NED (Member) - Advisory Committee on Disinformation and Misinformation -London

Closing Date:

13012025

Group:

Corporate Group

Management Level:

Job Type:

Non-Executive Director (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 13 January, andtherefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight onSunday 12 January.

To apply, your application MUST include a CV and a covering letter – inwritten or equivalent accessible format.Your application must specificallyexplain how you meet the key competencies for the role which are detailed inthe Essential Competencies section below, have an understanding of the roleand demonstrate that you have relevant transferable skills. Covering lettersshould be no more than four sides of A4 in length. For further informationplease contact.

Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications sector. As a part of ourremit, we have responsibilities to make online services safer for the peoplewho use them. We also have media literacy responsibilities to inform andenable people to use, understand and create media and communications acrossmultiple formats and services.

Ofcom is accountable to the UK Parliament but is independent of the UKGovernment. We make our regulatory decisions independently.

To support our work, we are looking to appoint Members for Ofcom’s newAdvisory Committee on Disinformation and Misinformation, which is a statutorybody we are required to establish under Section 152 of the Online Safety Actof 2023.

Purpose of the role and our approach to establishing the Committee

All members serving on the Committee are appointed by Ofcom’s Board. TheOnline Safety Act requires the Committee to provide advice to Ofcom on:

* how providers of regulated services should deal with disinformation and misinformation on such services;

* the exercise of our transparency powers so far as relating to disinformation and misinformation (under section 77 of the Online Safety Act); and

* the exercise of our media literacy functions (under section 11 of the Communications Act) in relation to countering disinformation and misinformation on regulated services across Ofcom’s work.

We are initially aiming to create a small, expert panel to provide input intoour work related to these areas. To support effective engagement, weanticipate that Members will meet collectively 2-3 times a year and beavailable to support, advise and constructively challenge issues we bring tothe Committee, as required.

We expect the Committee to act as a critical friend, advising us to ensurethat our work is grounded in evidence, takes into consideration the interestsof UK online users, and considers the impacts of our work on regulatedservices. Committee members will bring their own experience and expertise tocontribute to the Committee’s work programme.

We recognise the importance of transparency in our work. As with all of ouradvisory bodies, we will publish the Committee’s terms of reference, code ofconduct, member biographies, and high-level minutes of meetings.

Essential competencies

To apply to join the Advisory Committee on Disinformation and Misinformationyou will need to show in your application how you meet the competencies below.No previous experience of being a non-executive member is necessary.

* Experience in producing high-quality and policy-influencing research or work, in particular related to disinformation, misinformation, foreign interference, or related areas.

* The ability to understand, articulate and represent the varied needs and views of citizens and consumers;

* The ability to understand and consider the importance of fundamental human rights in our approach to regulation, in particular the right to freedom of expression;

* The ability to understand the feasibility and implications of our work on disinformation and misinformation, in particular on regulated services;

* Strong communication skills to make an effective contribution to the discussions; and

* The ability to work as part of a committee, and support teams as they work through complex and contested questions.

We are particularly interested to hear from people who have skills, expertiseand experience in any of the following areas:

* Experience in analysing or countering issues related to online foreign interference, state-sponsored disinformation or influence operations, or related areas.

* Experience in researching or analysing the impacts of misinformation andor disinformation on individuals, or in representing those impacted by it.

* Experience in researching, analysing, evaluating, or in implementing interventions to counter disinformation andor misinformation.

* Experience in the processes used in traditional media, or providers of online services which may be in-scope of the UK’s Online Safety Act, in particular around disinformation or misinformation.

* Experience in or knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, including, for example, how such systems can be used to create and spread disinformation and misinformation, and how they could also be deployed by platforms to address it.

* Expertise in promoting media literacy knowledge skills and behaviours – either as a practitioner, academic, user experience (UX) designer or product developer.

Further Information

Panel Members are part-time and drawn from a range of diverse backgrounds. Weare seeking applications from people who can contribute relevant experienceand help create a diversity of perspective and background on the Panel.

The annual remuneration for the appointment as a Member of the Committee is£3500 for an anticipated time commitment of 7-10 days per year, comprisingwhole Committee meetings, support to Ofcom teams as needed, and preparatorywork. The Panel operates on a hybrid-working basis but the role could includesome travel to London. However, we do accommodate individuals’ needs andadjustments.

Members must not be directly employed by Ofcom or organisations that Ofcomregulates or licenses or derive the majority of their employment income fromsuch a company even if not so employed. Members cannot be engaged in activeparty politics. This includes holding, or being a candidate for, partypolitical office at a national, regional or local level, active politicalcampaigning in support of a political party and making a donation or donationsto a political party in a calendar year in excess of £7,500. Working full timefor any central government department or as an official in the civil service(including in the devolved nations) or for local government is also notacceptable.

Potential or actual conflicts of interest from a financial or businessperspective must be declared and discussed at interview. Please note, thedisclosable interests of all Ofcom Board, Committee and Panel members arepublished on theOfcom website. Applicantsmust have personal integrity of a high order and ensure that their conductaccords with the7 principles of publiclife.

Interviews will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 4 February,Thursday 6 February and Friday 7 February.

The interview panel will comprise Lord Allan of Hallam, Jessica Zucker (OnlineSafety Policy Development Director) and Libby Watkins (Independent PanelMember). The anticipated start date for the appointments is 1 April 2025.

Ofcom has a clear mission: to make communications work for everyone. To beable to deliver on this, we want our organisation to reflect the diversity ofbackground, experience, upbringing and thought that exists across the UK. Weaim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible – no matter yoursocial 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. Fromday one, we champion flexible work arrangements to accommodate individualneeds.

We also warmly welcome applicants who are returning to the workforce after abreak – for whatever reason. If you have taken time away and are ready torejoin, we look forward to reviewing your application.

Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If youneed information in an alternative format or have specific preferences, pleasecontact our recruitment team at or call .

As a Disability Confident employer, we offer interviews to disabled applicantswho meet essential criteria for advertised roles. Learn more about this schemehere.https:careers.ofcom.org.ukcareershow-we-hire