Head of strategy and governance jobs in bristol

ARMA (UK) is the professional association for research management in the UK. We represent research leaders, managers and administrators, offering professional development and opportunities to build networks, knowledge and skills.

We are looking for a Conference and Major Events Manager to lead on the delivery of our successful annual conference and other major events.

The role includes, but is not limited to, project management, budgeting and financial management, marketing and promotion, sponsorship and exhibition sales/ coordination, venue selection and contracting, supplier management, speaker liaison, abstract management and delegate administration.

This role will work closely with our Head of Membership Engagement, the chair of Conference and Conference Working Group to deliver an excellent programme and outstanding delegate experience. The role holder is also responsible for managing the relationship with our appointed Professional Conference Organiser (PCO).

For full details about this role, our work and the skills required please refer to our role profile.

Job Profile

CAFOD’s mission in the Catholic community of England and Wales is to inspire and equip Catholics to actively engage in the Church’s efforts to overcome poverty and injustice. Our regional teams focus on recruiting and supporting a dedicated group of volunteers within parish and school communities, empowering them to educate, engage, and inspire others to act in solidarity for the common good. Regional teams also collaborate with clergy and other representatives across the Catholic community to ensure CAFOD’s volunteer programme is aligned with faith life.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide administrative and communications support to the Community Participation Coordinators across England and Wales, with a focus on the West & Wales region as the first point of contact. This includes coordinating administrative tasks performed by office volunteers and identifying opportunities for process improvements. The role also involves volunteer recruitment administration, overseeing and training Office Volunteers, and ensuring effective database management.

This role can be based anywhere in the UK including our head office in London, working from home, from one of CAFOD’s Volunteer Centres, or a combination of both. The role requires occasional travel to London and other areas within the East & West side of the country. Travel expenses will be reimbursed, and time off in lieu will be granted for travel beyond normal working hours.

This is a full-time position (35 hours per week) and reports to the Volunteer Support and Development Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities Overview
The post holder will play a key role in driving smooth, efficient operations across CAFOD’s West & Wales region. As the go-to person for admin excellence and volunteer support, you’ll work closely with your line manager and colleagues in the East to streamline processes, improve systems, and keep everything running like clockwork.

You’ll lead on volunteer recruitment and engagement—welcoming new volunteers, managing onboarding, and ensuring everyone feels valued, equipped, and inspired to support CAFOD’s work. Your people skills and attention to detail will shine as you manage applications, data entry, and training coordination.

Communications will be at the heart of your role. You’ll create engaging e-bulletins and social media content that keeps our community informed and motivated, while ensuring messages are clear, consistent, and aligned with CAFOD’s wider goals.

You’ll be the guardian of accurate data, working with office volunteers to maintain up-to-date records that support smarter outreach and efficient workflows. Your collaborative spirit will help strengthen connections across teams, share best practices, and contribute to creative new approaches for engaging communities.

This is a role for a proactive, organised, and people-focused individual who’s excited to innovate, solve problems, and make a tangible impact in a supportive, values-led organisation.

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Understanding our context

1. Understanding Catholic identity: sympathetic knowledge of the life, culture and structure of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and an ability to work effectively within it and especially an understanding of parish community life.
2. Understanding CAFOD: ability to express what motivates people to volunteer for, and support, CAFOD and the main activities in which Catholic community primarily participate. Being informed about, supportive of, and actively promoting our anti-racism work.

Working together

1. Managing ourselves: strong interpersonal skills including an ability to develop personal relationships quickly and to convince others.  Ability to be self-motivated and able to work in isolation linking with different people in a variety of contexts; confident with articulating support required for you to work well.
2. Working with others: builds positive and fruitful partnerships, particularly with volunteers; works effectively as part of a team which may work at a distance to ensure sharing of good practice and shared workload; being willing and able to help other team members and be helped to achieve delivery of shared objectives.
3. Communicating: ability to identify how best to communicate instructions and processes clearly and how this helps achieve the objectives CAFOD seeks to deliver and how to share knowledge and information across teams.

Making change happen

1. Managing resources: confident with processing data for planning, monitoring and reporting:  proven time-management, data-management and organisational skills/experience of delegating tasks clearly and making improvements to processes.
2. Achieving results: ability and willingness to focus on achieving efficiencies, especially in support of regional plans for community participation and income growth.
3. Managing our performance: ability and willingness to work to targets and achieve results.

