Senior Associate, Technology Policy

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Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 5 October, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Sunday 4 October.

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

We are recruiting for a full-time role in our Technology Policy Team. It is a 12-month fixed term position.  

The team helps to answer some of the most pressing questions relating to the impact of new and emerging technologies on online safety, such as: What techniques can be used to assess and audit the AI systems used by regulated online services? What steps can be taken to prevent generative AI tools from being misused by bad actors to create harmful content? What impact will new and emerging technologies have on our approach to online safety regulation? How should we assess the accuracy, effectiveness and lack of bias of content moderation technologies?

The team supports the Online Safety Group in navigating a complex technology landscape. We think strategically about tech policy challenges and use our subject matter expertise to steer Ofcom’s approach to online safety policy development. We lead work on critical policy areas, collaborate with teams across the Group to promote a tech-driven approach to policy development and build critical relationships with key stakeholders. The team also collaborates closely with other policy groups in Ofcom, as well as other regulators, ensuring that we pool knowledge and share best practice.

The purpose and scope of the role

As a Senior Associate in the team, you will play a pivotal role in helping Ofcom understand relevant technologies and generate evidence-based approaches to some of the most complex policy issues facing society. Working within the scope of applicable legislation, you will develop policy products (e.g. code of practice measures) and communicate coherent policy positions which uphold online services’ safety duties whilst taking account of technical limitations and proportionality concerns. You will ensure that policy advice is supported by persuasive reasoning and knowledge of the broader public policy landscape, building consensus with internal and external stakeholders as you refine relevant regulatory outputs within your remit.

Your Key Responsibilities

Some of the key responsibilities for these roles include (but are not limited to):

• Be responsible for the day-to-day management, delivery, and development of tech policy workstreams, working closely with senior overseeing colleagues.

• Develop and draft policy products relating to critical tech policy issues (e.g. as part of our policy consultations), and support our efforts in promoting regulatory compliance among regulated services

• Lead on the drafting of outputs (e.g. code of practice measures and external discussion papers), ensuring they are delivered on time and to an excellent standard

• Lead cross-functional teams and task manage others as appropriate.

• Articulate to internal governance bodies the arguments for and against different policy positions, including your own recommendation for why we should take a particular course of action

• Proactively communicate our latest evidence and policy positions to internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders. This could be via presentations, short briefings, research reports, or other means

• Build productive relationships with experts and thought leaders in the areas you oversee, including from the worlds of academia, industry, civil society, government, and regulation

• Contribute to the culture of the Tech Policy team and the wider Online Safety Group, making it an enjoyable and rewarding place to work

The above list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive, and the successful candidate will be expected to perform different tasks as and when required.

Distressing Content Material

• Applicants should be aware that this role may include exposure to potentially distressing content and material and/or themes.

• Ofcom is committed to safeguarding our colleagues who undertake this type of work. We endeavour to reduce exposure to distressing content, material, and/or themes wherever possible. Where this isn't possible, we control the risk by ensuring that colleagues who are exposed to DCM are appropriately protected and supported. We offer a range of tailored support options, psychological screening assessments and access to specialist therapeutic support where required.

The skills, knowledge and experience you’ll need for success.

• Experience analysing and shaping policy positions on emerging technology issues, with a strong understanding of relevant regulatory and policy frameworks.

• Executing plans: A track record of independently designing, overseeing and executing projects on time and to an outstanding standard

• Articulating ideas: Experience of drafting high quality written outputs (e.g. policy papers) that are robust, accessible and evidence-led; with excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical, legal, and policy concepts to a variety of specialist and non-specialist audiences

• Forming relationships: Strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to work across organisational boundaries, building trust and driving collaboration across diverse teams and disciplines

• Building solutions: Sound judgement and the ability to weigh up the available evidence to make smart and sensible recommendations in line with Ofcom’s strategic priorities

• Empowering development: Experience of task managing others and fostering colleagues’ development

Whist no formal qualifications are required, these roles are particularly well suited to candidates with deep subject matter expertise in areas such as content recommender systems, AI assurance and auditing techniques, generative AI, encryption and/or content moderation technologies.

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 ourRewards, 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 atresourcing@ofcom.org.uk 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 commitmenthere. 

Whoever you are, whatever your story, you belong at Ofcom.