Policy Advisor
Ofcom -
About Ofcom
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day. We make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.
Our culture is clear - we live by our values: Empowerment; Excellence; Collaboration; Agility and Respect. These define how we work to deliver our purpose, now and in the future. The behaviours which support these values set the path for a fully inclusive and innovative culture at Ofcom.
We focus not only on what we do, but how we do it. We pride ourselves on being an organisation of people who genuinely care about helping others.
About the Team
This role sits within the Online Safety Policy Development Team. Almost every part of our lives is now online. As well as bringing many benefits, there are also real risks posed online by harmful or illegal activity - from hate speech to bullying and harassment to child sexual abuse, and more. The UK Government has appointed Ofcom as the new regulator for online safety. There has never been a more meaningful time to join Ofcom on our mission to create a safer life online.
Purpose of the Role
Our Policy Advisors support the development and delivery of our programme of policy work and are central to the success of the regime and delivering improved outcomes for users online. The role will involve the following:
Online harms: providing subject matter expertise and thought leadership on the rapidly evolving online CSA and VAWG threats and staying up to date with developments.
Policy Development: supporting our work in developing and delivering standards for tackling online CSA, developing a strategy around online VAWG, harnessing innovative regulatory approaches to assessing and measuring compliance.
Research: supporting our research programme by contributing to projects on mitigations to tackle online harms, including emerging technologies
Stakeholder Engagement: contribute to the development and management of our engagement with a broad range of CSA and VAWG stakeholders (including industry and the third sector).
You will be part of dynamic multi-disciplinary project teams shaping new policy and regulatory approaches to tackling child sexual abuse in the online space. Our Policy Advisors are responsible for supporting and delivering policy work or projects, working with project teams to drive work forward and make sure we deliver against our strategic priorities – to ultimately help Ofcom deliver its mission of making a safer life online for people in the UK.
Please note that this role involves working with policy, research and content related to child sexual abuse and violence against women and girls, which can be potentially sensitive or distressing.
Key responsibilities
Support the CSA and VAWG policy team to develop, deliver and manage Ofcom’s regulatory regime for online safety through working on discrete areas of policy and project management.
Support the work of Policy Leads as needed to develop policy options to tackle online CSA and VAWG, and consider their practicality, risks and long-term implications.
Research and analyse multiple data sources on particular topics and bring these to life for team members and develop clear and focused documents, such as briefings and research reports, for internal use or external publication. Seek input from a wide range of colleagues to inform briefings and reports. Use initiative to think about possible options or considerations as part of wider piece of work that the Policy Lead may undertake.
Support the team’s stakeholder engagement plan and milestones, including acting as a contact for stakeholder meetings, triaging incoming engagement proposals, identifying policy issues and key stakeholders to prioritise engagement opportunities, and preparing senior colleagues for engagement (such as by providing briefing notes).
Develop and foster expertise in online CSA and VAWG threats and keep across online trends and technological developments.
Keep abreast of the public policy landscape in relation to online regulation
Provide practical support to work areas, such as setting up meetings, project planning and management and feeding into wider programme and operational management workstreams.
Build and maintain relationships with a broad range of internal Ofcom teams and where applicable, online industry and third sector stakeholders.
Ensure clear communication and information sharing at all levels across stakeholder workstreams and maintain close links with other internal teams, including the CEO’s office, Public Policy; Communications, Online Technology, International and research teams.
Skills, knowledge and experience
Essential
Strong demonstrable understanding of CSA, VAWG and/or domestic abuse, particularly the online aspects of these harms.
Excellent written communication skills. A concise drafting style in order to produce high-quality documents.
Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills and proven ability to work effectively with teams across diverse projects.
Ability to solve problems by analysing and evaluating evidence whilst working with ambiguity.
Solid planning and organisation skills.
An interest in online content standards and internet policy in the UK and beyond, including the business models and technologies that are transforming industries.
Interest in public policy debate on internet safety regulation
Evidence of Ofcom’s values: Excellence, Agility, Empowerment, Collaboration, and Respect
Desirable
Experience in working in the field of child sexual abuse, violence against women and girls, and/or domestic abuse, ideally in respect of online areas of these harms
Experience in or understanding of mitigations to tackle online CSA or VAWG related harms
Understanding of emerging technology to tackle online CSA or VAWG related harms
Experience in managing internal and external stakeholder relationships
Understanding of the commercial dynamics of online services and the technology sector
Understanding of the role of regulation in the technology sector, and the policy issues associated with online safety
Experience of applying new rules, guidance or policy in regulated sectors
Experience of assessing companies’ systems, processes, governance and compliance with key regulatory requirements
Qualifications
No mandatory qualifications. Academic or vocational qualifications may be helpful in demonstrating the criteria set out above but there are no pre-requisites.
Applying for the role
If you are interested in any of the roles, please submit your CV and a covering letter (up to 500 words), stating your role preference(s), explaining your relevant skills, knowledge and experience and why you want to join the Online Safety Policy Team. Please let us know if you would like to submit your application in another format.
