At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape high-value prospect strategies and engage with senior stakeholders to drive fundraising success.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, a leading charity making a real difference in cancer research.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous benefits, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make an impact in philanthropy while developing your career in a dynamic organisation.
- Qualifications: Experience in prospect development and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 52000 £ per year.
Salary £45,000-£52,000 plus benefits.
Reports to Senior Prospect Development Manager.
Directorate: Strategy & Philanthropy.
Location: Stratford, London, office-based with high flexibility (1‑2 days per week in the office).
The Prospect Development Specialist plays a central role in delivering strategic prospect development capability across high‑value philanthropy at Cancer Research UK.
This senior level specialist provides expertise in pipeline management, insight and judgement to shape pipeline strategy, prioritisation and high‑value engagement across Leadership Giving and £1m+ opportunities.
Working in close partnership with Associate Directors, senior fundraisers and leadership, they ensure Prospect Development activity is proactive, insight‑led and focused on identifying and advising on the highest‑value opportunities, supporting strong pipeline growth and a strategic approach to cold prospect identification and engagement planning.
The role also has a core governance and oversight function, leading on due diligence quality, consistency and process development, and contributing to key strategic initiatives across the directorate, including Data & AI and Children and Young People (CYP) priorities.
- Pipeline Strategy & Prioritisation
- Partner with senior stakeholders to shape and manage a strategic, high‑value prospect pipeline.
- Monitor pipeline health, ensuring clear prioritisation and delivery against targets.
- Embed consistent frameworks for prospect identification, qualification and allocation.
- Use data and insight to identify trends, gaps and opportunities, translating analysis into actionable recommendations.
- Strategic Insight & Prospecting
- Deliver high‑quality research to inform fundraising strategy and decision‑making.
- Identify and qualify high‑value prospects (HNWIs, trusts and foundations).
- Translate complex analysis into clear, practical recommendations for engagement.
- Proactively identify pipeline gaps and lead targeted prospecting initiatives.
- Strategic Initiatives & Cross‑Directorate Impact
- Contribute specialist expertise to key organisational initiatives (e. g. Data & AI, Children and Young People’s cancer).
- Ensure prospect development activity aligns with wider strategic priorities.
- Support the development of future‑focused capabilities within the function.
- Due Diligence & Governance
- Oversee due diligence activity, ensuring consistency, quality and appropriate risk management.
- Provide guidance and support on complex or high‑risk cases.
- Strengthen due diligence frameworks, processes and reporting for senior stakeholders.
- Ensure alignment with organisational policies and best practice.
- Senior Stakeholder Partnership
- Act as a trusted partner to senior fundraisers and leadership.
- Provide strategic advice on prospect selection, prioritisation and risk.
- Influence decision‑making to focus on the highest‑impact opportunities.
- Promote alignment and consistency across fundraising activity.
- Best Practice & Continuous Improvement
- Lead the development and embedding of prospect development frameworks, tools and standards.
- Drive consistency across pipeline management and due diligence processes.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness and impact.
- Support the shift to a proactive, insight‑led prospect development model.
Qualifications
- Significant experience in prospect development, high‑value fundraising or strategic research.
- Demonstrable experience supporting major and high‑value fundraising activity, typically involving gifts of six figures and above.
- Proven ability to operate at a senior or specialist level, applying judgement and influencing decision‑making.
- Strong experience of pipeline strategy, prioritisation and management, including assessing pipeline health and shaping delivery against targets.
- Experience of due diligence processes, including oversight of complex or high‑risk cases.
- Strong understanding of risk, governance and reputational considerations in a fundraising context.
- Experience contributing to or supporting strategic initiatives, programmes or organisational priorities.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior audiences.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate insight into practical, strategic recommendations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable Skills
- Experience working with principal level fundraising (1m+).
- Familiarity with fundraising databases and prospect management systems (CRM).
- Understanding of data‑driven prospecting approaches or analytics.
- Awareness of sector priorities or mission‑led campaigns.
- Experience within a large or complex organisation.
Benefits
We create a working environment that supports 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.
Equal Opportunity
Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in the work we do.
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under‑represented.
We want every candidate to perform at their best throughout the application process, interview process and while at work.
- If you have any concerns or require adjustments, please contact or
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Prospect Development Specialist
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Cancer Research UK (CRUK).
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Cancer Research UK (CRUK).
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Cancer Research UK (CRUK).
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Prospect Development Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Prospect Development Specialist, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
