Bigger picture thinking. Community values. Trustworthy peers.
Senior Service Innovation Lead -Cancer Patient Information Services
Could be known as Senior Service Transformation Lead, Innovation Lead, Senior Project Innovation Lead.
£58,000 - £64,300 plus benefits
Reports to: Head of Cancer Patient Information Services
Grade: M2
Directorate: Policy, Information and Communications
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time 35 hours per week
Location: Stratford, London .Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office).
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.
Closing date: 31 May 2026, 23:55. Please do not delay applying as we will be shortlisting on application as we are looking to urgently fill this role.
About the Service Development Unit and Cancer Patient Information Services
We're creating a brand new Service Development Unit to innovate within our Cancer Patient Information Services team, and you'll be the leader who brings it to life.
This new innovation team will help us rethink the ways we reach and engage people with our information services in the AI era. Working to test and learn through a series of agile sprints, the team will also explore how we personalise and tailor the journeys we take people on across channels. The overall aim of the unit is to reach more people and create experiences that deepen the value and impact we offer.
The wider Cancer Patient Information Services team the Unit sits within includes our sector leading cancer information content delivered through our website About Cancer | Cancer Research UK, our nurse led helpline Cancer Research UK and our online peer support community Cancer Chat Cancer Chat | Cancer Research UK
About the role
In this role, you'll lead a team shaping and delivering innovative prototypes and experiments, that transform how people discover and experience our information services. You'll use design thinking and agile ways of working to deliver creative, user-centred ideas at pace. Working side by side with our Information Services teams and fundraising colleagues, you'll help us build personalised journeys for our audiences and explore new, AI informed ways of reaching and supporting people.
You’ll lead a small team including service design, content design and a patient information specialist. You will also facilitate how the team works with a collaborative network of colleagues across CRUK - all passionate about making a real, lasting difference.
What you’ll do
* Build a model that lets us experiment and test our way to genuinely new approaches to reaching and engaging people living with cancer
* Lead a small multidisciplinary team of content, service design and cancer experts.
* Build an agile, sprint‑based model that champions experimentation and continuous learning.
* Drive idea generation, prototyping and testing using design‑thinking methods.
* Co‑develop a strategic roadmap with our Fundraising Proposition and innovation teams, focusing on personalised, "information seeker to supporter" journeys.
* Work collaboratively with colleagues within Information Services and across CRUK to test and model new omni‑channel approaches.
* Ensure our work aligns with CRUK's wider strategy and impact framework.
* Support strategic planning around a diversified channel approach to delivering our information services.
Collaborate and influence
* Build strong, trusting partnerships across CRUK - from frontline teams to senior leaders.
* Embed agile, matrix working practices with digital, content, innovation and fundraising teams.
* Work closely with our Patient Information and Digital Specialist teams to ensure coherence across our content estate.
* Bring fresh thinking into CRUK by connecting with external partners and the wider innovation community.
* Communicate complex ideas in simple, accessible language and help shape business cases for future investment.
Champion insight‑driven practice
* Use design‑thinking to deeply understand user needs and turn them into meaningful solutions.
* Ensure every project is grounded in evidence, powered by data and evaluated through clear KPIs.
* Partner with insight and analytics teams to learn, iterate and identify what to scale - and what to stop.
What you’ll bring
* Experience delivering innovation projects from idea through to launch, ideally in a charity, health or public sector setting.
* Strong service design skills and familiarity with behavioural insights and rapid‑innovation techniques.
* A solid understanding of agile methodologies, including running sprints and prototyping cycles.
* Up‑to‑date knowledge of AI and a keen interest in applying AI tools to content or digital services.
* Confidence using data to guide decisions and measure impact.
* Excellent stakeholder management and the ability to influence across a complex organisation.
* A user‑first mindset and passion for involving people with lived experience.
* A strong strategic thinker, able to contribute to strategy development and strategic discussions
* Desirable: Experience in health or charity services; formal training in design thinking; experience setting up innovation labs.
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.
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