Panel Coordinator/Administrator
Ofcom -
Team overview
The Communications Consumer Panel, established by the Communications Act 2003, is a group of independent experts with direct sectoral experience, supported by a small team.
The Panel’s job is to ensure that the sector works for consumers, citizens and micro businesses - and in particular people who may be in a more vulnerable position in society. We support the Panel to ensure the citizen and consumer voice is represented in communications policy development.
The Panel’s current team consists of an Executive Director, a Manager and a Coordinator.
The Panel consists of a Chair and up to twelve Members. We hold monthly Panel meetings and run the Panel’s stakeholder engagement, research and policy workstreams.
Purpose of the Role
Ofcom’s new role for the online safety of consumers and citizens is linked to a proposed expansion of the Panel’s remit to enable Members to provide Ofcom with insights and advice in this area. We are now recruiting a new Coordinator/Administrator to support the Panel within the Panel’s Executive Team.
The role will require you to work with Panel Members as well as a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders. You will play a key role in supporting the Panel to fulfill its statutory functions, deliver its strategic priorities, and strengthen the consumer voice across the communications sector. You will provide valuable support to the Panel’s various workstreams including its research and insight programme and stakeholder engagement. The role will include developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships including responding to stakeholder queries; helping to plan stakeholder events; and making sure that our work, including research projects, stays on track.
This is a great opportunity for someone with experience of, or an interest in, helping to develop consumer policy, research and stakeholder events. The ideal candidate will have excellent project management and admin skills; and a desire to help make a difference to the lives of consumers and citizens.
Requirements of the Role
- Develops and maintains project management plans, alongside the Panel’s Coordinator and Manager, reporting to the Panel’s Executive Director
- Organising a wide-ranging programme of stakeholder meetings for the Panel and its team
- Point of contact for stakeholder queries, drafting an initial response with support from the Panel Manager
- Assist with management of the Panel’s website, with support from the Panel Coordinator
- Assists in the general effective functioning of the Panel and ACOD, including the organisation of events and follow-up of actions
- Alerts Panel to relevant issues of interest particularly with regard to online safety e.g. research, consultations, news stories through formal Panel papers
- Undertakes desk-research on topics as requested and provides guidance and advice to the Panel’s team
- Works with Panel Manager and Panel Coordinator on preparing and drafting papers, consultation responses and correspondence regarding online safety
Skills, knowledge and experience
- Programme and project management skills (*formal qualifications is this area are not as important as an understanding of how to keep a project running efficiently in terms of balancing time, quality and the requirements of the stakeholders involved)
- Great attention to detail and produce high quality output
- Clear and accurate drafting skills – ability to research and draft reports with a clear narrative so that action can be taken based on clear evidence
- Proactive, with a flexible, trustworthy, team-focused approach to tasks
- Positive mindset – willing to continuously learn and develop and to share knowledge with the team
- Ability to develop an understanding of the Panel’s regulatory remit and to build knowledge in issues affecting consumers and citizens using communications services, particularly online services.
- Ability to balance complex stakeholder needs
- Ability to communicate honestly and clearly with colleagues, raising concerns and seeking help where needed