Job-Specific Competencies

Administrative Process Improvement:

Proven ability to assess, streamline, and document administrative processes. Strong organisational skills are required to manage a variety of tasks and ensure efficient delegation to volunteers. Ability to identify inefficiencies and propose practical solutions to enhance office operations.

Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement:

Expertise in recruiting, onboarding, and maintaining volunteer engagement. You will build strong relationships with volunteers, ensuring their experience is positive and aligned with CAFOD’s mission. Experience in using volunteer management systems and managing volunteer data is essential.

Communication & Content Creation: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience in producing engaging content for e-bulletins, newsletters, and other media resources. Ability to tailor messaging to different audiences, ensuring clarity and consistency in CAFOD’s communications.

Data Management & Accuracy:

Attention to detail is crucial for maintaining accurate records. Experience with databases, data segmentation, and ensuring data integrity is essential. A strong understanding of data protection standards, including GDPR, will be necessary.

Collaboration & Team Communication:

Effective communicator with internal teams, ensuring smooth communication and alignment across various regions. Ability to foster positive working relationships and collaborate across teams, both virtually and in person. Proficiency with communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom is required.

Training & Support:

Experience in delivering training to volunteers and staff, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge. Ability to provide ongoing support to regional office volunteers, helping them succeed and contribute effectively to the team.

Adaptability & Problem-solving:

Flexible and resourceful, able to adapt to changing priorities. You will be expected to identify challenges and propose solutions to keep operations running smoothly.

Commitment to CAFOD’s Mission & Values:

A deep understanding of CAFOD’s mission and Catholic social teaching, with the ability to align volunteer engagement and administrative activities with the organization’s goals of addressing poverty and injustice.

Use of Digital Tools & Systems:

Competence in using databases, Microsoft Office Suite, and collaboration tools. Ability to train volunteers in these systems to ensure smooth operations across teams.

Project Management & Accountability:

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring tasks are completed within deadlines and to a high standard. You will be responsible for delivering results aligned with CAFOD’s objectives.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.  If based in the UK the post holder is required to present or obtain a Disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).  If the post is based outside the UK the post holder will be subject to a different checking process.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits

Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities.

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

Everyone deserves a decent place to live – join Habitat for Humanity Great Britain as our new Director of Finance, Operations & Compliance, and support people to find a safe, affordable home. 

We’re on the lookout for an experienced finance and operations professional, with the energy and drive to lead a team focused on excellent service delivery, continuous improvement and sustainable growth. This is your chance to take charge of a support services team with a real purpose—helping families build a better future through safe and affordable housing.

Reporting to the CEO, you’ll take the lead on all financial, compliance, operational and people support activities.  This role demands a combination of the hands-on approach needed in a medium-sized charity with the strong people management skills to enable all members of your team to deliver high quality services and to thrive in their roles.

You’ll also be working closely with colleagues across the international Habitat network, so good communication and collaboration skills will be key to success in this role. 

Job Title: Director of Finance, Operations & Compliance 

Department: Finance, Operations & Compliance 

Reports to: National Director/CEO 

Budget responsibility: Yes 

Line management: Team of 6, with 3 direct reports (Head of People, Finance Manager, Finance Business Partner) 

Location: Home-based with regular travel to internal meetings and team events, and occasional travel to our registered office in Slough 

About Habitat for Humanity Great Britain 

Habitat for Humanity Great Britain (Habitat GB) is part of the global Habitat for Humanity network fighting global poverty and homelessness. We believe that a decent home helps to permanently break the cycle of poverty and allows families to achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance.

Habitat GB has recently completed a strategic review, resulting in a new National Strategy and an organisational restructure, to ensure the organisation is able to deliver the Strategy impactfully, efficiently and effectively. This has included the integration of a subsidiary entity (GB Homes) into Habitat GB.  As a result, the Finance, Operations & Compliance team has been expanded to ensure the right capacity and capability for these crucial functions.

Habitat’s turnover for the financial year ended 30 June 2023 was £3.0m with net assets of £2.5m: for the year ended 30 June 2024, it was £3.5m with assets of £2.1m. 

