Programme manager jobs in thame, oxfordshire

About the role

We’re recruiting for a Head of Retail Operations for our Southern Division. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of driving success within five regions, leading a team of dedicated Regional Managers across 85 shops with around 270 colleagues.

This isn’t just about overseeing operations – it’s about owning them. You’ll have the freedom and autonomy to shape the strategy for your division, making key decisions on everything from financial performance to people development. You’ll build a values-led, inclusive culture – one where our people feel appreciated, respected and supported.

As part of the senior leadership team, you’ll play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of Mind Retail, bringing fresh ideas and driving initiatives that make a real impact. And because every pound we make in our shops helps support Mind’s mission, the work you do will have a lasting and meaningful impact.

This is a role for an ambitious leader – someone ready to take ownership, think strategically and inspire a team to do great things.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is a natural leader, passionate about creating high-performing teams and building an inclusive culture
• Has senior-level experience leading multi-site, large-scale retail operations and knows how to drive commercial success
• Understands retail finances inside out, from managing P&L’s, to spotting opportunities for growth
• Thinks strategically, but isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and make things happen
• Embodies our values and behaviours

Ready to make a difference?

Join Mind Retail. Join the fight for mental health.

Due to our commitment to work/life balance, you must live within reasonable travelling distance of the division. The geography of the division covers the South East, South West, South Wales, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Mind Retail reserve the right to close the vacancy to applications earlier, should we receive a high volume of strong candidates. Therefore we encourage an early application.

About our benefits

As Head of Operations, you’ll receive:

• A competitive salary of £59,753 per year
• A company car
• A strong commitment to work-life balance with a working pattern that supports this, with the occasional weekend working
• 25 days’ paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Development workshops & courses, to help build your career
• Comprehensive, personalised induction programmes, tailored to your role when you join us
• A huge variety of additional qualifications & development programmes for anyone looking to grow their skills
• Family friendly policies & enhanced pay
• A competitive pension scheme & life assurance, available to all our employees
• 25% staff discount in all Mind shops
• Access to exclusive discounts at over 160 retailers through our employee savings app
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Interest free season ticket loan

About Mind Retail

Mind Retail are a network of almost 200 shops across England and Wales, generating an income of around £25 million per year. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next few years and we’re going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before. We won't stop until everyone with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve. There’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We value the power of diversity. We embrace the different perspectives that each of us bring. We are creating an inclusive working environment where everyone is appreciated for being authentic and bringing their whole selves to work.

Safer Recruitment at Mind Retail

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and volunteers and we expect anyone working with us to share this commitment. In line with our Safer Recruitment policy, the successful candidate will be required to provide references and will be expected to undertake an enhanced DBS check with a check of the Children's Barred List and/or ‘Work with Adults' workforce check based on their role and responsibilities. A DBS check is a process to check someone's criminal record (if they have any). A Barred List is a list of people who are barred from working with children. To enable you to predetermine what might be disclosed in your DBS check, please use this disclosure calculator.

Mind Retail is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applicants from all communities. We are committed to the fair treatment of our staff, potential staff and volunteers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.

This job vacancy is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. 

More details

For more information and a full person specification, please review the job description.

Research Associate - National Youth Agency

Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract (with potential to extend)
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week 
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Remote: This role is 100% homebased with occasional travel for staff residentials and other events.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Knowledge Team, working alongside two existing Research Associates and a Data Analyst. 

You will be integral in delivering research, data, and insights that support organisational development and programme delivery across NYA.

We are looking for an experienced mixed-methods researcher with a strong understanding of social research and evaluation approaches. Ideally, you will have experience working in or alongside the youth sector and be confident using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

You’ll need to be flexible, proactive, and a strong communicator, able to explain complex ideas to varied audiences. 

This role is ideal for someone looking to make a tangible difference through evidence-led approaches that shape policy, practice, and impact in youth work.

