Closing Date: 20/09/2024
Group: Online Safety Group
Management Level: Associate
Job Type: Permanent
Job Description:
Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Friday 20th September and therefore we advise getting your application by no later than midnight on Thursday 19th September.
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 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 Online Safety Technology (OST) Team:
Almost every part of our lives is now online. As well as bringing many benefits, there are also real risks posed online by harmful or illegal activity – from hate speech to bullying and harassment to child sexual exploitation, and more. The UK Government has appointed Ofcom as the new regulator for online safety. There has never been a more meaningful time to join Ofcom on our mission to create a safer life online.
The Online Safety Technology team conducts research to build knowledge and understanding in subject areas fundamental to online safety. This includes, for example, AI and machine learning, digital identity, privacy enhancing technologies, decentralisation, user experience, gaming, network infrastructure, and digital forensics. The team provides technical expertise to policy, supervision and enforcement colleagues in the wider Online Safety Group, and others in Ofcom, during policy development processes and industry engagement activities.
About the Digital Identity and Age Assurance Team
Protection of Children is key to the Online Safety Act, so the Digital Identity and Age Assurance team has the opportunity to engage with a wide range of teams across the Online Safety Group, playing an advisory role across policy development, supervision, and enforcement. As this is the first time regulation has been made in this space, the team has a unique opportunity to use technical knowledge and experience to impact the success of the Online Safety Act.
In addition, the team works with colleagues across the organisation and with external stakeholders to continually develop the skills and understanding required to ensure Ofcom keeps pace with the rapid rate of change and innovation in online and trust and safety technologies.
The purpose and scope of the role
The main function of this role will be to work in the Online Safety Technology, Digital Identity (DI) and Age Assurance (AA) Team. The team provides an advisory role supporting wider multi-disciplinary teams, comprising of policy specialists, technologists, economists, lawyers, and others across Ofcom, working collaboratively on associated deliverables.
The role holder will have an opportunity to work alongside existing team members, carrying out desk research and more technical work to ensure that the OST Team has the most up-to-date technical knowledge of this fast-moving and exciting area. The team works alongside other OSG areas to support the development of policy positions.
This role will be a great opportunity for someone with a strong technical aptitude and a background or interest in Digital Identity, Age Assurance, or Identity and Access Management, to work in this key area and build up policy, advisory, regulatory, and communication skills as well as continuing to build technical knowledge.
Your Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
Distressing Content Material
Applicants should be aware that an element of this role may be assessing and investigating complaints about audio-visual content. This may include 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
To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate:
Applying for this role
If you are interested in the role, please submit your CV and a covering letter (up to 500 words) explaining your relevant skills, knowledge, and experience and why you want to join the Online Safety Group at Ofcom as an Associate Technologist.
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, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.
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.
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.
Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If you need information in an alternative format or have specific preferences, please contact our recruitment team at resourcing@ofcom.org.uk or call 0330 912 1378.
As a Disability Confident employer, we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles. Learn more about this scheme here.
* The salary benchmark is based on the target salaries of market leaders in their relevant sectors. It is intended to serve as a guide to help Premium Members assess open positions and to help in salary negotiations. The salary benchmark is not provided directly by the company, which could be significantly higher or lower.