Housing service manager jobs in oban, argyll and bute council

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.

PINF is the first charity in the UK that exists to support high-quality journalism. We exist at the cutting edge of charity law and need an experienced charity professional to make sure we do things properly. 

As Head of Operations & Governance, you will be responsible for overseeing the back-office operations of the charity. You will be a key point of contact for the team and support the Executive Director to ensure smooth, efficient and compliant operations.

You will be a senior member of the team, responsible for ensuring that PINF operates within its legal and regulatory framework, including in relation to charity, corporate, tax, employment and data protection regulations. The role involves liaising with the Chair, Board of Trustees, Executive Director, legal advisors and regulators to support best practice in financial management, governance, risk management and compliance.  

Duties and responsibilities 

• Financial Management 

• Ensure consistent delivery and quality of finance operations, including transactions processing, which will involve managing a bookkeeping service.

• Prepare and monitor annual budgets, management accounts and project budgets.

• Lead on the financial aspects of fundraising, contract management, and funder reporting. Including managing restricted and unrestricted funding. 

• Oversee the process of preparing statutory accounts, including liaising with accountants and auditors.

• Maintain internal controls and policies to protect assets, prevent fraud, and ensure business continuity. 

• Participate in the Finance & Fundraising Committee and support the Treasurer to plan and deliver meetings. 

• Prepare financial reports for board meetings and engage in board discussions.

• Governance 

• Manage our annual governance cycle, working closely with the Chair, Treasurer and Executive Director to ensure legal compliance and to plan and prepare for Board meetings including taking appropriate minutes.

• Manage the organisational risk framework including identifying emerging risks and working with the Executive Director to mitigate them.

• Companies House and Charity Commission filings.

• Develop and maintain a suite of policy to ensure PINF meets its obligations as a charity and an employer.

• Play an active part in board discussion to support good decision making.

• HR 

• Manage HR across the organisation; ensuring all HR processes and policies are fit for purpose, up to date and adhere to law, and are understood and implemented across the organisation.

• Manage recruitment processes for all staff.

• Manage the annual leave tracker. 

• Operations and administration 

• Ensure the smooth running of the organisation by leading operational planning and monitoring progress.

• Lead on relationships and contracts with external suppliers and contractors.

• Ensure PINF has appropriate insurance cover. 

• Occasional support with charitable activities (meetings, events, publications, etc.) 

Requirements  

• A professional qualification in finance, management, law, or a related field and at least five years’ experience relevant to this role.

• Deep understanding of good governance and best practice in the charity sector.

• Understanding of relevant laws relating to employment, data protection and running a charity. 

• Sympathy to the aims and objectives of PINF. 

• Full professional proficiency in English. 

• Right to work in the UK. 

Skills and attributes 

• Experience of managing charity finances and budgets (Essential). A related finance or accountancy qualification would be desirable. 

• Experience of managing operations in a comparable charity or business, with both strategic and day-to-day operational responsibilities. 

• Developing HR processes and policies and taking the lead in implementing these across an organisation. 

• Developing processes and procedures and making improvements for efficiency and impact. 

• Experience of working closely with trustees, non-executives or senior leadership teams.

• Strong oral and written communications skills, including having the confidence to use your expertise to provide feedback and constructive challenge to senior leaders.

• Excellent problem-solving and interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to work remotely and independently and to collaborate with others. 

• Enjoy being the key point of contact and support in a small, remote team. 

• Ability to stay on top of your workload by using relevant software (including Microsoft Office and finance software such as Xero), keeping accurate and up-to-date records, and prioritising between competing tasks. 

Please apply using Charity Job. Once you click apply you will be prompted to upload your CV and answer an application question in up to 5000 characters: What do you see as the main challenges facing PINF as a small but ambitious charity, and how will you use your experience to address them as Head of Operations & Governance? 

Background 

People and communities around the world have the solutions to social injustice, authoritarianism, and the climate crisis. But repressive governments, corrupt corporations, and armed groups use violence and oppression to try and silence them.

By building resistance and resilience among those challenging unaccountable power, Open Voices supports a shared vision for a world where communities and ecosystems can thrive. 

As a mission-driven nonprofit, we join forces with grassroots activists, community groups, and social movements at risk. Working together, we strengthen their physical safety, digital resilience, and collective wellbeing. As a social impact consultancy, we help high-profile nonprofits and foundations manage risk and care for their teams and partners.

This dual approach allows us to work at every level of civil society, from the grassroots to the global. 

We have scaled to meet a 66% surge in demand for our support over the past two years, with our international team now responding to 11 new cases every week. Last year alone, we:

• Answered 575 calls for assistance across 100 countries.

