Director, Strategy and Policy

Ofcom; Manchester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ofcom is seeking a Strategy Director to lead horizon scanning, strategic thinking, and delivery across a portfolio of policy work in the UK. You will collaborate with teams and groups to provide input to executives, boards, and external partners.

The role requires senior leadership of large multidisciplinary teams, delivering complex programs, with strong analytical capability and commercial awareness in the TMT sector. You will shape organisational strategy and risk management.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience setting and delivering strategy and policy in large organisations.
• Ability to turn insight into clear strategic choices and inform organisational direction.
• Deep analytical capability synthesising evidence, market insight and external context.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-cutting projects shaping the future direction of regulation in media and online safety.
• Provide strategic input and advice across a wide range of policy areas with evidence-based reasoning.
• Collaborate with Directors to lead the Strategy and Research Group and oversee delivery across portfolios.
• Represent Ofcom externally with senior stakeholders and international partners.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic planning

Analytical capability

Stakeholder engagement

Executive delivery

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

About Of

com
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 ot
her. 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 every
one.

About the team you’ll be pa
rt of
The Strategy and Policy (S&P) team is part of the Strategy and Research Group which brings together our research, public policy, international and strategy expertise to ensure Ofcom is served with insights and analysis that enable strategic choices. It is a group that is focussed on delivery today always in the context of the longer-term horizon. The S&P team’s role in this

• is to:
  Shape and own the Ofcom strategy: working collaboratively with colleagues across Ofcom to develop our three-year strategy with the Executive leadership team and the Board, support the development of annual plans, and work with strategic finance partners to track delivery and understand ou
• tcomes.Make space to see the bigger picture and further ahead: bringing in wider views, data and insight to test our thinking, providing senior leaders and the Board with integrated, forward‑looking insight across the communications s
• ectors.Deliver strategic projects where best placed to lead, including on cross-cutting or complex strategic que

stions.
To deliver, the team invests in great cross-team working, leveraging expertise and excellent internal and external relationships to bring insight and shape strategic di

rection.
The purpose and scope of

the role
The Strategy Director will ensure Ofcom’s horizon scanning and strategic thinking activity is expert, evidence‑based, and clearly communicated. They will work closely with teams and groups across Ofcom to provide strategic input and advice on a wide range of po

licy work.
Working in close collaboration with their fellow Strategy Director, the postholder will have clear, singular accountability for delivery across a specific portfolio of work, while retaining strong joint ownership of the overal

• onsibilities
  Act in partnership with your fellow Strategy Director providing a joined-up view of the future of communications, the strategic opportunities and challenges for Ofcom, and seamless leadership to the tea
• m as a whole.Develop Ofcom’s organisational strategy working closely with groups across Ofcom on the three-year strategy, as well as the annual Plan of Work and reporting against delivery, ensuring risks are escalated as
• appropriate.Work to provide – and support the team to provide – strategic input and advice across a wide range of policy areas – with a particular focus on online and broadcasting markets - based on excellent understanding of likely future macro trends as well as technological, market and consumer
• developments.Lead and sponsor major cross‑cutting projects that shape the future direction of regulation, particularly in relation to media and o
• nline safety.Ensure high standards of analytical rigour, insight and creativity across all work, with decisions grounded in evidence and a strong understanding of commercial and technologic
• cal dynamics.Represent Ofcom externally with senior stakeholders, government, industry, international partners an
• d the public.Lead, inspire and develop diverse, high‑performing teams, creating an inclusive environment that supports learning, innovation and talent
• development.Work collaboratively with fellow Directors to lead the Strategy and Research Group, contributing to the Group's strategic direction, decision-making

and culture.
The skills, knowledge and experience you’ll ne

ed for success
Leading Impact – Strategy, Insig

ht and Delivery
Candidates w

• ill demonstrate:
  Significant senior leadership experience in setting and delivering strategy, policy and complex programmes in large, matrixed or highly regulated organisations, with clear evidence of impact and an ability to bring col
• leagues with you.A strong track record of turning insight into clear strategic choices, shaping priorities and using that to inform organisa
• tional direction.Deep analytical capability, including synthesising complex evidence, market insight and external context to inform high‑quality, timely
• decision‑making.Strong commercial and economic awareness of the TMT sector, including understanding of incentives, investment dynamics, risk and system
• ‑wide trade‑offs.Experience operating with collective accountability at executive level, while personally owning delivery and outcomes within defined areas o
• f responsibility.Credibility and effectiveness in engaging up and out, including representing the organisation with senior stakeholders and influencin

g with integrity.
Leading Others – Organisational, People and R

esource Leadership
Candidate

• s will demonstrate:
  Proven experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams, including setting clear priorities, enabling ownership and accountability, and developing future le
• adership capability.Experience operating at executive and Board level, including advising, influencing and constructively challenging sen
• ior decision‑makers.A strong record of leading through others to deliver outcomes at scale, while maintaining quality, pace and alignment across organi
• sional boundaries.Experience directing significant budgets and resources, balancing short‑term delivery with long‑term value, sustainability, p
• erformance and risk.Inclusive leadership capability, creating the conditions for challenge, collaboration and high performance, and enabling people to contr
• ibute at their best.Experience leading organisations or functions through change, providing clarity, confidence and stability through ambiguity

and transformation.
Leading Self – Judgement,

Values and Resilience
Candid

• ates will demonstrate:
  Sound judgement in navigating complexity, ambiguity and competing priorities, balancing long‑term outcomes wit
• h risk and uncertainty.Curiosity and adaptability, with experience fostering innovation, learning and continuous improvement in
• themselves and others.A strong values base, consistently role‑modelling Ofcom’s values through inclusive, accountable
• and ethical leadership.Personal resilience and self‑awareness, with experience sustaining performance over time and supporting

others to do the same.

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 a

nd 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 We

llbeing on our careers page.

re about this commitment here.
Whoever you are, whatever y

our story, you belong at Ofcom.