Non-Executive Member; Online Information Advisory Committee

Closing Date:

01/06/2026

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 1 June, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Sunday 31st May.

To apply and be considered for interview stage, your application must include a CV and covering letter. Your covering letter must give evidence of how you successfully meet the key skills and competencies. Your letter should be no more than four sides of A4 in length. Your CV and covering letter should be uploaded as one document.

We are planning to appoint up to two non-executive members to the Online Information Advisory Committee from 1 September 2026 for a three-year term in order to ensure the Committee’s composition remains appropriate following a term ending. We welcome applications from candidates who meet the essential competencies outlined below, particularly those with skills, expertise and experience in the areas listed.

Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications sector. As a part of our remit, we have responsibilities to make online services safer for the people who use them. We also have media literacy duties to inform and enable people to use, understand and create media and communications across multiple formats and services.

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

Purpose of the role

Ofcom’s Online Information Advisory Committee, is a statutory body established under Section 152 of the Online Safety Act 2023. All members serving on the Committee are appointed by Ofcom’s Board. The Committee was established in May 2025, and the Online Safety Act requires it 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 supporting people to understand the nature and impact of disinformation and misinformation, and reduce their and others’ exposure to it.

The Committee acts as a critical friend to Ofcom, advising us to ensure our work is grounded in evidence, takes into consideration the interests of UK online users, and considers the impacts of our work on providers of regulated services. The Committee also publishes information on its work to advise Ofcom. For example, in November 2025, the Committee published an ‘advice note’ on understanding online financial harm, examining the use of disinformation to cause financial harm through fraud. The Committee is currently working on advice notes in two further areas: online mis/disinformation and offline public disorder, and information-based risks to elections.

The Committee is a small, expert panel that supports, advises and constructively challenges issues within its remit. Members are part-time, drawn from a range of diverse backgrounds and bring their own experience and expertise to contribute to the Committee’s work programme. We are seeking applications from people who can contribute relevant experience and help create a diversity of perspective and background on the Panel.

Essential competencies 

To apply to join the Online Information Advisory Committee you 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 misinformation, disinformation, 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 misinformation and disinformation, in particular on regulated services;

• Strong communication skills to make effective contributions 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, expertise and experience in any of the following areas:

• Analysing or countering issues related to online mis/disinformation and public disorder.

• Analysing or countering issues related to information-based threats to elections.

• Researching, analysing, evaluating, or in implementing interventions to counter misinformation and/or disinformation.

• 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 misinformation or disinformation.

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, including, for example, how such systems can be used to create and spread misinformation and disinformation, and how they could also be deployed by platforms to address it.

Further Information

The annual remuneration for the appointment as a Member of the Committee is £3500 for an anticipated time commitment of up to 10 days per year, comprising whole Committee meetings, support to Ofcom teams as needed, and preparatory work. The Committee operates on a hybrid-working basis, although the role could include some travel to London, with travel expenses covered. We also make every effort to accommodate individual needs and any required adjustments.

Final interviews will be held on 15 and 16 June 2026 at Ofcom’s London office or via Microsoft Teams. The interview panel will be Lord Allan of Hallam, Board Member for Online Safety and Chair of the Panel; Jessica Zucker, Director of Online Safety Policy Development; and John Varney, Independent Panel Member.

Should you require any adjustments to be made, please do contact us directly at resourcing@Ofcom.org.uk.

Potential or actual conflicts of interest must be declared and discussed at interview. The disclosable interests of all Ofcom Board, Committee and Panel members are published on the Ofcom website. No Member of the Committee may be directly employed by organisations that Ofcom regulates or licenses or derive the majority of their employment income from such a company even if not so employed. To comply with Ofcom’s status as an independent regulator, it is inappropriate for any Member to engage in active politics. This includes holding, or being a candidate for, political office at a national, regional or local level, active political campaigning in support of a candidate/political party and making a donation or donations to a candidate/political party in a calendar year in excess of £11,180. Working full time for any Central Government department or as an official in the civil service (including in the devolved nations) or for local government is also not acceptable.

Advisory Committee Members must have right to work status in the UK and are required to act in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Advisory Committees, which applicants are encouraged to read. Applicants must have personal integrity of a high order and ensure that their conduct accords with the Seven Principles of Public Life.

Ofcom recognises the importance of transparency and as with all of our advisory bodies, we publish the Committee’s terms of reference, code of conduct, member biographies, and high-level minutes of meetings.

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 Rewards, Benefits and Well-being 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. Learn more about this scheme here.  https://careers.ofcom.org.uk/careers/how-we-hire/