• Delivered over 6,000 hours of mentoring and accompaniment.

• Trained over 1,000 activists in 112 holistic security workshops.

Whoever we partner with, we start with questions, not answers. Listening before speaking, understanding before acting. Together, we defend those who speak out. 

We are expanding our diverse, inspired, and purpose-driven team. Will you join us as our new philanthropy coordinator?

Role description

As our philanthropy coordinator, you will play a key role in building new partnerships with philanthropists and high-net-worth individuals, with an immediate focus on the UK, US, and Europe. You will design and implement a comprehensive strategy to build a robust portfolio of individual donors, Family Foundations, Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) and other personal giving vehicles. 

A proactive and thoughtful relationship builder, you will maintain long-term relationships and lead bold strategies to engage new audiences, including millennial and next-generation philanthropists. You will steward Open Briefing’s first global development board, working closely with our CEO and director of development to engage members around a dynamic programme of activities designed to make Open Briefing more fundable and findable. 

Together with our director of development, you will drive forward a multi-year fundraising strategy to resource our work with activists and organisations on the frontlines of human rights, social justice, and environmental action. 

Your primary responsibilities will include: 

• Designing and executing our philanthropy fundraising strategy. Lead a strategy to identify, cultivate, and solicit high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) —including through Donor Advised Funds, Family Offices, Family Foundations, and other giving vehicles—with an immediate focus on the US, UK and Europe. 

• Prospecting and donor acquisition. Manage HNWI prospecting, generate new leads, develop solicitation plans, brief senior leadership in advance of meetings, and coordinate cultivation and networking opportunities.

• Stewardship and relationship management. Build strong relationships with existing and potential donors through tailored stewardship plans designed to grow income over time. Manage donor tracking and communication systems. 

• Nurture and grow our development board - Work alongside our director of development and CEO to identify and engage members and steward the Board through a 12-month action-orientated development campaign. 

• Budget Management. Manage a programme budget for cultivation and stewardship events and activities.

• Collaboration and Communication. Work closely with our communications coordinator, director of development and programme teams in the production and dissemination of donor-relevant reports, updates and other content; and contribute to the conception and organisation of donor-facing online and in-person events.

• Team support. As a key member of our development and communications team, undertaken other duties as reasonably requested relevant to team and organisational goals. 

Person specification 

Essential 

• You will have extensive experience managing a HNWI or major gift portfolio. 

• You will have a proven track-record of personally securing four, five, or six-figure donations from HNWI and/or major gift donors in the UK, US and/or Europe. 

• You will have experience working within a nonprofit focused on human rights, social justice, and/or environmental action. 

• You will have excellent verbal communication skills, including English language skills, both spoken and written. 

• You will have experience working with senior stakeholders and board members to support fundraising activities. 

• You will have an ability to work both strategically and operationally.

• You will have creative thinking and problem-solving aptitude.

Desirable

• You may have experience working within a global nonprofit. 

• You may have knowledge of the human rights, social justice, environmental justice, and/or international development funding landscape. 

• You may understand grant-making and grant-management processes, especially with respect to private philanthropic funding, including family foundations, DAFs, and Family Offices. 

• You may understand tax-efficient donation mechanisms in the UK, US, and across Europe. 

• You may understand the trends in dynastic giving as well as emerging and next-generation philanthropists. 

If you feel you meet some but not all of the criteria, we would encourage you to get in touch. 

Terms and remuneration

This is a remote, home-working role. You will be contracted for 40 hours a week on a full-time, fixed-term contract. Flexible working is available and encouraged. 

We are looking for someone who wants to embrace this pivotal role within our close-knit team and develop a long-term working relationship with us. You will be properly onboarded and continually supported by experienced and compassionate managers and colleagues. Your line manager will be our director of development, Vicky Nida. 

In return for your time and dedication, we will offer you a remuneration package made up of fair pay, sector-leading benefits, and progressive leave policies, including:

• Salary of £46,900 per annum.

• 7% employer pension contribution.

• Family private medical insurance.

• Employee Assistance Programme, including welfare counselling.

• Unlimited professional coaching.

• Enhanced annual leave of 25 days plus local public holidays.

• Additional leave days for annual closedown.

• Enhanced sick pay.

• Flexible working, including flexitime and remote and home working.

• Access to local coworking spaces.

• Support for climate action:

  • Personal carbon emissions offsetting.

  • Up to two additional leave days for sustainable travel.

  • Up to two additional leave days for climate activism.

• Apple MacBook and peripherals.

If you are based outside the United Kingdom, you will be offered comparable compensation through our local employer of record, Remote. For parity, we contribute 4% above the local statutory requirements into the personal pension plans of staff members employed outside the UK. We will contribute 7% into the personal pension plans of staff members employed in counties where there is no  local statutory provision. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Open Briefing values diversity. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all can be their authentic selves. We therefore encourage applications from all who meet the person specification and particularly from candidates who are from racialised communities and those under-recognised in our development team. This currently includes people of colour and people from countries in the global majority.

Please read our diversity, equity, and inclusion policy for more information. Our ethical and environmental policies are also available. And you may find our Vision, Mission, and Values statements of interest.

Open Briefing is a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory of the Charter for Employers Who Are Positive About Mental Health. We will make reasonable adjustments for disabled and neurodivergent people during the recruitment process and any subsequent employment. Please let us know in your cover letter how we can be the recruiter and employer you need us to be.

We have checked the text of this advert using the Gender Decoder tool.

Safeguarding

Open Briefing is dedicated to upholding the highest safeguarding standards, ensuring a culture of respect and protection for both our internal and external stakeholders. Our approach encompasses preventative measures and a strong response mechanism to any safeguarding concerns, guided by a survivor/victim-centred ethos. We enforce a strict no-tolerance policy towards any violations of safeguarding policies, ensuring that all concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately. Our safeguarding policy is available here.

How to apply

Please submit your application using our online form and note the following dates:

• Closing date: 30 May 2025

• Interviews: w/c 9 June 2025 

• Desired start date: As soon as possible 

Please let us know on the form if any of these dates are problematic and we will try to accommodate. The successful candidate will need to complete a reasonable vetting process before engagement.

Salary: Senior Supervising Social Worker

£41,208 per annum + £750 per annum Homeworking Allowance + £1,500 per annum Out of Hours Allowance

Supervising Social Worker 

£36,467 per annum + £750 per annum Homeworking Allowance + £1,500 per annum Out of Hours Allowance (Target Rate), yes please as hard to recruit in my area, are you happy to ask him or want me to?

Hours: 35 Hours per week 

Contract: Permanent or Fixed Term Contract 

Location: Homebased - We are interested in applicants located in Northamptonshire, Central Leicestershire, South Derbyshire the border with Leicestershire or Peterborough, as the postholder will be required to travel across these areas and other locations in the East Midlands area to conduct home visits to support carers and children. Travel is also required to attend staff meetings and team away days in Northamptonshire and other parts of the East Midlands.

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and looks to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy work life balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.

As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest in unique projects like TACT Connect, our unique and ground-breaking scheme for TACT care experienced young people and adults,  as well as our expanding TACT Education Service and our new Health Service. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma-informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.

TACT achieved 16th place in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results in 2023, with 91% of employees acknowledging that the organisation is run on strong values and principles and 94% stating they feel proud to work for this organisation.

TACT East Midlands Team have a unique opportunity for either a Supervising Social Worker who is ready to progress their career to a Senior Supervising Social Worker or a current Fostering Senior Supervising Worker who understands trauma and therapeutic parenting approaches. This role is being advertised on either a permanent or fixed-term basis. The duration of the fixed-term contract will be discussed/confirmed at the interview. 

As a Fostering Senior/Supervising Social Worker with TACT East Midlands, you will be a part of our amazing team of professionals working with our organisational values at the heart of their everyday practice.  If you want to be valued as a professional, be appreciated at work and contribute to better outcomes for the children and young people connected with TACT, apply now. 

Overall Duties of the Senior Supervising Social Worker will include:

• An appropriate social work qualification
• Up-to-date registration with Social Work England
• A minimum of 1 to 2 years post qualifying experience in fostering or in other childcare settings for the Supervising Social Worker role or 2 years’ experience in fostering for the Senior Supervising Social Worker role.
• Experience in supporting and supervising 10-12 foster families to meet the complex needs of the looked-after young people
• A proven track record in working with and on behalf of children, respecting and maintaining their individuality, and promoting their positive development.
• Experience in group work and/or delivery of training.
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations including the Children's Act and NMS Fostering Standards.
• Experience of working with/supporting looked after children and their foster carers.
• Ability to prioritise, plan and self-organise efficiently.
• Capable of using electronic records systems and IT effectively, including participating in virtual meetings and webinars

TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus annual bank holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, and volunteer days policy).
• Family friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• HelpHand Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, 24/7 remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions on serious diagnoses).
• An hour a week of live, expert-led activities through the Annual Employee Wellbeing Programme.
• Menopause Policy and free Menopause Clinician Appointments.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all roles.
• An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Closing Date: Wednesday, 14th May 2025

Interview Date: Thursday, 22nd May 2025

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.