Key responsibilities for this role will include:

• Designing and delivering research projects using a range of methods including surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
• Supporting the development of the NYA research and data hub, including external research collation and data visualisation.
• Leading on evaluations to meet funder requirements and contribute to NYA’s growing evidence base.
• Analysing data from NYA programmes to support impact measurement.
• Promoting evidence-based practice across NYA and the wider youth sector.
• Communicating findings clearly through reports, briefings, and presentations.
• Managing research projects and collaborating with internal and external partners to deliver on time and to quality.
• Responding to internal and external research enquiries.

The ideal candidate will have experience in social research, familiarity with various research methodologies, and the ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences. 

Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.

Why Work for NYA?

NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.

NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.

A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.

NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.

We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:

Please download our applicant pack to find out more about the role and requirements

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 12th May 2025:

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section. 

A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the

About You section. 

We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer. 

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission. 

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it. As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power.  We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

REF-221126

About you

Do you want to use your skills to make it possible for people with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, to live longer and better lives?

Myeloma UK is looking for a motivated and highly proactive Senior Policy Officer to join our Patient Advocacy team within the wider Research and Advocacy directorate. 

You will have experience in analysing, developing, and communicating complex policy issues, strong communication skills, and the ability to prioritise a fast-moving and wide-ranging workload.

You will also have experience working collaboratively and building relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. 

You will have the ability to present findings and recommendations to a range of audiences and produce high-quality succinct briefings in a timely fashion, underpinned by evidence.

Empathy and sensitivity are required to work closely with patients and their families and friends.

Experience in the health charity sector, public/patient engagement work, and working on the National Institute of Health Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) consultation processes would be beneficial but not essential.

About the role

As Senior Policy Officer you will be part of the Patient Advocacy team who work to ensure that the patient voice is heard and acted upon by UK and devolved nations healthcare policy decision makers. You will represent the charity externally including national meetings with senior healthcare decision makers.

Your role is vital to developing strategic approaches to health technology appraisals (HTA), regulatory pathways (MHRA), clinical development programmes (academic and industry clinical trials) and commissioning routes to broaden access to new myeloma drug therapies and diagnostic technologies.

You will apply your skills flexibly across key policy areas including access to treatment, patient voice, stakeholder engagement and general healthcare policy and work with colleagues in communications and fundraising to make sure our supporters and the wider myeloma community understand the positive impact we make.

About us

Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on myeloma and its related conditions.  We provide support and influence access to treatments, while researching a cure.  Thanks to life-extending treatments and support, today many people affected by myeloma are able to live longer and to live well.  Together, we support, so no one faces myeloma alone. 

We are committed to bringing together the best and brightest people to help us ensure that every patient has an empowered present and a hopeful future.

Our ultimate goal is to find a cure and make myeloma history. Until then, our mission is to help every patient live well with myeloma for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change in care.

Our culture

Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture.  We offer our employees a range of benefits including a pension salary exchange scheme, flexitime, flexible working from home with hub-based office working, health plan, employee assistance plan and holiday purchase scheme and we are committed to providing learning and development opportunities for all our employees.

How to apply

If you think you would be a great fit for this role, get in touch and tell us more about yourself by sending the following:

1. A cover letter telling us more about you and what you think makes you a good fit for this role

2. A CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements

Applications close on 12 May 2025 and interviews will be held w/c 19 May 2025.

Myeloma UK is an equal opportunities employer and always welcomes applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of:

· sex

· race

· disability

· age

· sexual orientation

· gender reassignment

· religion or belief

· marital status

· pregnancy and maternity

Please note, you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.

About you

Do you want to use your skills to make it possible for people with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, to live longer and better lives?

Myeloma UK is looking for a motivated and pro-active Policy Officer to join our Patient Advocacy team within the wider Research and Advocacy directorate.  You will have experience of analysing, developing, and communicating policy issues, excellent communication and influencing skills and the ability to present findings and recommendations to a range of audiences.  The post holder will have excellent attention to detail and the ability to prioritise and work under pressure.

