Strategy manager jobs in houghton le spring, county durham

• 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.

Eden Brown Charities is delighted to be partnering with an incredible national health Charity to recruit them a Community Fundraiser to join a wonderful team in the West Midlands to cover Staffordshire, Shropshire and the Black Country.

The Charity provide "Expert end of life care, whatever the illness" - not only do they provide outstanding care but they are also raise public awareness of improving end of life care within the UK.

The role

As Community Fundraiser you will build and develop fundraising relationships in the community, by providing excellent stewardship and support to Fundraising Groups and volunteers, in order to increase income and deliver the agreed Community Fundraising strategy.

You will work across the region to both identify, research and form new fundraising groups in the community by organising community days and meeting potential volunteers face to face. You will also create and deliver an annual volunteer recruitment plan to grow numbers of volunteers in dedicated roles.

About You

As a Community Fundraiser you will be an incredible relationship builder with good communication skills. Although it is desirable you will have had some experience in the Charity sector, we are also open to people with transferable skills who would love to start a career in fundraising. Working towards targets is also desirable.

This role is remote with travel across Staffordshire, Shropshire and the Black Country. Please note that you must be a car driver with access to a car. The closing date is the 18th May. To hear more about this incredible role for a Charity with ambitious plans please contact Laura iliff on 07442607841.

Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer.

Eden Brown Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 3643845. Our registered address is 5th floor 4 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AR, part of nGAGE Specialist Recruitment Limited T/A nGAGE Talent. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This message is intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to us, and immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. We take reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email but cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage sustained as a result of computer viruses and the recipient must ensure that the email (and attachments) are virus free.

Recently named Charity of the Year by Just Giving Awards 2022, we’re committed to moving further, faster to accelerate change for everyone affected by a brain tumour. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 in the UK than any other cancer. We know that a cure can’t wait.

The Community Fundraising Team is an integral part of the Charity Fundraising Portfolio, by supporting a diverse range of inspiring supporter led fundraising activities. It is an exciting time to join the Team, as we plan for 25/26.

You will be one of our 6 Regional Community Fundraisers, based across the UK. Covering Scotland, Northern Ireland & Cumbria, you will focus on our key audiences of Individuals, Supporter Groups, Community organisations, Regional Corporates & Volunteers. Through the provision of exceptional stewardship & fundraising support, you will engage the community, maximising opportunities to raise funds in the region. You will make the most of your boundless energy & creativity to inspire our community and will be the regional driving force, ensuring our Supporter Groups continue to thrive, & our annual Community Fundraising Campaigns including, The Big Bake & Twilight Walk Own Walks are a success.

You will be passionate about the role and in supporting the delivery of our strategic plans and objectives across the region.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

You’ll be a talented and highly motivated individual with a proven track record in community fundraising. With a “can do” approach, passion and enthusiasm, you’ll inspire and motivate our supporters. You will work tirelessly to ensure that they receive the best possible experience and see themselves as an integral part of our community. You will be confident in juggling a myriad of competing priorities and work well under pressure to meet deadlines. With exceptional communication skills & the ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, you will be creative & agile in your approach in making the most from a fundraising opportunity.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Developing & implementing a Regional Community Fundraising Strategy 25/26.
• Achieving agreed regional fundraising KPIs & contributing to the overall delivery of annual fundraising budgets and targets.
• Recruiting, building and maintaining relationships with the community across the region. Aiming to increase their fundraising and encourage their ongoing participation in events and activities. This may be through community fundraising or using our fundraising products or initiatives.
• Recruiting, training and managing a network of regional volunteers who will support activity in the Region.
• Working collaboratively across the wider Charity Team to identify fundraising opportunities & maximise income in the region.
• Keeping our CRM fully up to date with information about our supporters and their activities. Using that data to understand what motivates our supporters in order to provide excellent stewardship.

35 hours per week
Remote
£55,000-£60,000 per year
Permanent

Lead the future of inclusive education with RNIB - Apply today to make a difference for children and young people with visual impairment.

RNIB are seeking an Education lead with teacher and QTVI qualifications along with Head of Service experience.

What you'll be doing:
Leading RNIB's education engagement strategy and furthering development in the specialist support to the education sector, through development of training, resources, engagement with Local Authorities and national education bodies.

What you'll need to succeed in this role:
- You'll have experience of managing high-performing, specialist teams

- You'll be comfortable with influencing policy to enhance services for children and young people with vision impairment.