Job Purpose 

The Director of Finance, Operations & Compliance will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, working to ensure the impact, sustainability, diligence and productivity of the organisation, with a commitment to organisational transformation within the framework of a values-led approach to people and culture. 

Taking a lead on all financial, support and compliance activities, the role demands a combination of the hands-on approach needed in a medium-sized charity with the strong people management skills to enable all members of their team to deliver high quality services and to thrive in their roles.

Key responsibilities include: 

• All aspects of financial strategy, planning and control. 

• Providing oversight of organisational priorities, productivity, performance, people & HR, risk and due diligence. 

• Support to fundraising and programmes. 

• Being an active leader across the organisation, collaborating effectively with teams, and contributing fully to organisational wide initiatives and opportunities. 

• Co-creating ways of working to enable an adaptive, collaborative and high performing organisational team. 

• Leading and managing a team of 6, including 3 direct reports. 

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy, Planning and Control: 

• Accountable for organisational financial strategy, working with senior staff and trustees to ensure multi-year planning, target setting and monitoring in line with Habitat GB’s strategic objectives.

• Accountable for all aspects of financial management and control, including budgeting, reforecasting, treasury management, cashflow, management information, performance and statutory reporting.

• Accountable for the development and continuous improvement of reporting frameworks, including leading regular reviews with Senior Leadership team and providing quantitative and qualitative reports for the Board including clear and accessible narrative analysis.

• Provision of financial management and accounting services, management information, and statutory reporting. 

• Lead the organisation of quarterly Finance, Audit & Risk Committee meetings, in line with the Committee Terms of Reference and in consultation with the Treasurer, and National Director/CEO. 

• Responsible for the preparation and submission of annual statutory accounts in accordance with SORP and legal requirements and coordinating the external audit exercise and seeing the process through to Board approvals and filing with statutory bodies. 

• Lead a positive and collaborative relationship with HFHI Finance teams and ensure that Habitat GB meets its regular reporting requirements. 

• Lead Habitat GB’s relationship with relevant external partners, including auditors, bankers, insurers, pension providers, HMRC, Charity Commission and Companies House. 

GB Homes Subsidiary Entity: 

• Working closely with the National Director/CEO on planning for the future wind-up of the entity, providing all financial management, reporting and compliance resources as required in the interim. 

• Working with the Director of Programme Delivery, provide financial resource and support to the management of the former GB Homes asset portfolio, developing appropriate reporting mechanisms that provide data which can be included into the combined budgeting and reporting of Habitat GB 

• Accountable for integration and ongoing provision of the operational requirements of the GB Homes subsidiary, including insurance, technology, and communications requirements. 

Fundraising & Programmes support: 

• Work closely with the Directors of Fundraising & Partnerships, and of Impact & Influence to set ambitious and achievable targets across restricted and unrestricted fundraising, track performance, and ensure high quality forecasting, reporting and budget management. 

• Be responsible for the development and oversight of policies, protocols and systems required for restricted fund management which align with Habitat for Humanity International and external donor requirements. 

• Work collaboratively across Habitat GB to agree service delivery expectations and ensure the timely provision of relevant inputs from the Finance, Operations & Compliance team across partnership and programme cycles.  For example, audit or financial reporting requirements from donors, up to date policies, review of proposal documents, grants and contract agreements. 

• Work closely with the Directors of Programme Delivery & Retail to ensure Habitat GB has the specialist knowledge and financial skills relevant to our diverse types of programmes, including a new and growing retail operation, as well as construction project delivery. 

Risk Management and Compliance: 

• Lead on the development and maintenance of the organisational Risk Register, being responsible for the management and mitigation of financial, regulatory and operational risks and coordinating with others on the reporting and review of other risk areas. 

• Ensure Habitat GB is fully compliant and up to date with all its data protection and insurance requirements and has access to appropriate legal and other expert resources where necessary. 

• Be responsible for technology infrastructure, hardware and the management of outsourced support services. 

People Policies and HR Administration: 

• Support the Head of People to deliver a high-quality People and HR service to the organisation and our partners, including efficient HR administration, pension and payroll, people management, safeguarding, strategy and leadership. 