The successful candidate will be a highly regarded ambassador for Myeloma UK with a desire to continuously improve and to make a difference while working flexibility and using their own initiative.

Experience of public/patient engagement work, participating in government policy consultations and patient advocacy campaign work would be beneficial but not essential.

About the role

As the Policy Officer you will be part of the Patient Advocacy team who work to ensure that the patient voice is heard and acted upon by UK and devolved nations healthcare policy decision makers. You will support Myeloma UK’s ambition to deliver personalised medicine, such that every person living with and affected by myeloma and associated conditions has access to the best diagnostics, treatment and care services and quality of life experience.

Your role is vital to developing strategic approaches to UK health policy legislation and consultations to ensure that UK government and devolved nations healthcare policy supports the needs of people living with and affected by myeloma and associated conditions. 

You will support the Policy Manager to assess existing healthcare policies, regulations and legislation to understand their implications for myeloma-specific healthcare systems, providers and patients

About us

Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on myeloma and its related conditions.  We provide support and influence access to treatments, while researching a cure.  Thanks to life-extending treatments and support, today many people affected by myeloma are able to live longer and to live well.  Together, we support, so no one faces myeloma alone. 

We are committed to bringing together the best and brightest people to help us ensure that every patient has an empowered present and a hopeful future.

Our ultimate goal is to find a cure and make myeloma history. Until then, our mission is to help every patient live well with myeloma for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change in care.

Our culture

Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture.  We offer our employees a range of benefits including a pension salary exchange scheme, flexitime, flexible working from home with hub-based office working, health plan, employee assistance plan and holiday purchase scheme and we are committed to providing learning and development opportunities for all our employees.

How to apply

If you think you would be a great fit for this role, get in touch and tell us more about yourself by sending the following:

1. A cover letter telling us more about you and what you think makes you a good fit for this role

2. A CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements

Applications close on 12 May 2025 and interviews will be held w/c 19 May 2025.

Myeloma UK is an equal opportunities employer and always welcomes applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of:

· sex

· race

· disability

· age

· sexual orientation

· gender reassignment

· religion or belief

· marital status

· pregnancy and maternity

Please note, you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.

We are recruiting for a Senior Administrative Assistant to join our team to support the delivery of projects, products and services.

The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) is the professional home for archaeologists in the UK and overseas. We set high standards and benchmark good practice in archaeology to inspire trust in, and respect for, the profession of archaeology. As well as providing training and networks for over 4000 members, we develop and deliver regulated qualifications, accredit undergraduate degree programmes in archaeology and undertake a range of funded projects aimed at supporting the archaeology sector.

We are a fully remote organisation with home-based staff located across the UK. We work collaboratively online using MS Teams, with regular one-to-one, team and project meetings. 

We are looking for a focussed and self-motivated individual to provide administrative support across the professional skills and standards areas of our work. You will have excellent organisational and administrative skills, good attention to detail and be confident communicating with stakeholders in a customer facing role. You will be familiar with a range of IT systems, particularly Office365 and be confident using databases and spreadsheets.

Key tasks include

· providing efficient and effective support for meetings

· liaising with stakeholders including learners, training providers and employers

· data collection and reporting

· keeping accurate records in line with GDPR requirements

· updating documents and webpages

· liaising with finance colleagues to ensure timely invoicing and grant payment claims

Salary and benefits

· CIfA scale 7-9 (£25,573 - £27,471) plus 6% pension contribution

• 27 days annual leave, 3 additional company holiday days between Christmas and New Year plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time positions)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Group life scheme 

CIfA’s policy on equal opportunities
CIfA is committed to implementing a policy of equal opportunities in archaeology. In line with our equal opportunities policy, we want to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment or access to opportunities for training and development on any grounds not relevant to employment practice.

CIfA would like to actively encourage qualified individuals to apply for this position, regardless of background or personal disability. If you require any reasonable adjustments during our recruitment processes, including assistance with reading this page or associated documents, please contact us.

