Spectrum Engineering Officer

Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Friday 31st May and therefore we advise getting your application in no later than midnight on Thursday 30th May.

This role is fully remote starting and finishing the working day from home with occasional visits to the Birmingham / Cardiff offices.

Job purpose

Make a key contribution to Ofcom's mission in making communication work for everyone by mitigating the effects of radio interference, to a range of radio services, in a geographical area., Looking for a job where you can utilise your radio engineering skills in contributing to one of Ofcom's key roles and statutory duties managing the UK Civil Radio spectrum?

In this unique Engineering / Regulatory role, you will collaborate with a wide range of Ofcom's radio and telecoms external stakeholders to resolve harmful radio interference cases which can disrupt critical safety to life systems such as aircraft radio communications and navigation systems including radio services essential to everyday life including mobile network operators.

And you will be supported by a highly specialised and experienced Ofcom Team using state of the art mobile and fixed radio measurement equipment such as real time radio spectrum analysis supported by the relevant regulatory legislation. Sounds challenging? don't worry -you will be provided with training for the regulatory aspects of this unique role.

Team Overview

Radio spectrum is a vital resource used by almost everyone, consumers as well as businesses and it touches everyone's life every day. The radio spectrum connects our mobiles, wireless headphones, tablets, and computers. It enables our key fobs to unlock our cars, the Met Office to forecast the weather, satellites to measure global warming, concerts and shows to be seen and heard. Without access to spectrum police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, and air traffic control would not be able to communicate - it's that important.

Your role will be working in the Spectrum Assurance team within the wider Ofcom Spectrum Group. Spectrum Assurance is a large team consisting of two core elements: UK dispersed Spectrum Engineering Officers (SEO's) working in geographical area and a Spectrum Management Centre: Ofcom's 24-hour operations hub in Baldock.

This unique opportunity will play a crucial role, inspiring the team to meet Ofcom's ambition to make communications work for everyone. You will work with fellow SEO's and Compliance Officers to assist the management team to help steer appropriate spectrum management.

Spectrum Engineering Officers (SEO's) not only provide advice and assistance, where necessary they undertake enforcement action to resolve interference issues. You are not required to have a legal/regulatory background as full training will be provided. SEO's will additionally monitor and proactively investigate improper use of the spectrum, to keep the UK businesses and consumers "on the air."

The Spectrum Assurance team is ISO9001 accredited and operates a policy of continuous improvement.

Overview of the role

The key purpose of this role is to deliver high quality spectrum assurance to services and spectrum users. This requires first class radio engineering, interpersonal communications, and we will teach you the investigation and enforcement skills to carry out the role in two distinct ways.

Radio interference casework will be triaged and passed to you from the Spectrum Management Centre, it will be your responsibility to locate manage the interference case to resolution.

In addition, you will manage the radio spectrum within your geographical area monitoring and investigating unlicensed spectrum use.

What are you expected to deliver?

• Responsible for maintaining high radio/spectrum engineering standards and ensuring all harmful interference issues raised are resolved within KPIs.


• Responsible for investigating all unlicensed radio spectrum use within geographical area are resolved within KPIs.


• Support the wellbeing, flexibility, and inclusion of Ofcom's values.


• Provide support and collaboration to fellow colleagues and assisting when required.


• Responsible for own equipment plant and vehicle are at professional standard, finances, and H&S. (full equipment and vehicle will be provided)


• Meet with stakeholders within your geographical region.


• The ability to escalate complex and sensitive casework to your Senior Spectrum Engineering Officer, 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.


• Appreciation of and desire to promote Ofcom's values of excellent, agility, empowerment, and collaboration.


• Ownership and delivery of performance and service levels


• Manage stakeholders within your area.


• A good understanding or radio and spectrum engineering


• Experience of working in a geographical dispersed team


• Excellent interpersonal skills


• Excellent stakeholder relationship skills and customer focus skills.


• Excellent at conflict avoiding skills.


• Full driver's license, Technical qualification - HNC/D in a technical discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent experience and knowledge.
  
  Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day. We make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.


We also oversee the universal postal service, which means Royal Mail must deliver and collect letters six days a week, and parcels five days a week, at an affordable and uniform price throughout the UK.

We look after the airwaves used by wireless devices like cordless phones, walkie talkies and even some car keys and doorbells.

We also help to make sure people don't get scammed and are protected from bad practices. This is particularly important for vulnerable or older people.

Our duties come from Parliament. Our priority is to look after you, and we sometimes do this by promoting competition among companies we regulate.