- You'll understand the VI sector, possessing deep knowledge of educational provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) up to age 25, including current practice standards and relevant research

- You'll be able to evidence the full range of aspects of a QTVI role e.g. Braille, exams, 11+ etc

What We Offer
RNIB prides itself on being a great place to work with a positive, progressive culture. We offer a wide range of benefits including 26 days of holiday per year (plus bank holidays) which rises with service, enhanced family friendly benefits, a contributory pension scheme with an employer contribution of up to 11% and a rewards platform with employee discounts across over 800 retailers.

For more information on our available benefits, please visit our .

How to Apply
If you'd like to apply for this opportunity, please apply online, uploading your CV and supporting statement, telling us how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification.

Recently named Charity of the Year by Just Giving Awards 2022, we’re committed to moving further, faster to accelerate change for everyone affected by a brain tumour. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 in the UK than any other cancer. We know that a cure can’t wait.

The Community Fundraising Team is an integral part of the Charity Fundraising Portfolio, by supporting a diverse range of inspiring supporter led fundraising activities. It is an exciting time to join the Team, as we plan for 25/26.

You will be one our 6 Regional Community Fundraisers, based across the UK. Covering the East of England, you will focus on our key audiences of Individuals, Supporter Groups, Community organisations, Regional Corporates & Volunteers. Through the provision of exceptional stewardship & fundraising support, you will engage the community, maximising opportunities to raise funds in the Region. You will make the most of your boundless energy & creativity to inspire our community and will be the regional driving force, ensuring our Supporter Groups continue to thrive, & our annual Community Fundraising Campaigns including, The Big Bake & Twilight Walk Own Walks are a success.

You will be passionate about the role and in supporting the delivery of our strategic plans and objectives across the Region.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

You’ll be a talented and highly motivated individual with a proven track record in community fundraising. With a “can do” approach, passion and enthusiasm, you’ll inspire and motivate our supporters. You will work tirelessly to ensure that they receive the best possible experience and see themselves as an integral part of our community. You will be confident in juggling a myriad of competing priorities and work well under pressure to meet deadlines. With exceptional communication skills & the ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, you will be creative & agile in your approach in making the most from a fundraising opportunity.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Developing & implementing a Regional Community Fundraising Strategy 25/26.
• Achieving agreed regional fundraising KPIs & contributing to the overall delivery of annual fundraising budgets and targets.
• Recruiting, building and maintaining relationships with the Community across the Region. Aiming to increase their fundraising and encourage their ongoing participation in events and activities. This may be through community fundraising or using our fundraising products or initiatives.
• Recruiting, training and managing a network of regional volunteers who will support activity in the Region.
• Working collaboratively across the wider Charity Team to identify fundraising opportunities & maximise income in the region.
• Keeping our CRM fully up to date with information about our supporters and their activities. Using that data to understand what motivates our supporters in order to provide excellent stewardship.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this. 

Their vision is to find a cure for all types of brain tumours. To achieve their mission, they are looking for a Community Fundraiser who will proactively engage with supporters, community groups and volunteers across the West Midlands to join their team of 12 Community Fundraisers across the UK.

The Community Fundraiser (West Midlands) is responsible for providing support and guidance to fundraisers within their communities to achieve their ambitions and ultimately raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research. This is achieved through a wide variety of activities such as helping supporters to make the most of their own fundraising, engaging participants with externally organised events such as the Great Birmingham Run, and encouraging communities to get involved in events organised by Brain Tumour Research such as Wear a Hat Day and Walk for Hope. The Community Fundraiser will be the face of Brain Tumour Research in the area, providing excellent stewardship to existing supporters, and building great relationships with new supporters.

This post has been vacant since Autumn, and as such needs a fundraiser with confidence and capability in fundraising to join the team, provide donor love to the loyal supporters in the area, and approach developing the areas potential with energy and enthusiasm. If you have fundraising experience and are keen to join a charity with ambition and an amazing supporter base, then this could be the role for you.

Please note the successful candidate will need to live within the region (Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Gloucestershire), have access to a car and be willing to travel around their region. If you are not currently based in this area, please clarify if you have plans to relocate.  

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please follow instructions in the pack to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call. 

As this role has been vacant for some time, we are running rolling interview to see suitable candidates as they apply. Interviews will be kept to one stage, and organised to suit the candidate, where possible. Don’t delay – apply today! 

We’re looking for a self-directed and talented designer who is passionate about tech for good and how AI can support civil society organisations to achieve their missions.

• 4 days per week
• £52,000 salary FTE
• Remote location
• 1 year fixed term with possibility to extend

We are also recruiting for a Head of Technical AI Experiments, and we expect these roles to work closely together alongside our wider CAST team and partners.

