Non-Executive Director, Advisory Committee For England
Ofcom -
Purpose of the role
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, postal services, telecommunications and wireless communications services. We have recently taken on the regulation of video-sharing platforms, and we are preparing for a broader role as the regulator for the Government’s proposed online safety regime.
The Advisory Committee for England provides advice to Ofcom colleagues about the interests and opinions of people living in England and its diverse communities across our regulatory responsibilities. The Committee strives to ensure that Ofcom’s work is informed by the widest possible understanding of the experience of consumers and citizens in England, capturing the distinctive needs of people living across the different regions.
Committee Members are part-time and drawn from a range of backgrounds. We want to attract a wide variety of applicants to provide a good balance of skills and relevant sector experience on the Committee, so we have a diversity of perspective and background on the Committee.
Essential Skills/Experience
To apply to join the Committee you will need to show in your covering letter how you meet the competencies below. No previous experience of being a non-executive member is necessary.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate:
Knowledge and experience in the fixed or mobile telecoms sector.
An understanding of Ofcom’s role and responsibilities in a complex political landscape.
An awareness of England’s and their local region’s economy, society and culture.
The ability to appreciate and articulate the diverse needs and views of citizens and consumers in England.
Effective communication skills and the ability to work as part of a committee.
We want the Committee’s membership to reflect the range of diverse areas and communities in the English regions to give as wide a geographical and social view as possible.
Further Information
The Committee meets up to 5 times per year, in London and other locations around England. Some of the Committee’s work is carried out through sub-groups and additional informal meetings throughout the year. There are also other stakeholder meetings, conference calls, and preparation of consultation responses. All Members are asked to commit to a total of 12 days per year to this work, for which we will pay an annual fee.
To apply and be considered for interview stage, your application must include a CV and covering letter. Your covering letter must give evidence of how you successfully meet the five essential skills/experience (listed above). Your letter should be no more than four sides of A4 in length. Applications for the role will close at 00.01 on 2 October 2023 so please make your application on or before 1 October 2023. We would also ask you to complete the Diversity Monitoring Form. Interviews are expected to take place in late October/early November 2023. and the appointment will begin in February 2024. The first Committee meeting will take place on 29 February 2024.
Applicants must exercise careful judgement to ensure that a position on this Committee would not be perceived to conflict with any other activities, professional or otherwise. Potential or actual conflicts of interest must be declared and discussed at interview. Applicants must have personal integrity of a high order and ensure that their conduct accords with the Seven Principles of Public Life. If you are in any doubt about a potential conflict of interest, please contact Ofcom’s England Director, Emma McFadyen (emma.mcfadyen@ofcom.org.uk), for an informal discussion.
There should never be any legitimate reasons for people outside Ofcom to question that Ofcom's decisions may be influenced by the private interests or political interests and opinions of Members or that Members may be able to profit from information available to them through their advisory work for Ofcom. Advisory Committee Members are required to act in accordance with the Code of Conduct for National Advisory Committees, which applicants are encouraged to read. No Member of the Committee may be directly employed by organisations that Ofcom regulates or licenses or derive the majority of their employment income from such a company even if not so employed.
To comply with Ofcom’s status as an independent regulator, it is inappropriate for any Advisory Committee Member to engage in active politics. This includes holding, or being a candidate for, political office at a national, regional or local level, active political campaigning in support of a candidate/political party and making a donation or donations to a candidate/political party in a calendar year in excess of £7,500. Working full time for any Government department or as an official in the civil service (including in the devolved administrations) or for local government is also not acceptable.
