Senior Technical Advisor

Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Tuesday 25 February and therefore we advise getting your application by no later than midnight on Monday 24 February.

About Ofcom

Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day. We make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.

Our culture is clear – we live by our values: Empowerment; Excellence; Collaboration; Agility and Respect. These define how we work to deliver our purpose, now and in the future. The behaviours which support these values set the path for a fully inclusive and innovative culture at Ofcom.

We focus not only on what we do, but how we do it. We pride ourselves on being an organisation of people who genuinely care about helping others.

About the Team

This role sits within Ofcom’s Network and Communications Technology Team (N&C Tech). The N&C Tech team in Ofcom includes technologists across the areas of network infrastructure, resilience, and security topics, and range of wireless and wireline technology contexts. The team supports initiatives across the rest of Ofcom as well as having its own objectives in the areas of ensuring reliable and secure networks and communications services in the UK.

The N&C Tech team are a part of the Network and Communications Group, with responsibilities in telecoms, postal sectors and digital markets. The N&C Group sits alongside other directorates including: Spectrum, Broadcasting and Media, Online Safety, Strategy, Economics, and Legal.

Purpose of the Role

As a part of the NMI team, you will be responsible for contributing to the technical understanding in the team, working with other members of our team and acting as a technical expert in support of non-technical colleagues. As the team works across a range of different communications network technologies, this role will require you to have some in depth technical knowledge of communications technologies, but there will also be the opportunity to learn about other enabling technologies.

The team undertakes work focused on Ofcom’s priorities related to Internet and Post we can rely on, Enabling wireless in the UK economy, and Media we trust and value. This is primarily technology work, handling aspects related to legacy, current and emerging technologies to ensure Ofcom anticipates potential impact on current and future policy work.

Examples of the work the team has conducted include: analysis and reporting on broadband and mobile coverage through Ofcom’s Connected Nations report, contributing technical expertise to policy projects (e.g. mitigation approaches for scam calls) and examining emerging technologies (e.g. quantum), using a broad range of skills and methodologies - such as desk research, data analytics, computer simulations, lab experimentations, etc.

Your key responsibilities

• Provide technical knowledge expertise into the team’s projects or projects led from other parts of Ofcom
• Manage, plan and deliver your own projects, collaborating with other specialists from across Ofcom, where appropriate. This may include policy specialists, economists, lawyers and others.
• Monitor technical developments and share these with the team to maintain our understanding of technology developments and to develop as a subject matter expert in one or more core technology topics. 
• Seek out and develop understanding of other technical areas that relate to your work. 
• Communicate your work in a variety of ways to technical and non-technical audiences, both internally and externally.

The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success

Technical knowledge and experience

• Broad technical understanding of at least one of the following areas, for example in their design, management and operation of:

  • Network infrastructure, e.g., wireless, fixed and satellite communications;

  • Cloud architectures and distributed systems;

  • Internet platforms and services ; and

  • Broadcast and media.

• Understanding of the emerging technology trends in your area of expertise.
• Appreciation of the factors that affect the implementation of the latest technology developments.

Communication, analytical and project management skills

• Executing plans: project management and delivery experience to organise tasks and set clear goals, managing resources wisely, while keeping an eye on progress. 
• Building solutions: identify and solve complex issues, using evidence-based methods to gather insights and develop well founded solutions. 
• Analytical skills: experience of applying analysis in policy development or problem solving, such as data analysis, options development, technical or economic analysis.
• Written communications: the ability to express complicated ideas in writing, and the ability to tailor this to suit audiences with different interests and levels of knowledge. 
• Articulating ideas: Express your ideas, thoughts and information in a clear and concise manner, ensuring messages are understood by everyone and experience of communicating nuanced arguments as well as listening to and considering alternative views. 
• Forming relationships: build and nurture positive relationships with people inside and outside the organisation. 

Behaviour attributes

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

At Ofcom we prioritise inclusive and diverse recruitment in order to truly reflect the society we represent.

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 of employment.  We warmly welcome applications from candidate returning to work after a break – for whatever reason.

As a disability confident employer, we offer interviews to any disabled applicant who meet essential criteria for advertised roles.  Learn more about the scheme here.

If you need information in an alternative format or have specific preferences, please contact our recruitment team.