Strategy Manager, Strategy & Policy

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Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Wednesday 24 June, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Tuesday 23 June.

This is an FTC for up to 12 months.

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 Strategy and Policy team plays a pivotal role in setting the Ofcom’s strategic direction and ensuring it has a clear pathway to deliver against its key priorities. We are also at the forefront of providing the organisation with the strategic insight and analysis needed to anticipate future challenges and opportunities that exist within this rapidly evolving space. Our work takes a broad range of forms, but key responsibilities include:

• Thought leadership on emerging policy issues – working collaboratively with other teams to decide Ofcom’s position on new or cross-cutting consumer, public policy and competition issues

• Horizon scanning and market/strategic insight – understanding how the communications sector may develop in future to inform our wider policy programme

• Delivering Ofcom’s strategic priorities – leading major projects that set the future direction of regulation in the sector

• Ofcom’s corporate strategy – working with senior management and the Board to set Ofcom’s strategy, define its priorities and assess their delivery

We have a clear focus upon supporting the development and wellbeing of all our colleagues. Our culture is underpinned by four important corporate values: excellence, agility, collaboration and empowerment.

The purpose and scope of the role

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the most strategically significant organisational and policy questions that Ofcom faces across the breath of its remit. The successful candidate will coordinate delivery teams and work with a wide range of internal and (to a lesser extent) external stakeholders, and will need to be willing to work across the full range of areas that our team is responsible for and across all of the sectors Ofcom regulates. Strategy & Policy Managers typically manage multidisciplinary project teams and report to a Project Director, typically a Principal.

Your key responsibilities

Project management and delivery

• Managing strategic projects, under the guidance of more senior colleagues, including taking ownership of key day to day responsibilities (e.g. timelines, budget, governance, internal and external stakeholders)

• Taking an active role in setting direction for projects, in dialogue with senior stakeholders.

• Depending on the circumstances, either overseeing or leading the delivery of high-quality reports for publication and presenting the results to internal and external stakeholders

• Managing upwards, exercising good judgement in proactively managing and mitigating risks

• Occasionally acting as Project Director, with ultimate responsibility for the quality of output and for liaising with internal clients at Director level

Analytical work and thought leadership

• Leading policy development in specific areas and providing advice and guidance to others across a range of policy areas

• Developing and applying intellectually robust analytical approaches – including identifying the key questions to answer; mapping the problem space in a logically complete way; developing hypotheses; etc – whether in relation to commercial, public policy or organisational issues

• Contributing proactively to debates about strategic, policy and organisational issues, providing thought leadership within the Strategy & Policy team and across the wider organisation

• Representing Ofcom at external meetings and developing an external network to improve Ofcom’s understanding of stakeholder positions

Team management

• Taking responsibility for managing, motivating and developing junior colleagues

• Contributing to the ongoing development of the team and Ofcom as an excellent place to work

The skills, knowledge and experience you’ll need for success

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

You should have a demonstrable skills in relation to:

• Executing plans: lead teams across a portfolio of projects, taking ownership of progress against deadlines and production of deliverables, shaping projects and identifying necessary work proactively

• Lead, with the support of a Principal or similar, at least one of

  • strategic policy development – including establishing or using analytical frameworks for thinking about regulatory policy

  • commercial strategy analysis – including an understanding of key drivers of profitability in different industries

  • internal corporate strategy and planning – whether in a commercial or public-sector context

• Articulating ideas: communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, producing text suitable for publication in a policy/regulatory context when needed, with an ability to tailor arguments to different audiences

• Effective presentations: you should have a demonstrable ability to produce effective presentations, including strong PowerPoint skills.

• Harmonising work: collaborate effectively with colleagues from different teams, specialisms and backgrounds

Whilst not essential for the role, the panel would be interested to see applications from candidates who can also demonstrate:

• The ability to effectively manage upwards and proactively mitigate risks before they occur, exercising good judgement

• An understanding of commercial dynamics in our sectors

• Familiarity with quantitative modelling of consumer trends and/or business finances

• Undergraduate-equivalent knowledge of economics, public policy or politics

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.