Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity, dedicated to saving and improving lives through research, influence and information. It works to reduce the impact of cancer on people's day-to-day lives, supporting earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments. The organisation is structured into several directorates, including Policy, Information and Communications (PIC), which shapes its engagement with health and science policy.
The role
This position is the first dedicated strategy role within the PIC directorate, known internally as Health and Science Policy Senior Strategy Manager. It exists to establish and shape a new strategy capability within PIC, with the aim of identifying the most important strategic opportunities across health and science, improving prioritisation, and focusing resources where they can have the greatest impact for people affected by cancer. You would report to the Strategic Delivery Lead (PIC) and work closely with, and directly for, the PIC Executive Director and the Senior Leadership Team.
What you would do
- Lead and deliver strategic projects supporting PIC priorities, from initial scoping through to recommendations and handover to delivery teams, coordinating flexible teams and external consultants as needed.
- Establish a PIC strategy capability, building the relationships, ways of working and credibility with teams across PIC, making the case for additional capacity and, if approved, line managing a Strategy Manager.
- Build trusted working relationships across PIC and the wider organisation, bringing people together around shared priorities even when views differ.
- Conduct horizon scanning across the health, science and R&D landscape, drawing on external insight from policy developments, market trends, partners, stakeholders and people affected by cancer to identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities.
- Produce high-quality analysis, presentations and recommendations for Executive Directors and Senior Leadership Teams.
- Contribute to PIC's Strategic Advisory Group, which brings in external expertise to inform strategic thinking.
What they are looking for
- Significant experience leading and delivering strategy projects or programmes in a large, complex organisation, getting work done by influencing and coordinating colleagues across several teams, including people more senior than you, rather than relying on formal authority.
- Experience of setting up new ways of working or establishing a new capability within an organisation.
- A collaborative and independent thinker who is approachable, builds trust quickly, listens well, and can challenge constructively and handle disagreement with confidence and sensitivity while still driving strategic outcomes.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Proven horizon scanning, foresight and strategic insight capabilities.
- Strong analytical skills with qualitative and quantitative research expertise.
- Knowledge of the health sector, science policy environment, research sector and/or wider R&D landscape.
Working arrangements
The role is based in Stratford (2 Redman Place), London, on a Highflex basis: office-based with high flexibility, requiring 1-2 days per week in the office. The contract is permanent and full time at 35 hours per week. You must be eligible to work in the UK; Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
Pay and benefits
£55,000 - £60,000 per year, plus benefits.
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