Senior Associate, Online Safety Policy Development

Closing Date:

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Job Description:

Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Sunday 11 October, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Saturday 10 October.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter of no more than 500 words answering the following:

Please describe a policy recommendation you developed in relation to online safety, technology, regulation or a similarly complex area. What evidence informed your approach, how did you assess competing considerations, and how did you reach your recommendation?

Applications should be submitted as one combined document containing both your CV and covering letter. Applications submitted without a covering letter will be deemed incomplete. If you require additional support please reach out to [email protected].

This is an 12 month FTC.

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

The Online Safety Group’s purpose is to ensure UK citizens have a safer life online by implementing and overseeing the requirements under the Online Safety Act 2023. The Group is responsible for delivering online safety policy, supervising online services, and building technical expertise to meet the regime’s aims.

This role is within the Online Safety Policy Development team, which works at the centre of the Online Safety Group. The Policy Development team lead the development of Ofcom’s online safety policies which establish steps services should take to make users safer online. They are policy experts in online harms, mitigations and are responsible for implementing our policy codes and guidance.

This team works closely with cross functional colleagues from other teams in the organisation to use their skills and experience to develop robust policy. These include legal experts, technologists, economists, and research specialists amongst others.

Purpose of the Role

Sitting within the Online Safety Group (OSG), this role supports the development of Ofcom's approach to regulating online safety, including how we protect users from harmful and illegal content. You will work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment on some of the most complex and challenging issues facing society.

A key aspect of the role is understanding the challenges of regulation in a rapidly evolving digital and technological landscape. Collaboration with colleagues across OSG and the wider organisation will be integral to your success, and you will have opportunities to further develop your analytical, problem-solving and project management skills.

We are seeking policy management generalists with experience in policy development, strong analytical skills, and the ability to draft clear and effective policy documents. This work is central to the success of the Online Safety regime and to delivering improved outcomes for users online.

OSG operates a flexible resourcing model. While these roles are being recruited to support current policy development priorities, colleagues may work across a range of projects as organisational priorities evolve. This could include policy development, implementation, compliance initiatives, and other cross-cutting work needed to deliver the online safety regime effectively.

Current priority areas include, but are not limited to, Women and Girls' Online Safety, Age Assurance, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the proposed social media ban.

Your key responsibilities

• Identifies and shapes how work supports and delivers Ofcom priorities, taking ownership and making a significant contribution
• Uses own expertise in area of specialism/work area to lead thinking, deliver, influence and challenge, sharing knowledge with others at pace
• Resolving complex policy problems by gathering information, conducting analysis, and distilling findings to identify options for improving policy;
• Ensure our policy work is based on a comprehensive programme of research;
• Drafting clear and ambitious guidance chapters, distilling technical information into a coherent and compelling narrative that makes the case for change;
• Overseeing and project manage the workload of junior and cross-functional colleagues and to identify policy solutions and test these with internal and external stakeholders
• Engaging with senior colleagues, including directors and the CEO of Ofcom to explain our policy work and support their external engagement with senior stakeholders;
• Build and maintain effective relationships with teams across Ofcom, ensuring they are updated, included and feel heard.
• Develop and foster online expertise across Ofcom’s online work programme and keep across online trends and technological developments. Keep abreast of the public policy landscape in relation to online regulation.

Please note, this role may involve some research or policy development into areas such as preventing hate and terrorism, online child sexual abuse, material promoting suicide or self-harm, or other potentially sensitive and/or distressing topics.

The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success

• Significant experience leading or contributing to regulatory policy development, including evidence gathering, stakeholder engagement, analysis of complex information, drafting policy proposals or recommendations, and presenting clear, evidence-based advice to senior decision-makers.
• Candidates should have experience in policy development and knowledge in one or more of the following areas: AI, age assurance, and online platform features and functionalities (e,g, Proactive Tech, Recommender Systems & Content Moderation).
• Building Solutions: Identify and solve complex issues, using evidence-based methods to gather insights and develop well-founded solutions.
• Trailblazing Ideas: Bring fresh perspectives through creative and original ideas that improve processes, policies, or services.
• Scanning Horizons: Grasp the bigger picture, foresee upcoming trends and challenges, and ensure actions and decisions are in sync with long-term objectives.
• Executing Plans: Organise tasks and set clear goals, managing resources wisely, while keeping an eye on progress.
• Owning Accountabilities: Take responsibility for your actions, decisions, and their outcomes. Show up reliably and commit to getting the job done.
• Channelling Influence: Guide opinions and decisions with compelling communication and persuasion techniques, looking to get everyone on the same game plan.

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.