Senior Communications Manager

Senior Communications Manager (Cancer Grand Challenges)

£46,000 - £54,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Head of Marketing and Communications

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London Office-based with high flexibility (2 days per week in the office, Monday and Thursday)

Closing date: 23 September 2025 23:55

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. Please let us know if there is anything about the recruitment process that you would like to discuss, in particular if there are any changes or adjustments that would make it easier for you to apply. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

Recruitment process: 1st stage competency based interview, 2nd stage pre prepared task applicable to the role.

Interview date: 1st stage via Microsoft Teams w/c 6 October, 2nd stage in person at our head office in Stratford between 16 - 20 October

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

Cancer Grand Challenges is looking for an experienced communications professional to join the team as Senior Communications Manager, to shape, coordinate and help to deliver a world-leading communication and engagement strategy. Cancer Grand Challenges (CGC) is a global funding initiative founded in 2020 by the two largest funders of cancer research in the world: Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the US. Building on the success of CRUK’s Grand Challenge that launched in 2015 – to date we have committed in excess of c$400m to fund 16 interdisciplinary teams, and our portfolio now includes over 1200 researchers and collaborators across 16 countries.

You will use your experience in developing and delivering science or healthcare communications campaigns to tell great stories about our game-changing global initiative that will inform, inspire and engage our research community, high-value donors and the public.

This is a great opportunity for a proactive and passionate individual to use their comms experience to work for an organisation with patient benefit at its heart. We are about to celebrate 10 years of CGC as well as announce the teams taking on our new challenges, so it’s an exciting time to join the team.

What will I be doing?

• Input into the development of a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy for Cancer Grand Challenges to drive engagement across key audiences.
• Input into the development of a compelling narrative for the Cancer Grand Challenges brand
• Work with our media agency and CRUK media team to increase the international reach and profile of the initiative to key audiences via earned media coverage
• Develop a pipeline of engaging content based on the activities and outputs of funded Cancer Grand Challenges teams and identify compelling stories about their impact
• Work alongside our Digital Communities Manager to maximise the potential of our digital media channels, including our web pages, digital newsletter, and others.
• Act as the overall coordinator for marketing, communications and branding for the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative, acting as the key point of contact for all internal communication
• Coordinate matrix teams across the charity with diverse skillsets, building a culture of collaboration, innovation and efficiency
• Help to facilitate external communications requests and requirements with relevant teams
• Work collaboratively with other comms teams across the organisation to drive a united effort to ensure that Cancer Grand Challenges marketing, communications and branding is prioritised across the charity.
• Work with teams across the Charity to ensure content is co-ordinated for key audiences, which support the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative’s broader objectives
• Establish interfaces with the communications teams at funded teams institutes (alongside the Research Project Managers), facilitating awareness of, and access to, relevant researchers and their work when required by teams across the charity
• Manage the Cancer Grand Challenges communications budget, support from the Head of Communications and Marketing
• Recommend, agree and track KPIs for content performance, using data and insights to guide future decision-making
• Line manage both the Science Information Manager, and Digital Communities Manager, to support their work and personal development

What are you looking for?

• Significant experience developing and delivering global PR campaigns, including developing press materials (releases, briefings, Q&As)
• Track record of leading multiple projects with diverse stakeholders, delivering on time and meeting KPIs
• Proven ability to communicate science or health research and its impact to a variety of audiences, through compelling storytelling
• Ability to think and plan strategically
• Experience in thought leadership and reputation management.
• Experience producing content for multi-channel campaigns, including digital, events, and fundraising.
• Line management or mentoring experience—able to lead, motivate, and develop a team.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, often in fast-moving or reactive environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Use initiative to find solutions to complex problems.
• Excellent attention to detail, but retains sight of ‘bigger picture’ and can think strategically
• Able to travel within the UK and overseas as required
• Measuring impact and using data and insights to make informed decisions

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at [email protected].

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.