owning accountabilities: you will have experience of being accountable for decisions in high profile, contentious areas, and will be comfortable both making those decisions and articulating the rationale behind them, leading external engagement with senior external stakeholders.

• Strategic thinking and communications: you will lead and contribute to Ofcom’s overall strategy and will be able to oversee drafting of internal and published documents and decisions which are often subject to scrutiny in the courts. You will need to be comfortable communicating arguments in person to senior colleagues within Ofcom, with senior external stakeholders and with the media, and be prepared to listen, contribute, persuade, and resolve conflicts where they arise.

• Harmonising work: you will be able to build and maintain constructive and productive relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels and engage with senior external stakeholders in a fair and professional way.

• Trailblazing ideas: you will be able to think creatively about complex and novel problems and develop effective solutions.

Inclusive hiring at Ofcom

At Ofcom, our mission is clear: to make communications work for everyone. To achieve that, our people must reflect the diversity of the UK, in background, identity and experience.

We believe innovation thrives when difference is valued and everyone feels empowered to contribute their ideas and perspectives. That’s why we welcome colleagues of all ethnicities and races, sexes, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, faiths and beliefs, and those with apparent and non-apparent disabilities. We value socio-economic diversity, life experience and neurodiversity too. Whether you’re a carer, a parent, a veteran, or re-entering work after time away, your voice and perspective matter here.

Flexibility is at the heart of how we work because we want you to thrive in a way that suits you best. Most roles can therefore be adapted for part-time hours, job shares, or other flexible arrangements. Learn more about our Rewards, Benefits and Wellbeing on our careers page.

Our recruitment process is intentionally designed to be open and accessible. If you need adjustments, information in a different format or an alternative way to apply, contact us at [email protected] or 0330 912 1378.

As a proud Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role. You can read more about this commitment here.

Whoever you are, whatever your story, you belong at Ofcom.