At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and growth of CRUK's legacy fundraising proposition.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, a leader in the charity sector.
- Benefits: Generous benefits package, career development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values ambition, collaboration, and positive impact.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fundraising while shaping the future of charitable giving.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading complex propositions and strong commercial judgement required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
We are seeking a Head of Proposition – Legacies to lead the end‑to‑end design, delivery and growth of one of CRUK’s most important fundraising propositions. This senior leadership role combines commercial accountability, innovation and people leadership to deliver sustainable long‑term value. This is an opportunity to lead one of the UK charity sector’s most significant income streams.
You will drive a clear proposition vision rooted in audience insight, design compelling end‑to‑end supporter experiences, and deliver growth over both the short and long term. You will bring the credibility to lead legacy strategy with senior leaders and trustees, influencing at the highest levels while partnering across marketing, data, technology and delivery teams. Commercially astute and evidence‑led, you will strengthen performance management, forecasting and prioritisation, balancing strategic ambition with operational grip.
This is not solely a functional legacy role. It is a proposition leadership role, with Legacies as its core focus whilst playing a key part in shaping the future of Fundraising & Engagement Propositions at Cancer Research UK.
What will I be doing?
- Reshape the strategic direction and deliver sustainable growth of the Legacy proposition, defining a clear, compelling vision rooted in audience need, insight and CRUK strategy.
- Own performance and long-term value, shaping and delivering a bold, evidence led growth strategy that increases consideration, market share and the value of complex gifts across diverse audiences.
- Work with matrixed teams to design and evolve brilliant end-to-end experiences, working across channels, journeys and touchpoints to create emotionally resonant, modern supporter experiences at scale.
- Lead innovation and modernisation, using insight, test and learn approaches and strong commercial judgement to respond to a rapidly changing wealth and fundraising landscape.
- Shape how technology enables the proposition, partnering closely across digital, data and delivery to ensure seamless, future ready journeys.
- Build and lead high performing, multidisciplinary teams, bringing together proposition, operations and specialist expertise to deliver excellence through inclusive, empowering leadership.
- Act as a visible sector leader and trusted internal partner, influencing senior stakeholders and playing an active role in the wider transformation of fundraising at Cancer Research UK.
What are we looking for?
- Experience leading a complex proposition, product or portfolio in a customer centric environment, balancing delivery today with long-term value.
- Strong commercial judgement, with the confidence to make evidence led trade-offs and prioritisation decisions.
- A deep understanding of audience behaviour, and how insight, digital capability and service design come together to create compelling end-to-end experiences.
- A compelling communicator and influencer, able to articulate vision clearly and bring diverse stakeholders with you.
- Proven leadership of large, multidisciplinary teams in complex matrixed organisations; an inclusive, inspiring leader who delivers through strong relationships.
- A strategic, future focused mindset, comfortable leading through ambiguity and change.
- Curiosity, ambition and a genuine desire to push the sector forward, not replicate what’s gone before.
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.
Head of Proposition - Legacies (Open) in London employer: Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. As the Head of Proposition – Legacies, you will be at the forefront of innovative fundraising strategies, collaborating with diverse teams to create impactful supporter experiences while benefiting from a generous benefits package and a culture that values inclusivity and ambition.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Proposition - Legacies (Open) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially if you're eyeing a role at CRUK. Tailor your responses to show how you align with their goals and can contribute to their vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to refine your answers. Focus on articulating your experience and how it relates to the role of Head of Proposition – Legacies.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to the fight against cancer.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Proposition - Legacies (Open) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about leading the Legacy proposition and making a real impact at CRUK.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in leading complex propositions. We’re looking for evidence of your commercial judgement and ability to create compelling supporter experiences, so be specific!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your vision and ideas come across clearly without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered fairly in our anonymised shortlisting process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cancer Research UK
✨Know Your Proposition Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the legacy proposition and understand its current state, challenges, and opportunities. Familiarise yourself with Cancer Research UK's mission and how this role contributes to it. This will help you articulate a clear vision and demonstrate your commitment to driving growth.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered collaboration and inclusivity in previous roles. This is crucial as the role requires strong people leadership to deliver excellence across various teams.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your approach to making evidence-led decisions and trade-offs. Share specific instances where your commercial judgement has led to successful outcomes. This will show that you can balance strategic ambition with operational grip, which is key for this position.
✨Engage with Insight and Innovation
Highlight your understanding of audience behaviour and how you've used insights to shape compelling supporter experiences. Discuss any innovative strategies you've implemented in the past, especially those that respond to changing market dynamics. This will illustrate your ability to lead modernisation efforts effectively.
