Director of Research Innovation and Data

Ofcom is the UK’s communications regulator. It regulates phones, broadband, TV, radio, the postal service, and wireless devices, and works to make the online world safer.

• Develop and deliver the Research & Intelligence team’s data strategy
• Drive data innovation, applying leading-edge data science techniques and AI to maximise research opportunities and prepare the function for the future
• Work with teams across Ofcom to champion the Research & Intelligence team’s data needs and develop and implement organisation-wide systems and processes for efficient, scalable, and consistent data and insight delivery
• Align tools, platforms, and ways of working to support innovation and efficiency
• Drive effective use of the team’s data and insight across the organisation through user-friendly access points, compelling storytelling, high-quality visualisation, and outputs focused on end users
• Ensure rapid, responsive, and responsible processing of the team’s data to meet organisational and stakeholder needs
• Lead best practice in quality assurance, data ethics, data analysis, and presentation
• Create frameworks and a team culture that enable experimentation with research methods and approaches, improve understanding of best practices, and expand knowledge of the sectors Ofcom regulates
• Build partnerships and agree ways of working, roles, and responsibilities with teams responsible for data management and insight delivery
• Work with peer directors on organisational design and future operating models across data and research functions
• Build and leverage external relationships, including with counterparts at other regulators, to share information and benefit from best practice
• Represent Ofcom at external meetings and events with industry, government, consumer groups, media, and academia, bringing external perspectives into Ofcom’s research and data functions and strengthening its reputation and impact
• Lead the Statistics & Analytics, Behavioural Research and Direct Observation Research, and Programme Management functions
• Act as Career & Performance Manager for senior team members, providing strategic leadership, coaching, and development
• Provide collective leadership of the Research & Intelligence team alongside the Directors of Market Research and Market Intelligence
• Provide collective leadership of the Strategy & Research Group as a member of its Leadership team
• Lead cross-Ofcom initiatives as a member of Ofcom’s Senior Leadership Group, as required

• Experience using leading-edge data tools and analytics to derive insights from large and complex datasets
• Extensive experience in data ethics and the responsible and legal use of data
• Strong understanding of research methodologies for collecting data and generating insights into consumer behaviour and market outcomes
• Experience running complex programmes and managing budgets and people resources
• Experience developing and delivering a strategy
• Management and leadership skills
• Relationship-building skills
• Experience leading change
• Ability to communicate highly complex analysis effectively to a range of audiences, in writing and orally
• Track record of applying data-derived insights to complex market analysis and regulatory, policy, or commercial scenarios
• Ability to adapt quickly under pressure and balance delivery speed with quality across different business scenarios

• Most roles can be adapted for part-time hours, job shares, or other flexible arrangements