Please note that application for this role will close at 9am on Wednesday 26 November. When applying please submit your CV and a covering letter of no longer than one page outlining your suitability for the role.
This is a contract position until the end of March 2026, with the successful candidate expected to be available for approximately 45-50 days of work.
Whilst this role is remote, there may be one or two occasions across the contract term where the candidate would be required to travel to one of our offices (Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester).
We expect to hold interviews from the 5th December. Interviews will take place via MS Teams.
Ofcom has a requirement for an engaging and visual evidence review that uses the research sources, from Ofcom and the wider sector, to explore the state of media literacy in the UK among adults and children. The review will inform the development of Ofcom’s next 3-year media literacy strategy, identifying the levers available to Ofcom and the sector to effect change, and needs to be robust, expert and independent. We therefore require a consultant with expertise in the UK media literacy sector to produce this review and to set the findings within the context of the external media literacy landscape.
In recent years, the amount of data and insight relating to media literacy has rapidly expanded, and media literacy now touches almost every aspect of our daily lives. We wish to establish current media literacy levels in the UK population for core areas (such as access, safety and critical thinking), as well as the external environment (such as political, economic, and technological factors) influencing media literacy levels and the opportunities and barriers operating in the sector. The successful candidate will conduct an evidence review to meet these research questions, including such analysis for a range of different sub-groups. The final analysis and outputs will include an interactive element that allows Ofcom and our stakeholders to clearly identify the areas of focus that are most relevant and timely to address by audience group.
Evidence review
The successful candidate will be able to source and assess the research evidence available in order to provide robust assessments of media literacy among adults and children in the UK (across areas such as access, safety and critical thinking) and to set out the wider context of the media literacy landscape. They must be experienced in reviewing academic literature, as well as grey literature and data sources. Ofcom’s own research and evidence will form a significant aspect of the review.
The successful candidate will be able to facilitate discussions and workshops as needed, as well as conduct individual interviews with stakeholders with lived and learned expertise, to anchor the opportunities and challenges that stakeholders identify in relation to their work in media literacy.
Outputs
The outputs for this work must include the following:
* An assessment of media literacy in the UK across core areas, to be agreed with Ofcom. Recognising that UK averages can mask differences of experience, the work should also explore how this differs for adults and children, and the impact of demographics and intersectionality.
* An exploration of the factors influencing media literacy across the core areas, to arrive at a set of opportunities and barriers for a) each of the core areas and b) each of the demographic groups.
Deliverables
This work will require outputs to be delivered in a range of formats. We anticipate that the deliverables from this work will include (but not be limited to):
* A Word report
* Infographics showing quadrant analysis of skill levels vs degree of opportunity for different groups, or visually displaying the media literacy landscape.
* Flexible, visual output such as an interactive Power BI report allowing the filtering of data by different groups and areas of media literacy to maximise the value of the work to Ofcom and our stakeholders.
Requirements of the role
* Familiarise themselves with Ofcom’s media literacy programme and research outputs, in particular the current 3-year media literacy strategy, the What Works in the delivery of media literacy interventions approach, our consultation on how to promote media literacy and our adults’ and children’s media literacy tracking studies.
* Review Ofcom and wider external data sources to establish a baseline level of performance for the UK population, and a range of sub-groups, across key areas of media literacy.
* Identify key stakeholders and lead workshops or interviews to understand their influence, interests, enablers and barriers.
* Use frameworks such as PESTLE, SWOT, or Force Field Analysis to structure insights regarding the media literacy landscape.
* Deliver a written evidence review which sets out skill levels in the UK population for core media literacy areas, as well as the external environment (such as political, economic, and technological factors) influencing media literacy levels and the opportunities and barriers operating in the sector.
* Identify levers available to Ofcom and the sector for each of the core media literacy areas, and for a range of sub-groups, for improving media literacy skills in those areas.
* Ensure that the findings are communicated succinctly in flexible, visual and engaging ways, to promote understanding both from Ofcom internal and external stakeholder and also key audience groups in the wider public. Please note – we will ask for examples of ways that you have visually presented your work at interview.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
* Media literacy expertise – ideally in the context of both adults and children
* Analytical approach to context analysis
* Experience in carrying out literature reviews, ideally in an applied and/or strategic context
* Facilitation and interviewing skills
* Relationship building skills: Ability to build and maintain working relationships with a broad range of people, including Ofcom internal stakeholders
* Communication skills: Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written with experience of delivering to variety of levels of seniority and complexity.
* Teamwork and leadership skills: Demonstrate planning and organisational skills, and the ability to collaborate with and incorporate insights from a range of colleagues
* Strategic design expertise: The consultant must be skilled in producing graphic and interactive outputs that visually communicate insights.
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/