At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cross-departmental projects and drive impactful initiatives to support cancer research.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, a leading charity dedicated to beating cancer.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous benefits, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the fight against cancer while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Strong project management skills and ability to collaborate with diverse teams.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 41000 £ per year.
£37,000 - £41,000 plus benefits
Reports to: Senior Delivery Manager (Research Operations and Communications)
Directorate: Research & Innovation
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)
Closing date: Thursday 25th June 23:55pm
Interview process: 2 stage competency based interview process
Interview date: First stage w/c 6th July 2026 – Second stage w/c 13th July
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.
Cancer Research UK are seeking a talented Delivery Manager to join our Research Operations & Communications team within the Research & Innovation (R&I) directorate. The Research Operations and Communications department underpins the work of CRUK's Research & Innovation activities, driving the delivery of our Research Strategy through world-class funding, communications and engagement. As part of the Planning & Delivery team, you’ll take ownership of cross-departmental initiatives, lead strategic projects, and support senior stakeholders, including members of the Research & Partnerships Leadership Team. This is a highly collaborative role, offering the opportunity to shape and deliver activities that directly support our mission to beat cancer.
You will work closely with the Research & Partnerships Director, leading the development, delivery, and reporting of the annual departmental operating plan. Alongside this, you’ll manage key strategic projects, ensuring delivery against priorities and driving measurable impact across the department.
What will you be doing?
- Drive and lead the delivery of cross-department projects, being responsible for elements including planning, delivery, reporting and pro-actively seeking and resolving blockers.
- Matrix-management of cross-departmental project teams. Providing leadership to teams of varying size, creating the conditions for accountability and collaborations.
- Collaborate with Sponsor and Business Owners to clearly define the vision, objectives, key milestones, governance and roadmap of the project.
- Establish appropriate governance frameworks to ensure that activities are managed effectively, and decisions and escalations are managed appropriately.
- Take direct accountability for stakeholder expectations, develop and maintain strong and constructive working relationships at all levels from stakeholders through to project team members, to ensure that all necessary resources and contributors are fully behind the delivery.
- Develop clear plans, including clear deliverables, milestones, dependencies, owners, risks and mitigations. Monitoring project progress and proactively adjusting plans as necessary to ensure goals are met and projects are delivered in accordance with best practice and standards.
- Ensure the Research & Partnerships Director has necessary briefings for key meetings with external stakeholders, drafting these in close collaboration with Partnership and Science teams.
- Oversight of cross-departmental activities and key priorities to ensure these are aligned with key review and governance points, including leadership team meeting, CRUK Executive Boards and Committees.
- Ownership of departmental meeting planning and collaborating with CRUK Internal Comms teams on Research & Innovation events, as required.
- Support with operational planning and reporting for the Research & Partnerships department. To be responsible for ensuring departmental objectives and work plans are monitored and reported to the Director and Leadership Team, proactively identifying risks as required.
- Contribute to wider Planning & Delivery Team activities by helping to embed a consistent project delivery framework across R&I and support the implementation of project management best practice.
What are we looking for?
- Strong project management track record, with a demonstrated ability to deliver on a diversity of projects.
- Knowledge or experience of at least one formal project management methodology, e.g. APM or Prince2.
- Highly organised, able to set and meet demanding deadlines, and to hold others accountable for delivery of projects/activities.
- Ability to build effective relationships with and influence a broad range of stakeholders at all levels.
- Understanding how to influence effectively and build consensus and matrix manage cross-disciplinary teams.
- Strong analytical skills – able to bring structure to complex problems, and extract key issues, and to present data in a clear and concise format.
- Confident in discussing difficult issues and to influence solutions with staff at all levels.
- Assured self-starter, with an ability to work independently, delivering day-to-day workload and priorities with minimal supervision.
- Strategic thinking and an ability to think beyond the immediate issues.
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft office applications and Office 360.
Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.
- Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
- Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
- Human: Act to have a positive impact on people
- Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively
We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.
If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience, we’d still love to hear from you.
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.
How do I apply?
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.
For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.
For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
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 to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please 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.
Delivery Manager (Research Operations) employer: Cancer Research UK
At Cancer Research UK, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. Located in the vibrant Stratford area of London, our office provides high flexibility with the option to work from home 1-2 days a week, allowing you to balance your personal and professional life while contributing to our mission of beating cancer. With a generous benefits package and numerous opportunities for career development, joining our team means becoming part of a dedicated community committed to making a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Delivery Manager (Research Operations)
✨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.
✨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.
✨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.
✨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. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Delivery Manager (Research Operations)
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. 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 Delivery Manager (Research Operations), 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
✨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. 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!
