Policy Manager; Online Safety

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Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 9 March, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Sunday 8 March.

We have both fixed term and permanent positions available for this role, please specify in your cover letter if you have a preference between the two.

About the Team

The Online Safety Group’s purpose is to ensure UK citizens have a safer life online by implementing and overseeing the requirements under the Online Safety Act 2023. The Group is responsible for delivering online safety policy, supervising online services, and building technical expertise to meet the regime’s aims.

 This role is within the Online Safety Policy Development team, which works at the centre of the Online Safety Group. The Policy Development team lead the development of Ofcom’s online safety policies which establish steps services should take to make users safer online. The team comes from a range of backgrounds. There are policy experts, project management and delivery specialists and those that come from a harms or trust and safety background

This team works closely with cross functional colleagues from other teams in the organisation to use their skills and experience to develop robust policy. These include legal experts, technologists, economists, and research specialists amongst others.

Purpose of the Role

This Policy Manager will work closely with the relevant Principal responsible for a specific policy space. The successful candidate will be responsible for two main areas of work: first, the day-to-day management of the project, including planning, structuring, delivery and co-ordination of the project; second, resolving complex policy problems by gathering information, conducting analysis, and distilling findings to identify options for improving policy.

 As a policy manager, you will need to intelligently harness individual strengths and support the co-ordination of a diverse set of colleagues from within the project team and other cross functional areas, facilitating cross team working, encouraging practical delivery schedules, unblocking issues, and reporting an honest assessment of progress. You’ll play a pivotal role, in ensuring our work is delivered to a high standard, in an efficient and timely manner. In doing this role effectively, you will need to consider how to manage risks and issues, plan resources effectively, as well as managing internal and external stakeholders as needed.

For your work developing policy options and drafting relevant documents, you will need to consider available evidence and perspectives on an issue, develop workable options for improving relevant policy and communicate your views effectively to influence change.

Your key responsibilities

Policy Manager roles are varied and will evolve over time in line with team priorities. This role will involve the following key responsibilities: 

• Lead the day-to-day management, delivery, and development of specific online safety project work

• Provide proactive support to the project team in coordination and delivery of milestones, ensuring deadlines are met and making honest assessments of progress to identify where intervention is needed.

• Lead regular check-ins with workstreams to surface and resolve key issues/ blockers and creating a sense of clarity and common cause that ensures teams understand the plan and the impact if their activity slips.

• Challenge workstreams to find opportunities to accelerate progress, deliver early benefits, and mitigate risks.

• Resolving complex policy problems by gathering information, conducting analysis, and distilling findings to identify options for improving policy.

• Drafting clear policy papers, distilling technical information into a coherent and compelling narrative that makes the case for change and provides options or recommendations for decision-makers to consider.

• Engaging with senior colleagues, including directors and the CEO of Ofcom to explain our policy work and support their external engagement with relevant stakeholders.

• Work effectively and collaboratively with the central team,  policy  team and other cross functional colleagues.

• Developing and fostering your online expertise across Ofcom’s online safety programme and keep across online trends and technological developments. 

The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success

Technical Knowledge & Experience

• Policy analysis (synthesis of information to inform options and recommendations for action).

• Drafting of internal and published documents and reports.

• Understanding of online safety issues and regulation.

• Understanding of and prior use of project management tools and methodologies.

• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 products.

Behavioural attributes

• Building Solutions: Identify and solve complex issues, using evidence-based methods to gather insights and develop well-founded solutions.

• Articulating Ideas: Express your ideas, thoughts, and information in a clear and concise manner, ensuring messages are understood by everyone.

• Channelling Influence: Guide opinions and decisions with compelling communication and persuasion techniques, looking to get everyone on the same game plan.

• Executing Plans: Organise tasks and set clear goals, managing resources wisely, while keeping an eye on progress.

• Owning Accountabilities: Take responsibility for your actions, decisions, and their outcomes. Show up reliably and commit to getting the job done.

• Embracing Change: Remain flexible in the face of change, anticipating and adjusting to shifts.

• Forming Relationships: Build and nurture positive relationships with people inside and outside the organisation.

• Harmonising Work: Work effectively with others, creating an honest team environment and sharing valuable information and resources.

• Scanning Horizons: Grasp the bigger picture, foresee upcoming trends and challenges, and ensure actions and decisions are in sync with long-term objectives.

• Appreciation of and desire to promote Ofcom's values of excellence, agility, empowerment, collaboration, and respect

Please note, this role may involve some research or policy development into areas such as preventing hate and terrorism, online child sexual abuse, material promoting suicide or self-harm, or other potentially sensitive and/or distressing topics. 

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, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or disability. 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.

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. You can read more about our Rewards, Benefits and Well-being on our careers page.

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 [email protected] 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/