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, 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 Centre 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 Retail Property and Estates, as Centre Manager, you will lead a multiskilled team that delivers a consistently positive visitor experience at our flagship Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre at Hornbeam Park, Harrogate. This team provides a high level of customer service to the public across face-to-face interactions, email and telephone, while also creating a supportive working environment for employees and volunteers. This includes ensuring that the right resources, refreshments, and a clean, well maintained workspace are always available.
As part of the visitor experience, you will be accountable for the safe and legally compliant operation of the Hornbeam Café and for ensuring it provides a comfortable and pleasant environment for customers. This includes managing the Café Manager and offering an appropriate balance of support and challenge in what is a high activity, high impact role
You will be responsible for all health and safety elements within the Centre, including weekly fire alarm tests, routine checks and food preparation audits. The team also manages a range of consumables, so the role requires strong cost control, effective stock usage, and regular feedback on Yorkshire Cancer Research materials.
Specifically, you will:
* Ensure that all Health, Safety Fire and COSHH checks are carried out as required diligently, regularly and to the required standard.
* Work closely with the Café Manager to maintain high standards of food safety through appropriate compliance adherence and regular audits.
* Report any maintenance issues to facilities through the Yorkshire Cancer Research platform EVERY.
* Line manage a Café Manager and a team of Centre Support Assistants and ensure they offer a positive, professional and warm welcome to all visitors. Manage the Centre Support Assistants ensuring cover on the Welcome Desk across key operating hours.
* Develop a volunteer team with potential new role profiles to enhance the Centre Team.
* Represent the Yorkshire Cancer Research brand positively, role modelling a professional appearance and presence in line with our values.
* Support the team to maintain high standards at the centre with and in the Welcome Area.
* Lead the team to provide visitors with up-to-date Yorkshire Cancer Research literature, offering the marketing team feedback on the documents provided.
* Lead the team to ensure all working spaces including, meeting rooms and the kitchen area are well stocked and maintained.
* Conduct recruitment processes when required and provide thorough induction and training for new recruits, ensuring new team members are well integrated into their roles and team.
About You
To be considered for this role, you will need:
* Proven experience of working in a similar role at a similar level.
* Experience of leading, building and developing a team.
* Experience of creating, developing and streamlining operational and administrative processes and procedures.
* Proven experience of implementing systems and conducting training as necessary.
* Proven experience of monitoring budgets and tracking progress.
* Proven experience of delivering tangible process improvement.
* Experience of proactively working to advance skills through continued professional development relevant to the role and level.
* Experience of basic Health and Safety and Fire training in previous roles alongside an awareness of GDPR, Cyber Security and Safeguarding or can demonstrate awareness of the above. Good understanding of Data Protection principles and food safety
* Experience of working in the hospitality sector. In terms of budget management and good practice.
This is an onsite, hands on and demanding role, requiring someone who can remain calm under pressure and knows when to escalate issues.
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 17 March 2026. 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.