• Working closely with the National Director and others, have overall responsibility for the provision of up to date, user-friendly and legally compliant policies and procedures which support an efficient and effective organisational culture and environment. 

Leadership & Management: 

• Lead a high performing and ambitious team, inspired to implement and grow the strategy and with a core focus on positive impact for Habitat GB’s community and strategic partners through the provisional of excellent functional and subject matter expertise. 

• Develop, lead and focus the Finance, Operations & Compliance team, its budget, activities and performance, to ensure the delivery against targets. 

• Manage, motivate and develop team members. Ensure regular 1-2-1s are held, set individual objectives, encourage a culture of giving and receiving feedback, where kindness and ambition support the progression of people and plans. 

• Set quality standards and meaningful KPIs to encourage ownership and accountability with direct reports, team, and others and effectively monitor progress towards agreed targets. 

• Role model our values in line with Habitat GB’s inclusive approach to people and culture. 

Organisational Leadership: 

• Support the National Director/CEO in delivering Habitat GB’s strategy and vision, acting as a collaborative and supportive member of a shared leadership team. 

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, provide oversight of organisational priorities, productivity, performance, risk and due diligence. 

• Be an active leader across the organisation, collaborating effectively with teams, and contributing fully to organisational wide initiatives and opportunities. 

• Co-create ways of working to enable an adaptive, collaborative and high performing organisational team. 

• Deputise for the National Director when required and represent HFHGB in external meetings and forums. 

Person profile: 

• Holder of a relevant professional or accounting qualification: e.g. ACCA or equivalent. 

• Expertise in charity sector compliance (FRS102) reporting requirements. 

• Expert knowledge of financial strategy, management and reporting, with experience relevant to funding and grants, retail, commercial or construction. 

• Proven track record of developing and leading complex financial strategies and supporting teams to deliver high quality functional inputs in an inclusive, collaborative environment. 

• Hands-on experience with relevant accounting systems and the ability to quickly learn new systems (Habitat GB uses SUN and SAGE systems). 

• Experience working in and leading teams responsible for operational and people related functions. 

• Experience of working in a similar organisation, collaborating across teams and operating in a highly effective way across a diverse, networked structure. 

• Significant and successful experience in senior management roles, encompassing strategic management and team leadership. 

• Understanding and experience of complex organisational change projects, including the ability to support new teams to develop and thrive. 

Skills and competencies: 

• You have excellent interpersonal skills and can communicate with impact across diverse audiences. 

• You are a strategic, analytical and details orientated thinker who can also appreciate the big picture, be pragmatic, collaborative and focus on increasing impact in line with Habitat GB’s mission. 

• You are resilient, able to lead positively in a role which carries significant responsibility and requires you to prioritise effectively across multiple areas of work, problem solve and demonstrate strong organisational and planning skills. 

• You are a values-led leader, who demonstrates integrity, respect for others and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Strong leadership skills and commitment to the highest levels of integrity, honesty, openness and good governance with the capacity to inspire and motivate others. 

• You are an experienced manager, able to lead and inspire others, offering kind and constructive support to others enabling them to improve their impact and performance. 

• You are confident and able to work across different and competing priorities which require you to flex between hands on activities and strategic leadership. 

• You can demonstrate business planning acumen, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. 

The role and responsibilities will be carried out in a way which reflects: 

• Habitat GB’s commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. 

• A commitment to Habitat GB’s vision, mission, values and approach. 

• A commitment to effective management of risk, by operating within the Charity’s code of conduct, policies, procedures and controls and by carrying out the risk management and assurance responsibilities of the role as set out in relevant Policy and Procedures. 

Reporting to the CEO, you’ll take the lead on all financial, compliance, operational and people support activities.  This role demands a combination of the hands-on approach needed in a medium-sized charity with the strong people management skills to enable all members of your team to deliver high quality services and to thrive in their roles.

You’ll also be working closely with colleagues across the international Habitat network, so good communication and collaboration skills will be key to success in this role. 

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If this role sounds like it could be a good match for you, please take a look at the Candidate Pack.

Please note: this role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK. The sucessfull candidate will be required to have a DBS check before starting the role.