Closing date for applications is 5pm, Monday 5 May. Interviews are expected to take place Between 21 and 23 of May. Please indicate in your cover letter any dates of unavailability. 

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for delivering high-quality testing solutions? Join us as a Portfolio Delivery Test Lead and drive excellence in our testing processes!

�� Location: Hybrid/remote (expectation to travel to key national sites as business requires)

⌚ Contract Type: Permanent, 35 hours per week

�� Salary:

• Starting from £46,434.55 - £51,078.01 for base locations outside of London, dependant on experience and location
• Starting from £51,078.01 - £56,185.81 for base locations inside of London, dependent on experience and location

What is a Portfolio Delivery Test Lead?

As Portfolio Delivery Test Lead (a new role to MSIUK) you will oversee testing and lead the UAT (User Acceptance Testing) for all new MSI UK system deployments, responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing UAT to ensure that the solution meets business requirements and is ready for deployment.

You will work closely with the Project Managers, Products team, Business Intelligence team, Digital, IT teams, Governance, Contact Centre, Clinical colleagues and Operations, Clinical Safety, UK Learning & Development team, Global Information Services and all colleagues across the business

The objective of this role is to ensure any DDaT deployment to the business is fit for purpose, fully tested and accepted by the business to improve the client journey with MSI UK, on small pathway changes to larger projects alongside process improvements to enhance the client experience and overall business.  The role will support other teams in DDaT such as test and release or regression testing with the Product team.

What can we offer you?

• �� Expenses incurred while traveling outside your base location will be reimbursed.
• �� Birthday Bonus with an additional day of annual leave dedicated to celebrating your birthday and long service recognition rewards programme
• �� Perks and discounts at over 4000 retail and hospitality outlets through the Blue Light Card

In addition to the perks outlined above, there are many more benefits alongside what is written above for you to enjoy. Find out more during your interview!

What you’ll be doing:

• Design and implement fit-for-purpose UAT frameworks aligned with business goals.
• Create detailed test plans, cases, and criteria to reflect business requirements.
• Manage a test environment mirroring production, including representative test data.
• Define UAT timelines and milestones to keep projects on track.
• Collaborate with users to create actionable test scripts and scenarios.
• Lead testing, track progress, and manage defects with prioritisation and retesting.
• Ensure testing rigor, support methodology development, and oversee collection of test evidence.

What we’re looking for:

• Previous experience as a Test Lead, managing UAT processes, including test plans, cases, and scripts.
• Proven ability to use, manage, and suggest automated testing tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to simplify complex use cases.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of explaining technical concepts clearly to end-users and non-IT staff.
• Solid understanding of risk and issue mitigation, with the ability to escalate when necessary.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong technical and strategic thinking skills, able to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Deep understanding of the agile product development lifecycle, including product strategy, story writing, requirements definition, backlog prioritisation, development, QA, and launch.
• Familiarity with the current and emerging digital and technological landscape, and how it aligns with organisational goals.
• Willingness to work outside core hours (including weekends) and travel as needed.

Our amazing team at Alana House - PACT are looking for Key Workers to join our Womens Community project.  Full time or part time applicants are welcomed to apply.

Could you make a lasting difference to women facing multiple disadvantages? Our award winning trauma recovery service empowers and enables women to access the support they need.  Our service covers Reading, Berkshire, Oxford City and South Oxfordshire.

Position: Womens Community Project Key Worker

Location: Based in central Reading.  The role requires travel across Berkshire, Oxford City and South Oxfordshire, the post holder must hold a full UK drivers license with access to own transport

Contract: Permanent full time – 37 hours per week Monday to Friday.  Part time hours will also be considered

Salary: Starting salary in the range of £25,734 to £31,453 per annum, depending on skills and experience (pro rata if part time)

Having regard to the nature and context of the work, there is a genuine occupational requirement permitted under the Equality Act 2010 that this post is only available to female applicants.