Application deadline - Tuesday 6th May 12pm

About CAST

CAST helps people use digital for social good. We're on a mission to create a more responsive, resilient and digitally-enabled social sector by supporting nonprofits to embed digital and design across their services, strategy and governance and working with sector leaders, funders and government to make this happen.

CAST is a ten-year old charity made up of incredibly dedicated designers, technologists, activists and entrepreneurs. Collectively we have deep experience and a great reputation across charity and civil society, design, digital and innovation. 

The past decade has proven how vital digital is to charities, and with it, how important CAST’s work and mission is.

About the role

One of the core areas of CAST’s work is building the capacity of the social sector to respond to the rapid scale advances in AI. The evidence from the Charity Digital Skills Report; Joseph Rowntree's Grassroots and Nonprofits research and our own AI survey shows that charities are unlikely to benefit from - or respond to the challenges of - AI without intentional support and capacity building. To support charities’ (critical) adoption of AI we need to invest in supporting sector-experiments that create demonstrable impact (acting as showcases), working alongside the peer groups, charities and working groups to help move conversations into practical action.

To achieve that, we are looking to recruit a Head of Design for AI to focus on driving forward this work in a number of different ways:

• Blending expertise in AI technologies with human-centered design principles to foster innovation and inclusivity across the social sector;
• Providing direct support to organisations and specific product design advice;
• Designing a range of experiments and tools alongside the sector and CAST team;
• Supporting the design and development of specific programmes, training and interventions that will help shift the sector on AI

Whilst there is a lot of work underway and in the pipeline on AI this role will be expected to shape this work based on their deep experience and knowledge of AI and product design, and support the wider team at CAST to upskill in this area. 

You can find more information about CAST on our website.

What you'll achieve

• Develop and execute a vision for the integration of AI into CAST’s design methodologies, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission and values.
• Alongside the Head of Technical AI Experiments, lead the design, development, and deployment of AI experiments, tools and resources tailored to the needs of the social sector;
• Working with the wider CAST team, contribute to the ongoing development of ethical design principles in AI applications, ensuring transparency, accessibility, and fairness in all outputs;
• Work closely with charities, community groups, funders, and tech partners to co-design AI solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful outcomes;
• Support social sector organisations to develop the skills and resources needed to design and implement AI systems effectively, fostering confidence and innovation through both direct coaching and via networks;
• Stay ahead of developments in AI and design thinking, identifying opportunities to incorporate emerging trends and technologies into CAST’s initiatives;
• Support the wider CAST team in developing their knowledge and skills on AI and human-centred design, and how we can use AI to best effect within our own work;

Skills and capabilities required

• Demonstrated expertise in human-centered design, particularly in projects involving AI technologies or data-driven solutions; 
• Proven leadership experience in design and innovation, preferably within the social sector;
• Deep understanding of AI principles, including machine learning, natural language processing, and their design implications;
• Strong commitment to ethical design, accessibility, and inclusivity;
• Excellent collaboration and facilitation skills, with the ability to bring together diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals;
• High levels of autonomy with extraordinary organisation and communication skills.
• Able to thrive in a distributed team that changes and responds to the needs of the network and charity sector
• A strong commitment to the aims and objectives of CAST.

Benefits

• Working in a dynamic and creative team with an open and supportive culture
• Opportunity to make a positive social impact
• 30 days holiday a year (pro rata), plus bank holidays
• Flexible and remote working
• Family Friendly Benefits: we are committed to supporting staff in achieving a sensible work-life balance
• Group personal pension scheme

Overview of the Regional Coordinator role and the team

The Regional Coordinator plays a vital role in advancing the mission of Barnabas Aid by building and nurturing relationships with churches, Christian organisations, and individuals. The role aims to raise awareness, prayer, and financial support for the persecuted church, fostering a network of engaged supporters and expanding the organisation’s outreach.

Established in 1954 we are a UK based charity devoted to the study and conservation of the mammals of the British Isles. We aim to raise awareness of the issues mammals face and share our scientific research so they can be best protected in the future. A small team of staff delivers big results through coordination and promotion of surveys, trainings, campaigns, publications and events that inspire, inform and mobilise our members and supporters and support the work of grassroots mammal groups and individual volunteers

Following the recent confirmation of the Mammal Society’s research priorities for the next 5 years, we are seeking a talented, enthusiastic Data and Research Officer with a passion for nature, science and conservation who will help us to put strong foundations in place so that we can deliver maximum positive impact for mammals through our work.