Habitat for Humanity requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguard our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work.  Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of our code of conduct. The employment of this position will be subject to a satisfactory reference check and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

At Habitat for Humanity GB, we aim to build, develop and retain a talented workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills and experiences. We welcome and actively encourage applications from anyone who feels they’d be a good fit for our organisation, regardless of race, religion, colour, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity or any other protected characteristics. 

Unfortunately, because of high volume of applications we will not be able to contact unsuccessful applicants. If you haven’t heard from us within a month of the application deadline, please assume that your application has not been successful. 

We’d prefer to hear directly from applicants – we won’t be working with third party recruiters on this role.  

Job Title: People & Recruitment Officer
Contract: Fixed Term 12 months
Salary: £28,100 Per Annum
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week)
Reporting To: Senior People Officer
Manages: N/a
Location: Remote (Occasional travel to the Leicester Head Office and other UK locations as necessary)

About Home-Start UK

Home-Start is a federated charity consisting of a central national office – Home-Start UK - and over 170 geographically dispersed local Home-Start organisations, all working together under the same identity.

We recognise that being a parent has never been easy. Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to work alongside parents to overcome the challenges they are facing. We work with parents to build on their strengths and give them the support that they tell us they need. We offer no judgement – just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. This peer-to-peer support is key to the difference Home-Start makes and often our volunteers have lived experience of the challenges their families are facing themselves.

About The Role

The People & Recruitment Officer will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day People activities, including being the first point of contact for queries and advice. You will also lead on recruitment throughout the organisation, ensuring that the organisation has the right people in the right roles to drive its success and growth. The officer will collaborate closely with hiring managers and other members of the People team to develop effective recruitment strategies, foster a positive candidate experience, and contribute to the overall employee lifecycle management.

We are a flexible and family-friendly employer with genuine commitment to building equity, diversity and inclusion. If there are any ways we can make this opportunity more accessible for you to apply or to be successful, please do reach out for a conversation.

If this sounds like your type of challenge we’d love to receive your application.

Closing date for applications is Thursday 15th May, 4pm.
Interviews will take place virtually on the 29th and 30th May 2025.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Home-Start UK is committed to Equality of Opportunity and Diversity. We wish to encourage applications from all parts of the community irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability. Appointments will be based on merit, following an open and clear selection process.

Home-Start UK, a charitable company limited by guarantee. Company No. 5382181. Charity No. in England and Wales 1108837 and in Scotland SCO39172.

No agencies please.

About SafeLives

We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.    

Last year alone, 14,000 professionals received our training. Over 80,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 100,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last six years, over 4,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start. 

Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.

About the role

This role is an exciting opportunity to help transform the response to domestic abuse by ensuring the sector is evidence led. SafeLives holds the largest datasets on victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse nationally which you will use to inform our ambitious policy and research agenda. Working alongside our practice experts, survivors of abuse, and our expert research team, you will help to answer important questions about what works in ending domestic abuse.

This Data Analyst position will primarily work within the Drive programme team. They will be responsible for working with and supporting the Senior Data Analyst and Data Team Manager to develop and deliver rigorous, sector leading data, analysis, and recommendations. Working closely with the Drive Practice, National Systems Change and Restart teams, this role will primarily focus on data collection, quality assurance, management and reporting through the Drive Case Management Systems.

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week.

Contract: Fixed term contract until June 2027 (with the possibility of an extension).

Location: Bristol based with some travel across the UK.

About the Drive Partnership

The Drive Partnership is a partnership between Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance. We came together in 2015 around a shared ambition to change the way statutory and voluntary agencies respond to high-harm, high-risk perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse. Today, we are still working together to transform the national response to perpetrators of domestic abuse. The Drive partners provide ongoing governance and leadership for all of our work through a joint project board.

The Drive Project

The Drive Project is our flagship intervention working with those causing harm in their relationships to prevent abusive behaviour and protect victim-survivors. Service users have been assessed as posing a high-risk, high-harm level of domestic abuse to the people that they are in intimate or family relationships with. They also often have multiple needs and are resistant to change. The Drive Project has an intensive case management approach that challenges service users to change and works with partner agencies – like the police and social services – to disrupt abuse.

