Senior Spectrum Policy Advisor

Ofcom; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ofcom seeks a Senior Associate to join the Spectrum Group, focusing on the long-term strategy for spectrum management. The role involves leading policy initiatives, managing key projects, and collaborating with economists and technical specialists. Ideal candidates will have strong project management skills and the ability to analyze complex data to inform policy development.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Inclusivity in hiring

Qualifications

• Experience in managing policy projects with autonomy.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to various audiences.
• Strong analytical skills for data interpretation and recommendation.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy thinking on wireless developments and implications on spectrum issues.
• Manage projects with a high degree of autonomy.
• Collaborate with economists and lawyers to deliver timely policy solutions.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Analytical Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Closing Date:

24/06/2025

Group:

Spectrum Group

Management Level:

Senior Associate

Job Type:

Permanent

Job Description:

Please note this role will close at 00.01 on the 24th June so we advise making your application by midnight on the 23rd June.

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 Spectrum Group is responsible for setting the long-term strategy for spectrum, understanding demand from different stakeholders, and clearing, awarding and licensing the radio spectrum, which enables access to all types of wireless technologies from TV to mobile, from satellite to Wi-Fi, from Bluetooth to wireless cameras.

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 to be 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 Policy and Analysis team is made up of around 20 colleagues – most with general policy backgrounds - who help drive the next generation of wireless solutions. We explore new trends in wireless communications and develop policies that balance different stakeholders needs, to enable UK consumers and industry to benefit from innovative applications and technologies.

The purpose and scope 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. Current areas of focus for the team include identifying appropriate spectrum to support new 6G services, the balance of spectrum allocation between WiFi and mobile services and support for the expansion of satellite services in the UK.

You will use critical thinking skills to understand and unpack complex policy problems and think creatively to develop new spectrum management approaches and licensing solutions that balance different stakeholder needs. You will collaborate closely with internal experts to ensure our solutions are robust and evidence led and drive the development (and drafting) of policy consultations and decisions. You will be expected to work independently and within a team, reporting to either a Principal Policy Advisor or Director depending on project needs.

This role will involve regular collaboration across different Ofcom groups, including economists, lawyers and technical specialists. There will also be opportunities to work with different sectors and stakeholders, and represent Ofcom’s position to them, with an emphasis on proactive external engagement to gather new market insights to inform our policy approaches.

Your Key Responsibilities

Tasks will be varied and would suit an individual that takes an active approach to planning and developing projects and excels in bringing a range of individuals together to deliver as a team. This role will suit an individual who is comfortable engaging with detailed (often technical) issues that impact on policy solutions and communicating effectively both verbally and in writing with senior internal and external stakeholders.

Effective collaboration with other parts of Ofcom is critical to the role, particularly with economists, lawyers and technical specialists.

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.
• Project 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 Networks and Strategy 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 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’ll 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.

• Building Solutions: the ability to analyse and interpret data, come to evidence based conclusions with clear recommendations that you advocate for and drive through.

• Owning Accountability 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.

• 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;

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;
• An understanding of or interest in micro-economics, particularly as it relates to the management of scarce public resources and to competition policy;
• A proactive approach to stakeholder engagement and knowledge building that identifies new issues, and brings insight from emergent developments in the market (and in technologies) back in to inform future policy making.

Inclusivity Statement

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 adjustments, information in an alternative format, or prefer to apply in a different way, please contact us at [e-mail] or call 0330 912 1378.

As a Disability Confident Leader, 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/