Senior Associate, Content Policy

Closing date: 30th April 2013

Job reference:

2013-CCEA-04

Closing date:

30 April 2013

Business group:

Content, Consumer and External Affairs

Business team:

Content Policy

Reports to :

Principal, Content Policy

Level:

Senior Associate

About the job:

Job purpose:

This role is located in the team with primary responsibility for Ofcom's work determining how content should be regulated on broadcast and other platforms; both immediate, specific questions and with a longer, strategic view.

The Content Policy team has recently been expanded following a re-organisation - integrating television and online content policy work with its equivalent in the radio sector, and also with those aspects of Ofcom's broadcast licensing work that are inseparable from policy questions, such as awards of licences that are made with reference to their content proposition.

Content is likely to be one of the key public policy areas for Ofcom over the next few years, driven by current developments including the renewal of the national Public Service Broadcaster licences, the question of radio switchover, Ofcom's new powers and duties to license local television, the government's policy stance on various issues of current concern and the implications of the convergence of platform technologies for the current content and standards regime.

An enthusiastic Senior Associate is required to contribute to the work of the Content Policy team. You will be expected to work in a flexible manner with the rest of the team, supporting different projects relating both to Ofcom's current regulatory responsibilities and in relation to developing Ofcom?s position of the future structure of content regulation. You will also be expected to contribute to Ofcom?s thinking in relation to a new Communications Bill.

What you will be doing:

Key Responsibilities:

Contribute to delivering Ofcom's core content regulatory responsibilities under the Communications Act and Broadcasting Acts by:

• Taking the lead on specific workstreams and projects within Content Policy work.
• Contributing to the delivery of high quality written documents, which may include external publications such as policy consultations, statements and analytical reports, and internal documents such as licensing papers.
• Acting as a working level point of contact on Content Policy projects both externally, e.g. for industry and government, and internally within Ofcom.
• Line manages one or more associates with responsibility for performance and development.
• Contributing to other aspects of Content Policy work, as required.

Qualities we're looking for:

Essential skills/Experience:

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, including the ability to think strategically and make connections between a range of issues.
• Excellent organisational skills - able to develop work plans and deliver on set objectives within time and resource constraints
• Highly proficient written communication skills - able to deliver fluently-written documents on time, and to a consistently high standard..
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• A flexible approach - able to respond to changing timescales and priorities.
• Good interpersonal skills - able to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including influencing skills.
• Strong team player - willing to participate in, and contribute to, the team's goals.

Desirable skills/Experience:

Some or all of these may be desirable:

• Demonstrable knowledge of at least one Ofcom-regulated sector, including broadcast television and broadcast radio (either commercial radio or community radio or both).
• Demonstrable knowledge of the new media industry and issues around convergence of platforms and services.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the statutory framework for content regulation and broadcast licensing, and relevant Ofcom codes.
• Experience of policy formulation in any sector, including approaches such as cost benefit analysis and impact assessment.
• Experience of working within a statutory framework, with reference to a body of legislation.
• Experience of the creative industries.
• Experience of line management and project management.
• Skills and experience equivalent to those above.

Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent professional experience.

Further details

The recruiting managers are Gareth Barr, Oli Bird and Soo Williams. Any are happy to speak with potential applicants. 

Application process:

If you would like to apply please state your suitability for the role, details of your current package, provide a copy of your CV and complete the diversity monitoring form and send to:

Human Resources
Ofcom
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA

or to:

applications@ofcom.org.uk

Ofcom is an equal opportunities employer. It wishes to reflect the diversity of contemporary UK society and is therefore actively seeking to recruit colleagues from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds as well as those who have a disability.