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- Tasks: Lead the UK's first oncology-focused therapeutic accelerator, shaping strategy and supporting innovative ventures.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, a leader in cancer innovation and treatment development.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to conquering cancer and supporting groundbreaking research.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fight against cancer while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in accelerator programmes, strong relationship-building skills, and a background in healthcare or life sciences.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 95000 £ per year.
Salary: P4 £85,000 - £95,000 pa depending on experience
Reports to: Associate Director Search & Evaluation
Department: Research & Innovation
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (flexible-working requests for compressed hours will also be considered if it meets business needs)
Location: Stratford, London with high flexibility (we would expect you to be in the office on average 1-2 days per week). There will be UK based travel, largely in the South of England, and some international travel with this role.
Closing date: Tuesday 14th April at 23.59
Visa sponsorship: Cancer Research UK can consider visa sponsorship for this vacancy. If this applies to you, please ensure that this is clearly marked on your application.
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. We're looking for an experienced Programme Lead to oversee the Cancer Research Horizons Therapeutic Accelerator - the UK's first and only oncology-focused therapeutic accelerator. The programme supports early-stage oncology ventures, helping founders progress from discovery through translation, venture formation and investment readiness.
In this unique leadership role, you'll shape programme strategy and curriculum, build and manage a high-quality mentor and partner network, and provide hands-on support to participating teams. Working closely with the Associate Director of Search & Evaluation, you'll ensure the programme delivers an exceptional founder experience and drives high-impact oncology innovation.
We're looking for someone with deep sector knowledge, excellent relationship-building skills, and a passion for accelerating the next generation of oncology therapeutics while contributing to a world-class innovation ecosystem.
About the team: This role sits within the Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) team. Cancer Research Horizons is the innovation engine of Cancer Research UK, translating cutting-edge innovations into effective treatments and diagnostics for cancer patients. With exclusive rights to CRUK's annual investment of over £300 million in world-class cancer research, we're a powerful partner in the fight to conquer cancer. We're currently the second largest oncology out-licensor globally, and to date we've played an instrumental role in forming over 90 startup companies, supported £3.45 billion raised, and have helped bring 14 new cancer drugs to market.
What will I be doing?
- Lead the short, medium and long-term strategy, design and continuous improvement of the CRH Therapeutic Accelerator in alignment with organisational priorities.
- Develop and refine the programme curriculum and deliver the full end-to-end cohort experience, ensuring it is founder-first, inclusive and outcomes-focused.
- Manage day-to-day programme operations, including coordination of internal contributors, budget oversight and resource planning.
- Provide structured guidance and challenge to participating teams, supporting them to refine strategy, prioritise actions and build credible development, resourcing and fundraising plans.
- Identify capability gaps and connect teams with suitable mentors, experts, service providers or investors, monitoring progress and intervening where necessary.
- Build, manage and engage a high-quality network of mentors, subject-matter experts, investors and strategic partners for programme delivery and showcase events.
- Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective ventures; lead outreach, assessment, interview panels and due diligence for selection.
- Cultivate relationships with funders, sponsors, academic and corporate partners across the innovation ecosystem, representing the accelerator externally and supporting senior-level reporting and communications.
- Build and engage an alumni community to sustain post-programme momentum and enhance long-term accelerator impact.
- Define, measure and report programme KPIs and impact metrics, gathering feedback to drive continuous improvement and producing reports, case studies and communications that demonstrate value.
What skills are we looking for?
- Proven experience delivering accelerator, incubator, or innovation programmes, ideally within healthcare, life sciences, or oncology therapeutics.
- Strong understanding of early-stage oncology therapeutic startup challenges, funding pathways, and the wider innovation ecosystem.
- Experience commercialising innovation and supporting early-stage ventures through investment readiness, fundraising preparation, and strategic development.
- Skilled in stakeholder management, with the ability to build, maintain, and influence relationships across founders, investors, corporates, and academic or clinical partners.
- Excellent organisational and programme-delivery capabilities, with a track record of planning and executing complex initiatives.
- Confident communicator with experience facilitating workshops, group sessions, and founder-focused learning environments.
- Academic background in a scientific or healthcare discipline (PhD or equivalent), ideally oncology, therapeutics, or drug discovery.
- Experience in therapeutic innovation, drug discovery, or pre-clinical translation, with understanding of IP, regulatory requirements, and translational pathways relevant to oncology.
- Coaching or mentoring experience with founders, scientific leaders, or startup teams.
- A strong network within investor, corporate, academic, or innovation communities relevant to oncology therapeutics.
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.
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 quickly, fairly, and objectively.
For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Therapeutic Accelerator Programme Lead employer: Cancer Research UK
Contact Detail:
Cancer Research UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Therapeutic Accelerator Programme Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the oncology and therapeutic space. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meetups. The more you engage, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a personal brand online by sharing insights, articles, or even your own experiences related to oncology innovation. This not only highlights your knowledge but also makes you more visible to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews like it’s game day! Research the company, understand their mission, and be ready to discuss how your skills align with their goals. Practise common interview questions and have your own questions ready to show your interest.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, hit that apply button and let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Therapeutic Accelerator Programme Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the Therapeutic Accelerator Programme Lead role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Passion: Let us see your enthusiasm for oncology and innovation! Share specific examples of how you've contributed to similar projects or initiatives in the past, and why you're excited about this opportunity at Cancer Research UK.
Be Clear and Concise: When filling out the application form, keep your responses clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured answers that get straight to the heart of your experience and skills without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This helps us streamline the process and ensures your application is reviewed fairly. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cancer Research UK
✨Know Your Oncology Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and challenges in oncology therapeutics. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of early-stage ventures and how they navigate funding pathways. This will show your deep sector knowledge and passion for the field.
✨Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully built and maintained relationships with stakeholders in previous roles. Whether it's founders, investors, or academic partners, demonstrating your ability to connect and influence will be key in this leadership position.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Programme Strategy
Think about how you would approach the design and continuous improvement of an accelerator programme. Be prepared to share your ideas on creating a founder-first, inclusive curriculum that drives outcomes. This will highlight your strategic thinking and programme delivery capabilities.
✨Demonstrate Your Coaching Experience
Have specific examples ready that showcase your mentoring or coaching experience with startup teams or scientific leaders. Highlight how you've supported them through challenges and helped refine their strategies, as this aligns perfectly with the role's requirements.