Public Policy Manager

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Please note that the advert will close at 00:01 on Friday 23 October, so we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Thursday 22 October.

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, and wireless devices. We’re also taking on the challenge of making the online world a safer place. 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

The Public Policy team sits at the centre of Ofcom. We link Ofcom and its work as an independent regulator with the wider public policy and political developments that affect the sectors we regulate. We set and oversee Ofcom’s parliamentary and government engagement strategy, manage core risks and opportunities arising from the public policy context, and provide intelligence and insight to support effective decision-making.

The work of the team is fast-paced, collaborative and blends both internal and external stakeholder engagement. We work closely with the Chief Executive and Chair’s offices, the Communications team, the Nations teams and many others to deliver effectively on our objectives.

Purpose of the Role

The Public Policy team is divided into four branches. You will join the Broadcast and Media branch, where you will be responsible for a defined portfolio of policy areas, working closely with the rest of the branch to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach. You will also be expected to make a strong contribution to the development of the branch and Public Policy Team as a whole, demonstrating initiative, leadership and a commitment to helping us build a positive and inclusive team culture.

Experience and knowledge of government and parliamentary engagement is essential for this role. You will need strong policy analysis and communication skills, as well as the ability to build effective and collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders. Experience and knowledge of broadcast and media is desirable but not essential.

If you are based outside of London, regular travel to London will be required for this role.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Own Ofcom’s strategy for government and parliamentary engagement across your portfolio.

• Build and maintain productive relationships internally and externally, keeping engagement purposeful and joined up. You will engage directly with government officials in this role.

• Keep the organisation abreast of key external developments in your areas, and shape Ofcom’s policy-making and decision-making by providing expert advice on the external context for our work.

• Maintain oversight and grip of Ofcom’s work programme in your areas, identifying risks arising from the public policy context, and taking a problem-solving approach to resolve or escalate these as appropriate. You will drive alignment with our wider work, within broadcast and media and more broadly.

• Provide high-quality, plain English written and oral briefings, and manage correspondence with parliamentarians, ensuring that it is of a consistently high standard.

• Contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Public Policy team by supporting cross cutting projects and other work.

• 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

Essential

• Experience and knowledge of government and parliamentary engagement.

• Comfortable with ambiguity, confident taking initiative and driving work independently.
• Demonstrable ability to master a broad and complex policy brief.
• Experience of supporting more junior colleagues, and contributing to a positive and inclusive working environment.
• Forming Relationships: Proven ability to demonstrate good judgement to gain the respect and trust of senior colleagues and stakeholders; ability to manage upwards/sideways.
• Harmonising Work: Working effectively with others, sharing information as appropriate and identifying shared priorities with external stakeholders.
• Scanning Horizons: Seeing the bigger political and organisational picture, identifying opportunities and risks, and helping to navigate paths towards delivery of Ofcom priorities.
• Articulating Ideas: Confident and adaptive communicator, both spoken and written, with proven ability to represent and persuade at senior levels inside and outside an organisation.
• Executing Plans: Takes an agile approach - willingness to respond to changing timescales and priorities with strong organisational skills; being able to demonstrate a track record of managing priorities across a complex workload.

Desirable

• Experience and knowledge of broadcast and media.

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.