NED Member – Community Radio Fund Panel – Homeworker_England

Overview

NED Member – Community Radio Fund Panel – Homeworker_England

Closing Date:

20/10/2025

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 20 October, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Sunday 19 October.

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 competencies. Your letter should be no more than two sides of A4 in length. You are able to upload multiple documents at the point where you are asked to upload your CV.

Final interviews will be held on Tuesday 11 November. Should you require any adjustments to be made, please do contact us directly at resourcing@Ofcom.org.uk

We are planning to appoint a Non-Executive Member to Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund Panel with a starting date of 1 January 2026. The successful applicant will act as an observer to the Panel until April 2026, at which point they will formally take up their new role as a Member of the Panel.

In April 2026, the role of Chair of the Community Radio Fund Panel will become vacant. The Chair is appointed from within the Panel by Ofcom. The successful applicant for this role, together with existing Panel Members, will be eligible to apply for the role of Chair.

Purpose of the role

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, postal services, telecoms, and wireless communications services. We have recently taken on regulation of online safety to make online services safer for the people who use them.

Community radio stations provide a new voice for hundreds of local communities across the UK. Fuelled by the hard work and enthusiasm of volunteers, they reflect a diverse mix of cultures and interests and provide a rich mix of mostly locally-produced content. The delivery of social gain is the cornerstone of community radio. New Ofcom research not only demonstrates that services are delivering significant benefit for listeners and local communities, but it also provides a set of resources that services can use to demonstrate the social gain they create to stakeholders such as funders, Further information can be found at Helping community radio stations measure their social impact – Ofcom.

The Community Radio Fund is allocated by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to support community radio stations in the delivery of social gain. The Fund provides grants to help support the core running costs of Ofcom-licensed community radio stations. The money is distributed by Ofcom in the form of grants, following a formal application process, to existing community radio licensees. The Community Radio Fund Panel reviews these applications and decides which to fund. Reviewing a funding application includes analysing the proposal to estimate the benefit/social gain that it could deliver, assessing output and checking Company Accounts to determine the position of the applicant in relation to the funding request.

Essential Skills/Experience

We welcome applications from candidates with a variety of experience, backgrounds and industry knowledge. We want to speak to people who are committed and passionate about making a valuable contribution to supporting the community radio sector.

To apply to join the Panel you will need to show in your covering letter how you meet the competencies below. No previous experience of being a non-executive member is necessary.

Applicants will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of proposals

• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written in order to articulate views and concerns

• The ability to digest and consider a variety of information and data and identify wider impacts on a community

• Understanding of, or experience in finances and accounting

• A willingness to engage positively in discussions and to challenge where necessary

• The ability to remain objective and respectful of different views and opinions

• The ability to understand the varied needs and views of not for profit organisations or community-based projects

• An understanding of Ofcom’s role and responsibilities in a complex political landscape

• The ability to work collegiately as a non-executive member

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Community radio sector knowledge and experience

• Previous experience with reviewing funding applications or similar

Exclusions

Ofcom must be satisfied that applicants have no personal or professional connections which could call into question their ability to carry out the functions of the Panel objectively. It’s not possible to list exhaustively the circumstances which would be likely to disqualify potential applicants, but they may include individuals who:

• Currently hold, or have held in the last 3 years, a management or organisational role in a representative trade body for community radio broadcasters.

• Hold a current directorship, are a member or employee, or exert control over an Ofcom-licensed community radio service.

• Have an ongoing commercial relationship with any UK Community Radio broadcasters or have had such a relationship in the last 3 years. 

Further Information

There are usually two grant rounds each year and decisions on grant applications are made by the Panel (supported by the Broadcast Licensing and Programme Operations team). The Panel consists of three members; two external to Ofcom and one internal. More information about the Panel is available on the Ofcom website.

The role does require at least two periods of intense reviewing of applications in the relatively short period (three to four weeks) prior to the Panel meeting. Panel Members are required to be available for the proposal review periods and Panel meetings, which usually take place in January and October. The Panel meetings are currently run remotely but should Panel Members be asked to attend Ofcom offices for these meetings in future, expenses will be paid.

The time commitment is up to 19 days per year and the annual fee is £2500. Non-executive members are paid under PAYE. The time commitment can vary depending on application numbers, ad-hoc requests from existing award holders and funding programme developments.

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 competencies. Your letter should be no more than two sides of A4 in length. Applications for the role will close at 00.01 on 20 October 2025 and final interviews will be held on Tuesday 11 November. Should you require any adjustments to be made, please do contact us directly at resourcing@Ofcom.org.uk

Applicants must have personal integrity of a high order and ensure that their conduct accords with the Seven Principles of Public Life.

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/

IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.