Strategy and Policy Principal

Ofcom; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job description

Closing Date: 28/04/2025

Group: Central

Management Level: Principal

Job Type: Permanent

Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 28 April, and therefore we advise getting your application in no later than midnight on Sunday 27 April.

We have two positions available for this role. One is a permanent position, and one is an FTC lasting until Summer 2026. Please specify your preference as part of your application.

About the Team

Do you want to be at the heart of helping to ensure that communications works for everyone, now and in the future? Do you want to grapple with issues that include regulation of online platforms, the future of public service media, or the successful deployment of 5G networks? The Strategy and Policy team plays a pivotal role in setting 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:

1. Market and policy insight – understanding how the communications sector and policy environment may develop in future, to inform and advise regulatory policy making across Ofcom.
2. Delivering Ofcom’s strategic priorities – leading major projects that set the future direction of regulation in the sector, especially for issues that affect multiple sectors.
3. 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.
4. Ofcom’s corporate strategy – working with senior management and the Board to set Ofcom’s strategy, define its priorities and assess their delivery – as well as transforming Ofcom for the future.

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

Purpose of the Role

We are looking for curious, analytical leaders who can guide teams in applying a strategic skillset to different regulatory problems across sectors. We welcome diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives in our team. Principals in the Strategy and Policy team are experienced and knowledgeable, and can expect to lead a portfolio of projects.

They are accomplished at working collaboratively with other teams and disciplines internally, and bringing external commercial perspectives from industry into our work. As a member of the Strategy and Policy management team, you will have responsibility for managing and developing junior colleagues and for developing and strengthening team culture.

Your key responsibilities

You might have a commercial & consulting background, or policy development experience in the public sector. Regardless of this, you will have developed and delivered strategies and strategic analysis. The biggest ask of our Principals is that you can inspire teams, drive projects forward, and raise the bar of critical thinking and analysis whatever problems are thrown at you.

Your responsibilities may also cover:

1. Shaping Ofcom’s position on strategic issues by leading policy development, providing direction to and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.
2. Ensuring timely, high-quality delivery.
3. Building strong relationships across the organisation, providing thought leadership while ensuring alignment on strategic priorities.
4. Clearly and effectively communicating Ofcom’s strategic direction and policy work both internally and externally.
5. Contributing to the development of Ofcom’s corporate strategy and future planning, based on a strong understanding of market developments and the relationship between commercial and policy interests.

Our expectations of all principals include:

1. Supporting colleagues wellbeing, development and career progression.
2. Contributing to corporate initiatives that enhance how we work as a team, group, and organisation.

The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success

The essential requirements for the role include:

1. Policy and Regulation Expertise: Experience of leading policy development, including setting direction and undertaking high-quality analysis. A clear understanding of the purpose and role of regulation in the communications sector.
2. Empowering Development: Demonstrating excellent people management and developing colleagues so they can reach their potential. The right approach and capabilities to build and strengthen team culture, taking into account different perspectives, constraints and priorities.
3. Channeling Influence: Experience operating at senior levels in an organisation, working with and influencing internal and external stakeholders.
4. Executing Plans: The ability to manage a varied and changing workload, and to quickly pick up new briefs. The ability to form, lead and motivate project teams to deliver high quality work in a timely way.
5. Harmonising Work: Positive approach to collaboration, incorporating multiple perspectives and involving colleagues from different disciplines to solve problems.
6. Strategic analysis: Expert in applying strategic frameworks and structured problem-solving approaches to analyse and address complex challenges i.e. leading, creating and implementing strategic thinking.
7. Understanding (or experience) of the sectors Ofcom regulates, and/or developing policy for a regulator or central Government.

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 [e-mail] 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.