Teenage Cancer Trust
Chief Executive
* Location: Minimum of 2 days a week in the London office.
* Salary: £130,000 - £140,000.
* Closing Date: Wednesday 20th May.
Lead a defining new chapter for a charity with a powerful legacy and an unwavering ambition for the future.
A cancer diagnosis for a young person touches every part of their life, at a pivotal moment. We provide specialist compassionate care and the wraparound support young people need - so they can survive cancer, rebuild their lives and shape their own futures.
For more than 30 years, we have worked alongside the NHS to build specialist services designed around the needs of teenagers and young adults. Our units, nurses and youth support teams do far more than deliver treatment. They create continuity, trust and understanding – and provide space for people to be themleves at a time when everything else feels uncertain. Listening to young people, learning from their experiences and acting on what they tell us is what defines who we are.
We are now entering a defining period. Demand for our services continues to grow, inequalities in access and outcomes remain, and the wider health system is under pressure. At the same time, Teenage Cancer Trust is in a strong position: financially stable, well governed and deeply trusted by young people, clinicians, partners and supporters. We are ready for the next phase of our impact.
We are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead Teenage Cancer Trust through this next chapter – someone who brings clarity, compassion and determination, and who believes deeply that young people’s voices must sit at the centre of how decisions are made.
Why this role matters
Young people with cancer need more than excellent clinical care. They need services that recognise their age and stage of life – environments where they feel understood, specialist psychological and emotional support, and trusted relationships beyond their families. Too often, young people are placed in services built for children or much older adults, leaving them isolated and unheard.
Teenage Cancer Trust is determined to change this. We champion age‑appropriate care, earlier diagnosis, equitable access to specialist services and long‑term wellbeing for young people wherever they live. Achieving this requires strong leadership across a complex system - working with the NHS, government, funders, clinicians, communities and young people themselves.
In the coming years, we will strengthen and evolve our specialist services, deepen partnerships across the NHS, grow and diversify our income, and increase our national influence so that age‑appropriate cancer care becomes standard practice rather than the exception. As Chief Executive, you will lead this work with authority and empathy, balancing ambition with realism and advocacy with collaboration.
Your leadership impact
As Chief Executive, you will:
* Set clear strategic direction for the charity, ensuring decisions are grounded in lived experience and focused on long‑term impact
* Lead and inspire a diverse team, fostering a culture of compassion, inclusion and accountability
* Strengthen and sustain partnerships with the NHS and system leaders, influencing how specialist teenage and young adult cancer care is delivered
* Act as the public face and voice of Teenage Cancer Trust, representing the charity with credibility, warmth and integrity
* Ensure the charity remains financially resilient, with a diversified income base that protects and grows our specialist services
* Work closely with the Board to uphold strong governance, safeguard our reputation and guide the organisation through change
You will be supported by an engaged Board, committed staff and volunteers, and young people whose insight and experience shape our direction.
About you
You will bring senior leadership experience, ideally within the charity, health or wider public sectors, and an understanding of how to lead organisations operating in complex, emotionally demanding environments. You will be comfortable holding influence, building trust and making difficult decisions when required.
Above all, you will bring:
* A deep belief in youth‑centred leadership and the power of lived experience
* The ability to unite people around purpose in times of change
* Strong judgement, integrity and emotional intelligence
* Confidence engaging a wide range of audiences – from young people and clinicians to funders, policymakers and the media
* A commitment to equity, inclusion and addressing inequalities in access and outcomes
This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally respected charity at a moment of strength and possibility. Your leadership will help shape the future of specialist cancer care for young people across the UK, ensuring that no young person faces cancer without understanding, dignity and support. If you are motivated by impact, grounded in values and energised by the opportunity to lead a charity with a powerful legacy and an ambitious future, we would be very pleased to hear from you.
For an informal conversation, please contact:
Oliver Startup – oliver.startup@gatenbysanderson.com
Liz Dean – liz.dean@gatenbysanderson.com