At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead tech transformation for finance and legal teams, driving operational improvements.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, a leader in health innovation and operational excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive culture focused on growth.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare by shaping technology strategies and leading change.
- Qualifications: Proven tech leadership experience and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
£59,000 – £69,000 + Benefits
Grade: P3
Reports to: Director of Technology Operations
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 35 hours/week
Location: Stratford, London (office‑based with high flexibility – 1‑2 days per week in the office)
Visa sponsorship: Eligible to work in the UK – Cancer Research UK does not offer visa sponsorship
Closing date: 6 July 2026 23:55
About the Role
The Chief Finance Office (COO) is Cancer Research UK’s hub for operational management, bringing together several functions (Finance & Procurement, General Counsel & Legal, Governance & Assurance). As a Product Lead, you’ll take ownership of the CFO’s technology estate and partner with colleagues in our Finance, Procurement, General Counsel & Company Secretariat functions who use a range of products, SaaS solutions, and cloud‑based technologies. This role involves leading teams, influencing stakeholders and senior leaders in navigating change, shaping product strategies, and driving technology‑enabled transformation and operational improvements.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, delivery, and transformation of technology products and services for the Finance, Procurement, General Counsel & Company Secretariat functions, including Legal and Risk.
- Provide leadership across the portfolio of tech‑enabled work and manage two established product teams (line‑management of product managers); in‑flight programmes and projects such as migrating the finance system Unit4 Business World to the cloud, process digitisation and automation, and finance system integrations.
- Partner collaboratively with senior business leaders across the Chief Finance Office to shape strategy and deliver Cancer Research UK’s ambitious programme of change.
- Drive key business outcomes, operational efficiency, resilience, and optimisation of corporate systems.
- Lead the creation of a roadmap that is strategically aligned, technically viable, and widely understood.
- Set, forecast, and manage budgets and resources.
- Ensure Cancer Research UK has the right culture, skills, and processes for successful delivery and transformation.
- Line‑manage two product managers and matrix‑manage project teams, including leading and motivating teams, contributing to a culture of high performance, acting as a role model, and setting high professional standards for performance and behaviour.
- Define and ensure high‑quality, fast‑paced delivery of product outcomes across your teams.
- Provide coaching and skills development; manage supplier relationships and ensure technology partnerships deliver value and meet internal users’ business needs.
- Collaborate with others to ensure that your products are appropriately supported, minimise performance risks, and adhere to SLAs and other operational requirements.
Qualifications
- Experienced technology leader with a strong record of delivering transformation and technology‑enabled operational improvements in complex enterprise environments.
- Previous roles may include Product Lead, Delivery Lead, Transformation Lead, Change Manager, Programme Manager, ERP Manager, or similar.
- Ability to balance user needs, strategic and technical requirements, and operational demand in large, complex organisations with constrained resources.
- Knowledge of corporate operations and systems, including ERP and finance systems.
- Proven ability to build credible and collaborative internal and external stakeholder relationships with strong interpersonal, communication, influencing, and negotiation skills, including senior leadership.
- Experience partnering with finance and legal teams is advantageous.
- Commercially minded with a track record of managing supplier relationships and driving value from technology partnerships.
- Resilient and adaptable leader with experience driving change and motivating teams and stakeholders in navigating ambiguity and responding to evolving business needs.
- Proactive, solutions‑focused approach to problem‑solving, encouraging innovation, promoting best practices, and challenging conventional organisational approaches and thinking.
Diversity and Inclusion
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 to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. Please inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Lead (Corporate Operations) in Stratford-upon-Avon
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Cancer Research UK (CRUK)!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Cancer Research UK (CRUK) would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Cancer Research UK (CRUK) through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Lead (Corporate Operations) in Stratford-upon-Avon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Lead (Corporate Operations), let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Lead (Corporate Operations) position at Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