About the role:

As a Key Worker at Alana House, you will hold a case load of women and be involved in one to one work support work and group based sessions.  Your Key Worker responsibilities will include:

· regularly meet with women to provide dedicated emotional and practical support

· complete initial assessments of risk and need, and provide one-to-one support across rehabilitative pathways

· create and review support plans in collaboration with the woman, and other agencies

· facilitate and deliver group-based support

About you:

As a Key Worker, you’ll bring an in depth knowledge of issues facing women with multiple disadvantages, including those with convictions and those at risk of offending.  You’ll also have significant experience of supporting women with issues such as homelessness, substance misuse, domestic abuse and mental health, preferably within a criminal justice setting.

If this sounds like you then visit our website to apply today to join a collaborative and dedicated team who are part of something truly meaningful. Contact details for an informal discussion about the role can also be found on our website.

Early applications are encouraged as we may close this vacancy on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is found.

Closing date: Midday, Wednesday 14 May 2025

Interview dates: Wednesday 07 and Friday 23 May 2025

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Family Support Worker, Family Key Worker, Womens Support Worker, Womens Key Worker, Domestic Abuse Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Key Worker, Recovery Worker, Assistant Support Worker, Assistant Key Worker, IDVA Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, ISVA Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, Probation Services Officer, etc.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.

All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK.

• Location: Ideally based in the Highlands but the post holder can be based anywhere.

• Workplace type:  This post can be carried out remotely, desk space is available in Ross and Cromarty Citizens Advice Bureau.

• Hours per week: Hours are flexible. This will be discussed at interview and agreed on appointment.  

• Type of contract: 2 years fixed term with extension if targets are achieved.

• Salary scale: £25,600 per annum plus performance incentive.
•  

Closing date: 20th May 2025

Interview date: 26th May 2025

It feels good to know you are making a difference to people’s lives. In this role you will support the North Highlands Consortium of 4 citizens advice bureaux, all independent charities which provide free, impartial and confidential advice and information that give people the tools they need to sort out any issues or problems.

Your role will be to design, instigate and deliver a programme of corporate and other fundraising and sponsorship to raise funds for the North Highlands Consortium bureaux. Success in this role will mean our services can be maintained and expanded, now and into the future, enabling people in our communities to prosper and thrive.

You may live in the Highlands, or you may be anywhere in the UK. You will need to understand our communities and engage potential funders in the worthwhile work we do to enhance lives.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to Beat Macular Disease forever.

This exciting role is responsible for delivering income from a range of donors and prospects, with a focus on trusts and foundations, lottery and statutory sources, as well as HNWI. We are looking for an ambitious and strategic fundraiser with a proven track record of raising significant funds from charitable trusts and foundations, lottery and statutory sources as well as HNWI, who, alongside our existing team, will help to grow and develop this area of fundraising for the Macular Society. The post holder will have a proven eye for detail, an analytical nature, first class relationship management skills and a flair for writing successful applications.

In return, we provide a great working culture – we do something worthwhile and are proud to work together to Beat Macular Disease – as recognised by our inclusion in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 list. 

We offer flexible working options, 26 days annual leave, rising to 27 after one years’ service, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and 6% pension contribution.

We are passionate about treating people fairly and as equals, doing so is instinctive to us. To Beat Macular Disease for all we know we have work to do. That’s why we are keen to hear from people of all backgrounds who have the skills and experience we are looking for. We particularly encourage applications from people from under-represented groups, to help ensure what we do and how we do it is inclusive – for everyone.

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.

Head of Healthy Active Neighbourhoods

Location: Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 2DN
Salary: £48,000
Hours: 37.5
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

This is an exciting opportunity to join Active Oxfordshire in a Senior Management position. You will be working with a fearless and passionate team and multiple partners across the county to increase activity levels for the people and places that need it most. This role is part of significant new investment into Oxfordshire for place-based working and will involve working with communities and key partners to help achieve lasting change in increasing activity.

