Job Purpose

To provide technical support to the Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) consumers and citizens through spectrum coordination, licensing and monitoring activities.

Coordinate and license efficient spectrum use through customer engagement and collaboration both in-house and in the field within required KPI timeframes.

Working as part of a small team within Ofcom, you will be responsible for coordinating and licensing spectrum for the Programme Making and Special Events community (PMSE). The PMSE team issue in excess of 160,000 frequencies to over 5,000 licensees annually. Typically these licences cover the use of wireless equipment such as microphones, monitors, talkback systems and cameras at UK events such as local conferences and exhibitions through to large scale motor racing events and live music concerts.

Ofcom as an organisation has a broad remit and regulates the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. Its primary objective is to make sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are protected from scams and sharp practices, while ensuring that competition can thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Spectrum Coordination
• Manage stakeholder BaU spectrum applications, coordinating against DTV and other PMSE users using an array of PMSE and non PMSE spectrum
• Produce efficient spectrum plans for licensees against application requirements using manual engineering methodology and automated coordination tools
• Review frequency requirements on licences due to expire and prepare schedules prior to notifying customers
• Engage with potential new, and existing licensees on a proactive and reactive basis via telephone and / or face to face to educate about licence requirements and efficient use of spectrum
• Problem solving in difficult scenarios seeking collaboration from users and Ofcom when needed
• Manage technical enquiries from stakeholders and licensees within KPI timeframes
• Take responsibility of incoming interference calls, ensuring all actions are completed in line with KPI timeframes
• Effectively communicate with stakeholders, customers and internal colleagues to manage expectations and deliver day job functions and objectives to KPI.

Field Activities
• Identify events where a high volume of wireless equipment is being used and engage with event owners / organisers to gain access to the venue / location to monitor spectrum use and educate unlicensed users
• Engage with licensed users to ensure spectrum use is in line with Licence terms and conditions.
• Investigate reports of interference and carry out technical measurements where possible to determine the likely cause.
• Initiate enforcements processes when unlicensed use is evident
• Conduct surveys of available spectrum for PMSE users within an interleaved environment and feedback information to the PMSE Principle Engineer to ensure PMSE in-house and online booking tool parameters are correct and up to date.

Operational Support
• Handle incoming phone calls to the PMSE office when Licensing Associates are not available.
• Process general and technically enquiries ensuring all details are logged on the PMSE JIBS database
• Support the Operations team in meeting KPI's
• Support management team with all administrative activities and project work as required

Major Events Support
• Work with stakeholders and multiple licensees to develop an overall spectrum plan for Major Events
• Prepare website content for Major Events
• If required, attend allocated Major Events to ensure successful deployment and licence conditions are being adhered to. Where necessary, utilise Enforcement Powers liaising closely with PMSE and Enforcement Managers
• Manage last minute ad hoc Major Events
• Produce detailed plans and reports for analysis about the management of Major Events

Quality, Customer Service and Advice
• Maintain a consistently courteous and professional approach to all customers, external contacts & Ofcom
• Proactively identify improvements in services and systems, feeding information to the PMSE Management Team
• Ensure all PMSE processes, procedures and work instructions are followed when completing BaU and Major Event jobs

Essential Skills / Experience
• Experience of RF Engineering
• Excellent communication and customer engagement skills
• A practical understanding of radio-wave propagation methods and modelling
• Report writing skills, specifically on technical and RF matters
• Excellent attention to detail, literacy, numeracy & organisational/prioritisation skills
• Ability to keep abreast of relevant technology changes, and spectrum policy changes
• Strong team engagement and collaboration skills
• Ability to problem solve, and implement solutions, in a busy operational environment
• Intermediate / Advanced MS Office

Desirable Skills / Experience
• Experience of working in a regulatory environment
• Knowledge and experience of a broad range of analogue and digital broadcast equipment and modulation techniques
• Awareness of PMSE spectrum requirements
• Practical experience in the use of test equipment such as spectrum analysers
• Experience in managing relationships within an RF/engineering industry
• Experience in a customer service environment

Qualifications
• A Level (or equivalent) Mathematics and Science (preferably Physics)
• Engineering or Broadcasting degree (or equivalent) e.g.
o Electronic Engineering
o Principles of Radio Site Engineering
o Sound Engineering or Production

Ofcom offers competitive salaries plus pensions and flexible benefits package.