Health Systems Engagement Lead

Department: Policy, Information & Communication (PIC)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £70,000 - £80,000

Hours: Full-time (we’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements)

Location: Stratford, high flex, with one to two days per week in the office. Flexible working requests to be home-based within the UK or to be based at another CRUK site will be considered.

Closing date: 17 June 2026: 11:59pm

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. As the world’s leading cancer charity, we are at the forefront of the global fight against cancer, bringing together millions of people who share our determination to beat it. For over 120 years, we’ve been making discoveries that have saved countless lives, and which benefit millions of people around the world each year. Yet, the challenge of cancer remains, we have so much more to do. We want to live in a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

In this role, you’ll be a subject matter expert on the English NHS and wider UK health systems, and will lead our work engaging with health leaders at local and regional levels – for example in Integrated Care Boards and Cancer Alliances. You will also support CRUK’s broader work by generating insights through activity and engagement with UK healthcare leaders —ultimately helping to create health systems that can deliver world-leading cancer outcomes.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and delivery of influencing strategies aimed at advancing the implementation of best practice and innovation for cancer within health systems across the 4 UK nations.
• Work closely with expert colleagues across multiple internal teams to set priorities, agree strategies and formulate key messages based on evidence, CRUK priorities, and awareness of current health system and health policy contexts.
• Provide leadership for and input into activities targeting health systems leaders, such as events, conferences, think-pieces, briefings, communications strategies and development of tools and resources, including where relevant managing budget for delivery.
• Oversee CRUK’s health system relationship management activities, ensuring a co-ordinated approach optimised for health systems influencing and supported by high-quality information, processes and materials.
• Personally hold relationships with health leaders in designated systems and in the wider health landscape.
• Lead health systems insight generation, overseeing processes to collect, record, analyse and share intelligence gathered from health systems, and communicating this internally to inform CRUK’s wider strategy, policy and influencing activity.
• Work closely with relevant colleagues for devolved nations to ensure that strategies and outputs are appropriate for each of the UK nations, developing and executing differentiated strategies where appropriate, and maximising opportunities for efficiencies across nations where possible.
• Act as a spokesperson for CRUK on relevant topics including at third-party events and potentially in the media (training will be provided).
• Lead matrix teams and line manage designated staff as requested.

Skills Required:

• Deep understanding of the English NHS and wider UK health systems contexts, including appreciation of live issues in policy, delivery and practice.
• Excellent understanding of the breadth of health systems audiences and awareness of key forums and channels that shape the awareness, understanding and opinions of key decision-makers within health systems.
• Experience of working with senior health leaders, supporting a detailed appreciation of effective ways to engage them in key topics of interest to CRUK.
• Highly collaborative and enabling of others, proven ability to build effective relationships with and influence a broad range of stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent writing, speaking and presentational skills, with the ability to shape messages and adapt tone for different audiences.
• Ability to critically engage with and analyse information from different sources to distil key points, and to inform the development of strategies and communications approaches.
• Experience of developing, reviewing and evolving strategies for influencing change, and leading their implementation.
• Track record of delivering high-profile outputs such as professional events, briefings or published articles, as well as delivering projects and programmes from ideation through to completion.
• Experience of working in a matrix environment and leading a team, with a proven track record of managing people and delivering against KPIs, while ensuring wider departmental objectives are achieved.
• Ability to travel across the UK and stay overnight when required.

What Will I Gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive. In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more. We don’t forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture. Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.

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 quickly, 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 LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter 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.