Strategy Manager - FTC

ARUK: Towards A Cure, our strategy to 2033, sets out our path towards a cure. It defines the changes we want to see for people affected by dementia and identifies the unique role we play. We are currently mid-way through the first 3-year cycle of our 10-year strategy. Reporting to the Head of Programme Management, the newly created role of Strategy Manager will take the lead in managing and evolving our in-year strategic planning and progress reporting frameworks—ensuring they stay dynamic, effective, and aligned with our broader growth ambitions. They will also ensure that ARUK’s strategy remains forefront of employee’s minds and embedded in teams’ work, building effective relationships with teams across ARUK.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

• Strategic Reporting

• Manage engagement with Heads of Department, programme leads, and key stakeholders to shape and align in-year milestones across strategic initiatives, ensuring cohesive delivery of organisational priorities.
• Conduct high-level analysis of milestone data to identify strategic opportunities, interdependencies, and key internal and external drivers. Work collaboratively with stakeholders to build support for integrated ways of working and ensure consistent communication across teams.
• Deliver strategic progress reporting at key intervals throughout the year, monitoring progress against milestones. Present key findings and forward-looking recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team and Heads of Department to inform decision-making.
• Develop clear, engaging, and informative reports for internal audiences that effectively communicate progress and priorities, helping to ensure the successful delivery of ARUK’s strategy.
• Proactively identify emerging risks to strategic delivery, assess their implications, and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to senior stakeholders on mitigating actions and contingency planning.

• Manage the coordination of ARUK’s annual planning and budgeting process in collaboration with the Head of Programme Management and Director of Strategy & Governance. Take day-to-day ownership of the process, ensuring effective communication and engagement across all levels of the organisation.
• Work closely with the Head of Programme Management and key stakeholders to assess and improve organisational structures and ways of working, with a focus on enhancing cross-team collaboration and the effectiveness of strategic working groups.
• Undertake horizon scanning and sector research to identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities relevant to strategy development and delivery.
• Support the development of strategic capability across the organisation by partnering with teams on their planning and strategy work, helping embed structured, forward-looking thinking.
• Collaborate with external consultants and partners to support the delivery of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.

• Support the Head of Programme Management and Director of Strategy & Governance in engaging employees across the organisation in the delivery of our strategy, helping to create clarity and alignment.
• Work with managers and Heads of Department to build support for updated or new ways of working that enable more effective strategy execution.
• Ensure that strategy-related communications are clear, timely, and relevant—particularly for managers—so they can effectively translate strategic goals into team-level action.

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience in strategy development or strategic planning, preferably within the charity sector.
• Experience of translating strategic thinking into practical plans and actions.
• Strong analytical skills, with both a keen eye for detail and understanding of the broader picture. Able to use data to drive decision-making.
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office products.
• Experienced in working in a matrix or cross-team environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and stakeholder management skills.
• Natural collaborator with an ability to establish and maintain lasting relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to build relationships, trust and respect at all levels. Effectively communicates with people of all different technical abilities.
• Demonstrates strong negotiation, influencing and decision-making skills.
• Strong team player who can work both independently and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including external suppliers.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with an ability to work to deadlines and reprioritise work in accordance with the organisational needs.
• Results orientated delivering high quality work on time.
• Identify and mitigate any risks, issues that may arise.
• Good written and verbal presentation skills.
• Critical thinking to evaluate risks, develop options, and provide recommendations.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.

Salary: Circa £42,000 per annum, plus benefits.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.