Digital Communities Manager (CGC) in London

Digital Communities Manager (Cancer Grand Challenges)

£40,000 - £45,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Senior Communications Manager

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London Office-based with high flexibility (2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: Sunday 15th February

Recruitment process: Screening call followed by competency-based interview with a task.

Interview dates:

• Screening calls: w/c 23rd February
• Second stage interviews: w/c 9th March

Please note: 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 Grand Challenges (CGC) is a pioneering global cancer research initiative, co-founded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the US National Cancer Institute (NCI). CGC brings together world-leading researchers to tackle some of the most complex problems in cancer—challenges that require bold thinking, collaboration, and innovation on a global scale.

As we establish a new CGC team to drive this transformative programme forward, we are seeking an experienced and creative Digital Communities Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the digital presence of a high-profile international initiative and play a key role in growing its reputation worldwide.

In this role, you will develop and deliver impactful digital communication strategies and channels that inform, inspire, and engage a wide range of audiences—including researchers, donors, funders and industry partners. You’ll craft compelling content, champion digital best practice, and ensure the CGC mission and vision are communicated with clarity, energy, and purpose. Your work will help bring to life the groundbreaking research we fund and demonstrate how CGC is driving radical progress against cancer.

What will you be doing?

• Liaise with key internal and external stakeholders (including agencies) to ensure successful digital delivery and that the digital presence is an appropriate showcase of the CGC brand to all audiences.
• Work with colleagues to create a detailed plan for digital communications as an integral part of the overarching CGC marketing and communications strategy.
• Develop and cultivate an ongoing understanding of the changing information needs of our audiences to ensure digital communications are tailored appropriately.
• Deliver digital communications to an exemplary standard through attention to detail, high standard of service and an audience-centric approach.
• Collaborate with colleagues to create, commission and manage development of creative, dynamic, digital assets (audio, video, flash, animations, images and illustrations) for web and third-party sites.
• Enable requirements gathering and user testing of digital tools and platforms, with a view to expanding our channel mix, testing and piloting new digital ideas as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain a social media presence appropriate for our audiences (focusing on LinkedIn, X and Bluesky).
• Analyse performance metrics (web analytics), help optimise content and channels, and provide regular performance reports.
• Keep internal and external stakeholders up to date with key developments, supported by relevant presentations and workshops.
• Research digital trends, new technologies and opportunities. Understand the competitive landscape and ensure CGC is perceived as current, dynamic and cutting-edge.
• Maintain and continuously update the CGC website in collaboration with our external agency, ensuring it remains high-performing, user-friendly, and engaging for key audiences, while optimising content and structure for strong SEO.

What are we looking for?

• Relevant experience of managing digital communications and running successful digital and/or social media channels and campaigns, ideally in a Healthcare / Pharmaceutical environment.
• Excellent understanding of the digital and social media landscape, including reporting on web and social media analytics (direct experience with Google Analytics) to conduct audience research.
• Experience creating, commissioning and copywriting engaging digital content, including rich media assets (audio and visual), social, news and user-generated content with excellent proofreading, spelling, grammar and accuracy.
• Experience using a web content management system and Email Service Providers to create campaigns, including behaviourally triggered emails.
• Numerate and analytically minded, with the ability to manage information effectively and apply a test-and-learn approach to new techniques and methods.
• Enjoys solving day-to-day challenges by developing robust, pragmatic solutions and delivering them with strong attention to detail.
• Experience building a specialist network and/or online community.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications and Office 365.
• Experience managing projects, with the ability to develop and deliver complex plans and multiple tasks to deadlines and priorities.

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 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 and take positive steps in your career.

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.

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.