Director, Standards & Enforcement in Manchester

Closing Date: 09/02/2026

Group: Broadcasting and Media Group

Management Level: Senior Management Specialist

Job Type: Permanent

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

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

The Standards and Enforcement team are responsible for setting and enforcing content standards and policy to ensure that broadcast audiences are protected, and on demand programme services meet the required standards, including new duties under the Media Act 2024. Technological advances have led to a greater range of choice of content for audiences. A key part of our work is to address the challenges of the future of content regulation across platforms making recommendations to government for legislative change where needed.

The purpose and scope of the role

Overseeing the delivery of a range of work programmes and projects across Ofcom’s standards duties, demonstrating outstanding project and change management skills. Leading, inspiring, motivating and developing high calibre teams to deliver work often under pressure externally and internally.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and maintenance of the Broadcasting Code and other existing and new regulatory codes, rules and guidance for all television, radio and on-demand services currently regulated by Ofcom, and inputting into future regulatory practices.
• Navigate a changing landscape in content regulation, proactively looking for ways to address and/or work with these challenges, collaboratively with relevant colleagues across Ofcom.
• Manage the effective delivery of Ofcom’s audience complaint’s function; content monitoring and enforcement activities to identify non-compliance, conducting investigations, imposing sanctions, including acting as a decision-maker where required.
• Provide guidance and advice to the Standards and Enforcement team, fulfilling Distressing Content and Material Supervisory responsibilities and contribute to the wider BMG management team.
• Advise Ofcom’s Senior Management Team, Content Board and Ofcom Board on matters relating to Ofcom’s standards duties.
• Represent Ofcom and its standards work with key external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with other Directors in the Broadcast and Media Group, specifically those leading Content Policy Development, and Delivery and Strategy, and working across, where necessary, with colleagues in the Online Safety Group, to ensure our regulation is proportionate, protects audiences from the most serious of harms, and that resources across the Broadcast and Media Group are flexed according to circumstances, and not siloed into one team.
• The role will involve working with content and themes that may be distressing and supervising other colleagues who do this work. Extensive support is available.

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

• Sector Expertise: Significant working knowledge of the current broadcast regulatory regime, including understanding of new codes being introduced in 2026. Understanding of how audience habits and technology are changing the regulatory landscape.
• Embracing Change: A mindset that embraces change and new ways of protecting audiences, ensuring standards regulation is proportionate, and relevant given the fast pace of change. Proven ability to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, for example identifying and taking account of strategic and other priorities and directing resources accordingly.
• Accountability & Leadership: Demonstrable track record of successfully leading and overseeing delivery of complex, high-volume, high-profile projects and programmes of work to tight deadlines, under pressure and within constraints. Experienced and inspiring leader with a strong track record of motivating and developing multi-disciplinary teams to deliver, especially through periods of change. Proven ability to successfully design and drive performance through key performance indicators.
• Decision making: Evaluating problems: highly analytical; able to assimilate complex issues quickly, demonstrating command of detail and the bigger picture. Proven ability to identify, manage and resolve risks.
• Communication: Able to act as an ambassador for the team, demonstrating excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels. High level of energy and drive for operational efficiency and improvement.
• Relationship Management: Able to build and maintain effective working relationships, readily taking the initiative to ensure agile and collaborative working between colleagues and across teams. Clear commitment to diversity and inclusion, and appreciation of Ofcom's values of agility, collaboration, empowerment, excellence, and respect.

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 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 resourcing@ofcom.org.uk or call 0330 912 1378. As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles.