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.
Help tenants, landlords, and agents deal with deposit protection and dispute resolution as quickly and easily as possible.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Senior Grants Officer Location: Fully Remote Salary: £28,600 per annum plus benefits We are recruiting for a Senior Grants Officer. The Fundraising Department at The Forward Trust plays a crucial role in supporting our mission to empower individuals to break the cycles of addiction, crime, homelessness and unemployment. Our team is dedicated to securing vital funds, generating around £2million per year, through various channels, including grants, events, corporate partnerships, and individual donations. We work collaboratively across departments to develop and implement effective fundraising strategies, ensuring that we can continue to provide life-changing services to those in need. One of our unique strengths is the ability to place our service-users at the heart of everything we do, including fundraising. With around a third of our workforce in active recovery and/or having had experience with the criminal justice system, and access to our community of over 28,000 individuals who have benefitted from our support, we can provide living proof of our long-lasting impact. By joining our team, you will be part of a dynamic and passionate group committed to making a tangible difference in people's lives. Role Responsibilities An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Fundraising Team to help grow and maximise income from trusts and foundations and other grant giving organisations. As an integral part of the team, you will identify, engage, and approach new grant giving organisations as well as maintain and strengthen relationships with existing supporters to secure funding for our life changing and life-saving services across prisons and communities in the UK. Over the last two years, we have been working hard to lay the foundations to be able to engage and secure more supporters and advocates for the organisation, enabling us to increase the amount of charitable income we secure. With a new strategy, team structure and customer relationship systemin place, it is a great time to be joining a passionate, fun, and target-driven team within a motivating and inspirational environment. You will be working as part of a team of 10 and the role is fully remote with expectation to travel to Vauxhall once per month. You will also be expected to have the flexibility to attend events and be able and willing to travel to the services in the organisation and supporting fundraising events. The Ideal Candidate We are looking for a excellent communicator who is good at building and maintaining relationships and who has writing and fundraising experience. Please also see a list of skills and experience needed for this role below;
About Us We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
To Apply If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application. |
Hours: Full-time
Pay: Up to £63,300 gross per annum dependent on qualifications and experience
Duration: Maternity cover – 7-month fixed-term contract starting 15 August 2025, including a two-week handover period
Location: UK-Med Office, Manchester, UK or remote working options within +/-2 hours of UK Time
We are seeking a Medical Professional, with significant expertise and experience in global humanitarian and disaster responses, to provide specialist technical guidance and leadership across our humanitarian health programming.
UK-Med is an NGO providing emergency health support in times of crisis and humanitarian emergencies. We provide clinical support, as well as training and capacity building for health professionals around the world, with particular focus on countries vulnerable to natural disasters, outbreaks or with weakened health systems due to complex emergencies. As a key partner of the UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT), we work closely with FCDO and the WHO, but we are also growing our own programmes. Our work has never been more vital, with disease outbreaks and disasters becoming more frequent, complex and severe.
Our portfolio of emergency health programmes continues to grow at pace, with current or recent projects in countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Malawi, Myanmar and Turkey. Projects include outbreak response, health worker capacity building, trauma and surgical care and health systems strengthening.
The successful candidate will have significant experience in the area of emergency response and disaster medicine, ideally including migration and conflict contexts. You will be able to apply your expertise to developing strategy at an HQ level, designing health responses and capacity building programmes as well as contributing to grant proposals. You will be willing and able to deploy overseas with our responses, providing leadership to health teams and liaising closely with Ministries of Health, WHO and other external partners.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits along with a friendly working environment and the opportunity to make a real difference through humanitarian work. UK-Med is a growing and developing organisation with a committed team of staff, volunteers and members.
How to apply
We strongly recommend that you read the Candidate Information Pack – Deputy Director of Health (Maternity Cover) - May 2025 before applying for this role.
To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.
Please apply as soon as possible and no later than Thursday 5 June 2025
UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.
UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfil their potential.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.