Cancer Insight Strategic Initiatives Manager
Harrogate, with travel across Yorkshire and beyond as required
We offer hybrid working and we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage.
About Us
Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.
Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.
Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.
As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.
The Benefits
We offer all employees a wide range of benefits including an enhanced contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service), flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, enhanced maternity leave, career progression, learning and development, wellbeing initiatives, offices within walking distance of Hornbeam Park train station, free onsite parking and a whole lot more.
We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do, and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As our Cancer Insight Strategic Initiatives Manager, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.
The Role
Reporting to the Head of Cancer Insight and working closely with both internal colleagues and external partners, you will play a key role in identifying emerging strategic opportunities. You will oversee a portfolio of initiatives that support the charity’s mission and objectives, guiding each project from early concept through to final delivery. For initiatives that demonstrate successful outcomes, you will be responsible for generating robust evidence to support their progression into broader research programmes or service implementation.
Specifically, you will:
Insight and Innovation
· Work closely with other teams in the charity, as well as external partners, to make use of identified gaps in knowledge or service provision and propose innovative solutions.
· Support horizon scanning of sources of information such as academic literature, policy recommendations and clinical trial portfolios to identify emerging trends and opportunities for cancer research, one-off projects and new services, with a focus on issues affecting Yorkshire.
· Identify potential opportunities for collaboration with external partners with shared strategic ambitions.
Strategic focus and prioritisation
· Support the development of a strategic development plan that defines goals in the short, medium, and long-term.
· Work with the wider Cancer Insight Team to present the potential future impact of projects and provide information to support strategic prioritisation via a new strategic prioritisation framework.
Project Management
· Manage the design, planning, and execution of new strategic projects aligned with the charity’s overall strategic goals and objectives.
· Develop clear project scopes, objectives, timelines, and success metrics.
· Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
Stakeholder Engagement
· Build and maintain effective relationships with internal teams and external organisations. This may include, but is not limited to, academic partners, NHS stakeholders, private sector service providers, pharmaceutical industry partners and other external organisations such as other health organisations, funding bodies and charities.
About You
To be considered for this role, you will need:
* To have a degree in a relevant subject such as public health, health sciences, biomedical sciences, health policy, or a related field.
* To have a proven track record of delivering strategic or innovation projects in a healthcare, research or charity setting is essential.
* To have experience in identifying new opportunities aligned with strategic objectives.
* To have experience of taking projects from concept development, through set-up, delivery and completion.
* To have experience managing budgets and external contracts.
* To have experience in identifying and managing risks within projects.
* To have experience in engaging patients and the public in project design and delivery.
* To be able to think long-term and align projects with the charity’s strategic goals.
* To have strong project management skills to ensure effective planning, execution and evaluation of complex projects, including budgeting and resource management.
* To be able to identify and develop new project opportunities.
* To have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences, including researchers, clinicians, patients and others.
* To be able to travel across the Yorkshire region and beyond.
Application
Before applying, please visit our Careers Page to view the full role profile and find out more about working for Yorkshire Cancer Research.
To apply please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Claire Wooldridge, Head of People, before 23 September 2025. Please read our privacy notice before applying.
Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer. We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual’s circumstances against the needs of the charity.
We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us via our website.