About the role:

This new role is part of Active Oxfordshire’s continued growth and will lead the strategic direction of our place-based work across the county as well as being formally involved in the Marmot Place work in Oxfordshire.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Active Oxfordshire, the successful candidate will guide our strategy for our focused work in priority areas, build relationships with partners across the system and line manage the Healthy Active Neighbourhoods Manager. An overarching priority will be to ensure that our priority place programmes align and complement work across the rest of the organisation and system in Oxfordshire.

About you: 

You will have experience in identifying strategic opportunities and the ability to develop and nurture relationships at a senior level in partner organisations.

As an experienced line manager, you will be able to bring people together around a specific agenda and create a sense of energy and purpose. 

You will have experience in managing budgets and identifying clear priorities to manage an interconnected workload.

A strong enthusiasm for our cause is a must, as well as the ability to articulate a compelling case for why physical activity is important to embed at place-level. 

What we offer: 

This is a fixed-term contract, initially for 3 years.  The role is a full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week.

You will receive a salary of £48,000 and benefits including a generous 10% contributory pension scheme, Cycle to Work scheme, 38 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays (pro rata) and our new bespoke Employee Support and Wellbeing Programme.

Hybrid working is available, which means typically one day a week is in the office (Monday) with the rest of the week working remotely from home, within the community or with partner organisations. This role would likely involve regular working from County Hall (central Oxford) due to the direct link to Marmot Place work.

Active Oxfordshire welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity within our team to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We know that people from certain backgrounds can be hugely under-represented in our sectors, and we want to change this. We are therefore genuinely keen, and particularly interested to receive applications from people from diverse ethnic communities, from disabled people, neurodivergent people, people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and people with experience of facing barriers to physical activity. 

We want all candidates to have an equal chance to shine in this process – please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make sure the application process works for you (Further contact details can be found in the job pack). 

How to apply:

Please refer to the job pack for further information on how to apply and closing dates. 

Please note a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check will be required for this role. 

By applying for this role, you are stating that you are eligible to work in the UK. Active Oxfordshire is unable to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role. 

About us

Welcome to Active Oxfordshire

We are a registered charity (1179040) and part of a network of 43 Active Partnerships. We work alongside partners and local communities to break down barriers to physical activity.

Through our various programmes and partnerships, more children and young people in the county can learn to swim, ride a bike and enjoy being active together with their families. Our flagship activity programmes, which include a programme for families on lower incomes and a programme for adults with long-term health conditions, now reach more than 17,000 residents each year. Supporting Oxfordshire residents in most need to be more active is helping to prevent and manage health conditions, improve mental health and well-being and connect communities. Our work changes lives every day, and this role is an exciting opportunity to further our impact in areas of highest priority.

Our purpose at Active Oxfordshire is to empower communities, unify partners and challenge Oxfordshire’s extreme health inequalities, with the overall outcome of significantly increasing activity levels to transform health and wellbeing. We do this by working with local partners across multiple sectors. We are a system partner of Sport England, and this role is part of significant new investment into Oxfordshire by Sport England through their Place Universal Offer funding.

Our recruitment principles

Underpinning our recruitment are the following 10 principles:

1) Successful applications will never be contingent on a driving license or access to a car. 25% of our current team do not drive and this has no impact on their capability to do their job.
2) Online interviews will always be available where that supports the accessibility of the process.
3) Salary transparency – we will always advertise the salary of a role, including whether it is negotiable.
4) Regular language - we try to remove jargon and industry specific language as much as possible. If anything in the below does not make sense, then please challenge us on this.
5) Applications are redacted to remove certain information, so that potential unconscious biases are reduced.
6) Candidates will always be sent any interviews questions or tasks in advance.
7) Candidates can also bring notes to interviews. We would much rather you remember all your great examples and tell us about them, than remember them on the way home.
8) We will not ask for a degree unless it is absolutely the only way that someone can become qualified or experienced to carry out a specific role. Undergraduate Degree admissions are heavily dominated by White British students (e.g. 72.6% in 2019-2020 academic year) and by specifying a degree as a requirement we narrow the opportunities of talented people who are part of the global majority.
9) We will never try to catch people out or make their life difficult in our recruitment processes but instead will be doing everything possible to create conditions where people can celebrate and demonstrate their talents. 
10) Candidates will be encouraged to dress comfortably for interview. Our panel won’t be dressed in business attire, and we very seldom would be in the course of our work.