Benefits

• 34 days' holiday incl. public holidays
• Flexible working e.g. compressed hours
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Pension scheme with 4% employer contribution
• Childcare vouchers
• Employee assistance programme
• Clinical supervision
• Holiday purchase scheme to buy up to an additional 5 days
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Enhanced sick pay
• Professional development fund
• Individual learning budget
• Restorative practice training
• Time off in lieu 

If this challenge sounds as exciting to you as it does to us and you believe you have the qualities we have described, please take a look over the job description and submit a 500-word cover letter and CV.

Closing date: 28 May 2025.

SafeLives is a committed provider of equal opportunities for all; please see our job description for full details.

No agencies, please.

Introduction to TDS

TDS is a not-for-profit organisation with a clear social purpose: to raise standards in the private rented sector. Established to create a fairer and more professional rental market by protecting deposits and resolving deposit disputes, TDS has since expanded its mission. Today, we invest in a range of additional services and initiatives that further our commitment to improving the sector.

Key initiatives relevant to this role include:
- Developing an influential research programme to ensure that laws and regulations are informed by robust evidence.
- Funding a range of projects and organisations through our two independent charities.
- Leveraging our direct communication channels with millions of tenants, landlords, and letting agents to educate and inform all parties.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key initiatives relevant to this role include:
- Developing an influential research programme to ensure that laws and regulations are informed by robust evidence.
- Funding a range of projects and organisations through our two independent charities.
- Leveraging our direct communication channels with millions of tenants, landlords, and letting agents to educate and inform all parties.

Introduction to the Role

We are looking for a Research and Policy Officer (Maternity Cover) to join our expanding Policy and Research department, which also oversees the TDS Charitable Foundation. This is a pivotal role supporting our mission to improve standards in the private rented sector through impactful research, thought leadership, and policy engagement.
The successful candidate will play a key part in delivering our research programme, including overseeing flagship projects like the Voice of the Tenant and Voice of the Landlord surveys, and producing high-quality qualitative and quantitative research.

You will also support the smooth running of the Charitable Foundation’s grant-making and governance activities and contribute to our work influencing policy and practice across the UK’s private rented sector.
This is a great opportunity for someone passionate about housing, with a solid grounding in research and an interest in policy, to join a values-driven organisation delivering real-world impact.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Research
1. Collaborate with external research contractors to deliver the regular ‘Voice of the Tenant’ and ‘Voice of the Landlord’ Survey.
2. Ensure the research findings are widely disseminated through different channels, including events, publications, briefings and digital content.
3. Help identify research gaps and contribute to the development execution of new research projects or commissioning of external research.
4. Conduct proactive desk-based research to identify emerging trends, new policy developments, and partnership opportunities relevant to the Foundation and the sector.
5. Undertake in-house research activities, such as literature reviews, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, where required.
6. Contribute to the drafting and production of high-quality research reports and briefings, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and relevance for policy and practice audiences.

Policy
7. Monitor and analyse relevant legislative and regulatory developments, consultations, and debates, identifying implications for the sector and TDS’s work.
8. Support the development of TDS’s policy positions by preparing briefings, drafting responses to consultations, and summarising evidence from research.
9. Help communicate TDS’s policy insights and positions clearly and effectively to internal stakeholders, partners, and decision-makers.

Charity co-ordination
10. Act as a key point of contact for grant-funded projects, supporting projects to share progress and impact, and identify any support needs.
11. Help to Coordinate the TDS Charitable Foundation’s quarterly Board of Trustee meetings, including preparing board papers, taking minutes, and following up on actions.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential characteristics

1. Qualifications and experience
Essential:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject.
• At least 3 years’ experience in research, social policy or similar role (or equivalent post-graduate study).
• Knowledge of research design
• Proven track record of producing content to communicate to different audiences.
• Experience of building relationships with external stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the housing sector or charitable work.

2.  Job Knowledge
Must be able to:

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Show an ability to build relationships with stakeholders.
• Demonstrate organisational skills to help coordinate multiple projects.
• Utilise strong IT skills including sound knowledge of MS Office.
• Prove ability to write content for different audiences.

3. Communication
Must be able to:

• Work as part of a team;
• Have good interpersonal skills, communicating effectively with colleagues, funded projects and other stakeholders.

4. Equal Opportunities

• Must be able to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion.