The Mammal Society is committed to being an inclusive and disability-friendly employer and is keen to attract applicants from a range of backgrounds. All applications will be anonymised and shortlisted via a consistent and transparent points-based process against the requirements of the role as set out in the Job Description and Person Specification. The role is home-based, and interviews will be conducted via Zoom unless a candidate raises an issue with this format, in which case an alternative will be arranged to satisfy any requirements for inclusion.

To apply, please submit your CV with a covering statement of no more than 750 words explaining your suitability for the role as outlined in the JD and Person Specification.

We would be grateful if you could also complete and return an Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, but this is optional and may be submitted separately.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the charity that helps young people build lifelong belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their passions, and discover talents they never knew they had. Because when you prove to yourself that you’re ready for anything, nothing can hold you back.

Young people want to create a better future. With your help, they can.

Do you have the comms vision to keep DofE relevant, engaging and inspiring for young people? Can you tell our story in ways that resonate with different audiences? Are you a universally respected and respectful team leader? If so, we’d love you to apply to become our Head of Communications.

You will be responsible for delivering on shared strategic goals through compelling communications, externally and across our network of participants, staff, volunteers and organisations which offer the DofE. You’ll amplify the voices of young people, support relationships with funders and other partners, and continually promote the charity’s influence, reputation and brand profile.

The Head of Communications is one of two senior leadership roles in a wider Engagement team, which in December 2024 won Team of Year in the prestigious CharityComms Inspiring Communicator Awards. Working in partnership with our Head of Brand Marketing, you’ll build on that success, bringing a collaborative approach as we evolve our objectives and ways of working. You’ll play a key role as we mark DofE’s 70th birthday in 2026, then pivot to a new organisational strategy for 2026-31.

Critically, you will lead and shape the engagement of our network of almost 5,000 licensed organisations, 38,000 amazing volunteers and more than half a million participants, working closely with senior Operations colleagues. You’ll oversee staff communications, media and PR, and lead on corporate and crisis comms. Members of your team deliver our Youth Ambassadors programme and crucial support for DofE’s Fundraising and External Affairs.

We’re looking for someone who is versatile – able to switch between the big picture and the detail, with antennae equally alert to risks and opportunities. You’ll be an accomplished diplomat and influencer, with an ability to spot and make connections within and beyond the team. Given the breadth of the role, the successful candidate would ideally bring prior experience of different elements of the brief, together with proven experience of team leadership.  

How to apply:

If you are excited about the prospect of working for the DofE and believe you have the desired skills and experience to make a real success of this role, then we are keen to hear from you.

 If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.

• Applications will close on: Sunday 18th May – Midnight
• 1st Interviews will take place: 13th and 16th June (to be held virtually via MS Teams)
• 2nd Interview will take place: WC 23rd June (interview will be in-person at the London Office)

​The DofE are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.   All successful applicants will be required to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service check. (e.g. DBS/PVG or similar), including references covering any gaps of employment/education, confirm eligibility to work in the UK and complete a health check.

**The geographical allowance is based on a member of staff having a home or office-based postcode within 30 miles (as the crow flies) from Charing Cross, WC2N 5HS. The allowance is 7% capped at £4,000 per annum.

We are looking to appoint an exceptional individual to join our team of six Strategic Partnership Advisors across England. In this role, you will support key partners, including Active Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of Sport, local authorities, and leisure providers to become more effective in their role of enabling more disabled people to be active.

You will possess a strong understanding of the sport and activity sector, including its operations, and be able to advocate for improvements that help more disabled people become active. Additionally, you will be aware of the broader systems and barriers that disabled people encounter in sports and activities, as well as organisations such as disabled people’s user-led organisations and various charities, to build relationships and foster effective cross-sector partnerships.

We are looking for an individual with experience of working strategically at a place based and/or locality level within the South West region. Someone who can positively influence local developments, systems and investments to tackle the inequalities disabled people face in sport and activity through inclusive practice.

The successful candidate will work remotely from home and be based in the South West region. This role will involve travel across the region and occasional travel to our Loughborough and Manchester offices.

This role is full-time (36 hours) and permanent.

We offer 26.5 days of annual leave, including birthday leave, plus bank holidays. Activity Alliance also closes between Christmas and New Year which means that employees are not expected to work during this time and they are not required to use their annual leave allowance to have this time free from work.

Activity Alliance currently offers the following benefits:

• Hybrid working
• Time off in lieu
• A contributory pension scheme (employee 6%, employer 9%)
• Childcare vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye care
• Employee engagement initiatives such as away days
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Menopause policy
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Group Income Protection
• Death in service
• Training and development opportunities

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

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.