Senior Policy Advisor - Space and Innovation

COM1000 Office of Communications; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ofcom's Spectrum Group is seeking a Senior Associate for a permanent policy role focused on wireless, satellite and drone spectrum. You will manage key projects, lead workstreams and craft robust policy and licensing solutions informed by evidence and analysis.

Collaborating with economists, lawyers and engineers across Ofcom, you will draft consultations, engage with external stakeholders, and represent Ofcom's position to international partners while maintaining a proactive external presence.

Qualifications

• Experience in policy or strategy development, in government, regulator or relevant industry body.
• Ability to synthesize new information and anticipate trends to align with long-term objectives.
• Excellent written and oral communication, with ability to adapt content for diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical skills, to interpret data and collaborate with cross-disciplinary experts.
• Delivery-focused with capability to manage projects and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy thinking on wireless developments and their implications for spectrum.
• Collaborate with economists, lawyers and engineers to develop robust policy solutions.
• Draft policy consultations and decisions, synthesising feedback and rationale.
• Represent Ofcom with external stakeholders and international counterparts.
• Drive new ways of managing spectrum and simplify existing approaches.

Skills

Scanning Horizons

Articulating Ideas

Building Solutions

Owning Accountabilities

Harmonising Work

Job description

Closing Date: 19/10/2026 Group: Spectrum Group Management Level: Senior Associate Job Type: Permanent Job Description: Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 19 October, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Sunday 18 October.

About Ofcom

As the UK’s communications regulator, we’re delivering vital work to make communications work for everyone. Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to online safety, TV and radio, the postal service, and wireless devices. We need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our ambitions on behalf of the British public.

About the Team

Spectrum Group is responsible for setting the long‑term strategy for spectrum use in the UK, understanding demand from different stakeholders, and clearing, awarding and licensing the radio spectrum, which enables access to all types of wireless technologies: for example, TV, mobile, satellite, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth and drones. Radio spectrum is a vital resource used by almost everyone - consumers as well as businesses and it touches our lives every day. The spectrum connects our mobiles, wireless headphones, tablets and computers. It enables our key fobs to unlock our cars, satellites to measure the climate and meteorologists to forecast the weather. It also ensures that concerts and productions are seen and heard. TV and radio broadcasting would not exist without it. Without access to vital spectrum, police, fire, ambulance, the coastguard, and air traffic control would not be able to communicate.

The Space Spectrum Authorisation and Policy team consist of around 30 colleagues –comprising a mix of policy, regulatory and licensing roles. We help to create and update the authorisations that enable access to spectrum for innovative services in the UK, including in the satellite, drones and maritime sector.

Purpose of the Role

The successful candidate can expect to undertake a range of policy activities, including managing key projects and leading workstreams within wider programmes, with a focus on innovative services in the satellite, broader space and drone sectors. You will use critical, strategic and creative thinking skills to understand and unpack complex policy problems and differing stakeholder interests to develop spectrum policy and licensing to enable new and improved wireless services. You will collaborate closely with a range of expert colleagues to develop solutions which are robust and evidence led and drive the drafting of policy consultations and decisions. You will be expected to work independently and within a team, reporting to a Principal Policy Advisor or Director depending on project needs. This role will involve regular collaboration across different Ofcom groups, including economists, lawyers and engineers. There will also be regular opportunities to engage with different sectors and stakeholders, including international counterparts, and represent Ofcom’s position to them, with an emphasis on proactive external engagement to gather new market insights to inform our policy approaches.

Key responsibilities

• You will use critical, strategic and creative thinking skills to understand and unpack complex policy problems and differing stakeholder interests to develop spectrum policy and licensing to enable new and improved wireless services.
• You will collaborate closely with a range of expert colleagues to develop solutions which are robust and evidence led and drive the drafting of policy consultations and decisions.
• You will be expected to work independently and within a team, reporting to a Principal Policy Advisor or Director depending on project needs.
• This role will involve regular collaboration across different Ofcom groups, including economists, lawyers and engineers.
• There will also be regular opportunities to engage with different sectors and stakeholders, including international counterparts, and represent Ofcom’s position to them, with an emphasis on proactive external engagement to gather new market insights to inform our policy approaches.

Key aspects of the role are:

• Lead policy thinking on wireless developments (market, technology and international) and their implications on spectrum related issues, liaising with colleagues across the Spectrum group and Ofcom more generally to ensure you have taken into account linkages with a wide variety of projects and policies.
• Manage policy projects with a high degree of autonomy, working with technical colleagues to interrogate spectrum usage trends, identify underlying policy problems and build consensus towards future proof solutions.
• Collaborate with colleagues in other parts of Ofcom (including lawyers, economists, and Ofcom’s Infrastructure and Connectivity Groups) to develop and deliver policy in a timely and joined up way.
• Develop and draft policy consultations and decisions, synthesising feedback to determine how Ofcom should respond and effectively positioning of our narrative and rationale.
• Represent Ofcom externally, gathering insights from stakeholders including industry and government, and providing appropriate challenge to maximise the insight gained from discussions.
• Contribute to the development of new ways of managing spectrum, thinking creatively about how existing approaches can be improved and where possible simplified.

The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success

• Scanning Horizons: an ability to synthesize new information to anticipate trends and challenges, and make sure that today’s work aligns with longer term objectives.
• Articulating Ideas: first‑rate communications skills, in particular the ability to explain complex issues clearly both in writing and orally, adapting content to suit a variety of audiences.
• Building Solutions: the ability to analyse and interpret data and evidence, and engage constructively with legal, economic and engineering specialists to come to evidence based conclusions with clear recommendations that you advocate for and drive through.
• Owning Accountabilities: delivery‑focused with ability to set up and manage projects, prioritise your own and other’s resources and produce high‑level deliverables on time to meet tight deadlines.
• Harmonising Work: an ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and with a range of experts, understanding and balancing different skills to build a common goal and deliver joined up, robust policy solutions.

Experience in policy or strategy development, either in a Government, regulator, relevant industry body or company.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge and experience

An understanding of spectrum management principles or a broader understanding of wireless communications is helpful but can be developed over time in the role.

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 [e-mail] 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. We make communications work for everyone. 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. And we need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone. Ofcom’s remit is huge – we keep UK citizens and consumers safe from harm and ensure they receive the best possible service from their communications providers. Find out more about Ofcom, where we operate, and the different types of work we do to keep the country connected. At Ofcom we are determined to do all we can to promote diversity and equality inside our organisation and in the wider sectors we regulate. Diversity and equality are fundamental to achieving our purpose to make communications work for everyone. We need to make the best decisions for all UK consumers and citizens. To do this, it is essential that all levels of our organisation are diverse and foster an inclusive culture.