5. Required behaviour and attitude

• Applicants must be able to:
• demonstrate an affinity for customer excellence
• recognise the importance of fairness in all of our work
• demonstrate how they are making a difference in the work that they do
• is able to articulate the importance of teamwork
• are committed to excellence in all that we do;
• help create a great place to work.

TDS offers a plethora of benefits inclusive of:

• 33 days holiday inc bank holidays
• BUPA Private healthcare
• BUPA Wellbeing cash plan
• Pension Scheme
• Additional day off for your birthday
• Plus many more!

Hours of the role
35 hours per week. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letting outlining how your skills and experience match the person specification.

TDS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in our workforce and to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers.

Senior Accessibility Specialist
Reference: APR20257021
Location: Flexible in UK
Salary: £44,315.00 - £47,312.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours a week – Flexible working pattens to be discussed
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

Whilst we have a huge presence and influence in the conservation sector we recognise that our work is not reaching everyone. We need to enable more, and more diverse people to engage with and act for nature.

Recognising that people are at the heart of delivering our ambitions, we have an exciting opportunity for a talented person to join as Senior Accessibility Specialist. 

What’s the job about?

Our 2030 strategy commits the RSPB to becoming more relevant to the communities and supporters we work with by involving a more diverse range of people. Recognising that people are at the heart of delivering our ambitions, we have an exciting opportunity for a talented person to join as Senior Accessibility Specialist. Reporting to the Head of EDI, and as part of the EDI leadership team, you’ll hold close relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across the organisation. You’ll work collaboratively to support the transformation in behaviours and skills needed to make the RSPB a more accessible and equitable place for all.

The role does have flexibility to shape and innovate but will be focused on the continuation and delivery of two main priorities:

1. Working with our nature reserve teams to implement accessibility improvements that make our spaces more inclusive for Staff, Volunteers and Visitors
2. Working with Communications and Learning and Development teams, internal networks and other stakeholders, to deliver better experiences for our disabled workforce from the point they apply for a role.

Essentials:

• Experienced in delivering strategic accessibility interventions and influencing positive change at all levels of a large and complex organisation and the wider sector
• Personal commitment to making a tangible difference to accessibility with a focus on physical disability, sensory disabilities and neurodiverse people and communities.
• An advocate and practitioner of accessible design and clear communication
• Background and confidence in working with people with lived experience of access barriers and providing support and advice to organisations around accessibility.
• Comfortable to proactively challenge internal policy, practices and communications to better include marginalised groups. 
• Expertise on accessible communications, with experience working to improve standards of internal communications and co-designing engaging content for external communication
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills to role model and drive behaviour change across all areas of accessibility
• In depth knowledge of accessibility standards and best practise within the UK. Including: WCAG, social model of disability, universal design principles, access to work, reasonable adjustments and working application of the Equality Act 2010
• Significant experience of designing and delivering resources and training around accessibility in a range of formats to meet learner needs
• Strong internal and external stakeholder management skills, ability to recognise a build key relationships and influence at a sector level
• Sound understanding of intersectionality of disability and other protected characteristics and a good generalist EDI knowledge to inform specialist advice and guidance
• Strong and effective communication skills, with ability to influence leaders and mobilise other teams to act
• Strong written communication and digital presentations skills to communicate accessibility and disability inclusion to a wide range of audiences
• Analytical evaluation to inform and report on areas of focus and impact
• Awareness of project and process management to enable work to be planned and delivered to a high quality, on time and within resource capacity

Desirable:

• Experience or interest in accessibility in the Conservation section, nature or climate emergency
• Understanding of the intersectional context of race and gender equity within accessibility
• Practical experience supporting accessibility changes at visitor attractions
• Experience working in the Voluntary sector or in volunteering
• Experience of movement building or membership organisations

Additional Information

This role is available full time and permanently for 37.5 hours a week, but we welcome applications for those looking for different working patterns and are happy to discuss further with interested candidates.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 21st May 2025
Interviews will take place around the 18th and 19th of June.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert at any time.

Open briefings
If this sounds like the role for you and you'd like more information on what the day-to-day responsibilities are, or a chance to ask questions, please get un touch with EDI at RSPB to enquire about one of our open briefings.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.