Creating diversity at Active Oxfordshire

Active Oxfordshire welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity within our team. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is a core part of our work, we actively promote inclusive recruitment principles and in late 2024 were awarded a silver award for our focus on inclusive workplaces for neurodiverse colleagues by Autistica.

We know that people from certain backgrounds can be hugely under-represented in our sector, and we want to change this and will make adaptations to our recruitment practices to enable this. We are therefore genuinely keen, and particularly interested to receive applications from people from diverse ethnic communities, from disabled people, neurodivergent people, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people with caring responsibilities and people with experience of facing barriers to physical activity. 

We want all candidates to have an equal chance to shine in this process – please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make sure the application process works for you. 

Benefits: Generous holiday of 38 days pro rata per annum (including bank holidays), 10% employer contribution pension, wellbeing support, learning, development and training opportunities and cycle to work scheme

REF-221249

Are you ready for your next position in Individual Giving? In this new role you will be primarily responsible for developing, marketing and managing individual giving. As a key member of the fundraising team you will produce compelling fundraising communications, stewarding individual donors, including regular donors and gifts in memory.

To thrive in this role, you will need prior experience of working in a fundraising setting, with an understanding of good stewardship practices.

This is a hybrid role with 2 days a week in the Oxford office.

The Charity
A social welfare charity committed to providing financial, emotional and practical support and services.

You will be joining a long standing well respected organisation with access to competitive employee benefits which include, Free onsite parking, Options for flexible working, 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, Employee Assistance Programme, Life Assurance (3 x salary) and a Pension scheme that offers 10% employer contribution.

The Role
Day-to-day management of the regular giving programme, project managing appeals and overseeing the thanking process for individual donors.

Create, plan, deliver and evaluate multi-channel, compliant, insight-led, supporter-centric campaigns.

Manage the newly appointed fundraising agency.

Review and develop operational plans for individual giving (including regular giving, in memory, digital fundraising and appeals) working to achieve agreed targets.

The Candidate
Experience of using direct marketing methods to recruit, retain and develop supporters.

Previous direct marketing or transferrable experience, this should include project managing or assisting a project manager to plan and deliver activity and evaluate results.

Experience planning, delivering and managing individual giving programmes.

Experience of delivering donor recruitment and retention projects from initiation to completion.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful and your details will not be held further but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.
We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.
Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

The Digital Engagement Officer is a key member of the Marketing and Communications team and will support the day-to-day running and development of our digital channels. You’ll work to drive engagement, reach new audiences and provide a smooth supporter experience.

You’ll be writing and uploading content to our website, analysing performance, reporting back on learnings and developing plans for improvement. You’ll also help run our email programme. This will involve managing our supporter newsletter, with the support of the Senior Digital Engagement Officer. It’ll also cover growing our list of supporters consenting to hear from us, running testing plans and assisting other teams with their mass email needs.

You’ll work closely with the Senior Digital Engagement Manager, Senior Digital Engagement Officer, wider Marketing and Communications team and colleagues across fundraising, policy, research and services to contribute to the digital elements of the marketing and communications strategy.

This post will be responsible for supporting the Financial Controller in all aspects of the financial management of the charity. This post will take an active role in supporting both overseas and UK staff with financial management. The post will also be responsible for producing monthly/quarterly project finance reports both internally and externally. The successful candidate will be an analytical, intelligent accountant who will provide high quality support for a range of teams across the organisation. They will have the ability and communication skills to build strong working relationships at all levels across the organisation, including non-finance staff. The successful candidate will have at least two years’ experience working in a similar role and will preferably be at least part qualified.