Director, Communications

Closing Date:

05/02/2025

Group:

Corporate Group

Management Level:

Senior Management Specialist

Job Type:

Permanent

Job Description:

How to Apply

Taylor Birchwood is managing this vacancy on behalf of Ofcom. Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Tuesday 4th March. Please direct your application to [email protected].

Please submit your CV, along with a covering letter of no more than 400 words outlining your suitability and experience for the role based on the essential criteria below. Please upload your CV and covering letter as one document.

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 Communications Director reports to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and works directly with the Chief Executive, Chair and entire Senior Leadership Group. This role will lead a team of c33 FTE and will also be part of the Corporate Group management team.

The purpose and scope of the role

Ofcom is seeking an exceptional Communications Director to lead all external and internal communications for the organisation. This pivotal role requires a strategic leader who can amplify Ofcom’s voice, shape public perception, and enhance our reputation across fast-moving and often high-profile sectors.

You will advise on the effective deployment of senior spokespeople, ensuring their engagement enhances Ofcom’s reputation and aligns with organisational priorities. You will coach and equip Ofcom’s senior leaders in their interactions with stakeholders across the industries we regulate. You’ll be a calm fixer, part of Ofcom’s Senior Management Team, ensuring our communications align with public expectations in an ever-changing environment.

The Communications Director will lead Ofcom’s communications team, developing and delivering a strategic communications plan that supports the organisation’s objectives and resonates across our regulatory sectors.

The Communications Director will oversee a wide range of topics central to the national conversation. You will ensure that Ofcom’s perspective is clearly heard and understood by leading media relations, investment analyst communications, online and social media activities (including consumer campaigns), and internal communications across our offices in London, the nations, and regions.

To excel in this role, you will need the credibility and influence to operate at the highest levels, guiding the organisation through complex communications challenges while ensuring our voice is impactful and trusted.

Your key responsibilities

Strategy Design & Delivery:

• Responsible for developing a comms strategy (internal and external audience) to support our 3-year plan (2025 – 2028). Including, but not limited to a strong awareness and use of communications trends and horizon scanning to underpin design, advice, guidance and challenge and a strong use of evidence based and data driven decision making.

Amplifying Ofcom’s Voice:

• Drive impactful external and internal communications that ensure Ofcom’s position on key issues resonates across media, government, industry, and public audiences.

Media, Digital, and Internal Communications:

• Oversee media relations, digital platforms, consumer campaigns, investment analyst communications, and internal engagement, ensuring all channels are utilised effectively to protect and enhance Ofcom’s reputation.

Stakeholder Management:

• Clear direction and decision-making on when to deploy the right team, at all levels including CEO and Chair of the Board. Responsible for ensuring senior stakeholders very quickly trust and have confidence in advice and guidance.

• Responsible for Ofcom’s response in high pressured situations (internal and external), which require immediate and deft handling, at times out of hours, ensuring senior leaders in the organisation feel fully supported and equipped.

• Responsible for highly strategic and trusted media relationships, having an effective proactive strategy, as well as being on call and in readiness for a reactive response if required.

Reputation Management:

• Monitor public expectations and rapidly evolving industry dynamics to guide Ofcom’s narrative and maintain trust in the organisation.

Team Leadership:

• Inspire, empower, and lead a high-performing communications team across multiple offices in London, the UK nations, and regions.

• Member of the organisation’s Senior Management Team. Providing communications insight (internal and external) to all discussions and decisions. Shared responsibility for the leadership of Ofcom.

Technical knowledge & experience

• Proven track record in managing high-profile crises, delivering effective responses that protect and enhance organisational reputation.

• Experience managing national-level media relations.

• A keen practical intelligence, with demonstrated ability to master broad and complex, national, political issues.

• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships, at C-suite level, including the respect and trust of senior colleagues and stakeholders.

• An understanding of the commercial environment in which the companies that Ofcom regulates operate.

• Experience in the handing of market sensitive information

• An understanding of the way that decisions are taken in Whitehall and Westminster.

• Experience of managing digital communications campaigns using a variety of channels such as social media, video, and websites.

Behavioural attributes

• 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.

• Commercial Acumen: Understand how things work in business, from finances to market trends, and use that knowledge to make sound decisions.

• Embracing Change: Remain flexible in the face of change, anticipating and adjusting to shifts.

• Owning Accountabilities: Take responsibility for your actions, decisions, and their outcomes. Show up reliably and commit to getting the job done.

• Forming Relationships: Build and nurture positive relationships with people inside and outside the organisation.

• Harmonising Work: Work effectively with others, creating an honest team environment and sharing valuable information and resources.

• Articulating Ideas: Express your ideas, thoughts, and information in a clear and concise manner, ensuring messages are understood by everyone.

• Empowering Development: Support others in growing their skills and strengths.

Ofcom has a clear mission: to make communications work for everyone.  To be able to deliver on this, we want our organisation to reflect the diversity of background, experience, upbringing and thought that exists across the UK.  We aim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible – no matter your social background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or disability. 

Where positions are listed as full-time, we remain open to reduced hours, part-time arrangements, job shares, and other flexible working options. From day one, we champion flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual needs.

We also warmly welcome applicants who are returning to the workforce after a break – for whatever reason. If you have taken time away and are ready to rejoin, we look forward to reviewing your application.

Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If you need information in an alternative format or have specific preferences, please contact our recruitment team at [email protected] or call 0330 912 1378.

As a Disability Confident employer, we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles. Learn more about this scheme here.  https://careers.ofcom.org.uk/careers/how-we-hire/