At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives to improve cancer support services and drive impactful change.
- Company: Join Macmillan, a leading charity dedicated to transforming cancer care.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and extensive learning opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a supportive and inclusive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of people living with cancer.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in strategy development and customer-centred change.
The predicted salary is between 77000 - 85000 £ per year.
Contract type: Fixed term contract for 12 months
Full time: 34.5 hours - we are open to a conversation about how you work these hours
Location: Hybrid between home and one of our offices in the UK - London, Shipley or Glasgow
Salary range: £77,000 - £85,000
About us
At Macmillan you'll find talented people working together to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. We're going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support. Our values are at the heart of who we are and everything we do, inspiring our thinking and guiding our actions. Our organisational strategy sets out how we’ll fight even harder to make every pound raised count for even more. With your help, we’ll transform cancer care for good.
About the role
At Macmillan, our ambition is clear: to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. Reach is one of our programmes to achieving this ambition; focusing on how our information and support services must be better connected, easier to navigate and more equitable—so we can reach everyone while focusing on people who need the most support. We’re looking for a Strategic Lead – Reach, to shape and drive the strategic direction for this work. Grounded in insight, data and lived experience, you’ll turn long-term ambition into a clear approach that drives practical delivery and measurable improvements for people living with cancer. This is a senior strategic role for someone who can connect bold thinking with the choices, trade-offs and sequencing needed to make change happen.
What you’ll be doing
- Providing thought leadership on how people living with cancer interact with information and support services now and in the future, with a strong focus on equitable and accessible services.
- Leading the development of Reach’s strategy and approach to implementation, defining ambition, priority outcomes, choices, trade-offs and sequencing.
- Ensuring evidence about inequity, exclusion and underserved communities shapes Reach’s strategy and wider organisational learning.
- Championing inclusive and participatory approaches so people with lived experience play a meaningful and central role in shaping our work.
- Using insight, data and lived experience to identify gaps in outcomes, access, experience and engagement, and working across Macmillan to address them.
- Acting as a trusted strategic adviser to senior leaders, providing constructive challenge and aligning ambition with capacity, resources and delivery.
- Building influential relationships with commercial, public and third-sector partners to bring fresh thinking and opportunities to Reach.
- Working closely with the Strategic Programme Lead and delivery teams to translate strategic intent into practical action.
- Leading one direct report and a programme team of approximately 6–8 people, creating a safe, inclusive and high-performing environment.
Who we’re looking for
You’ll be an experienced strategy leader, comfortable operating with senior leaders and shaping direction across a complex organisation. We’re particularly interested in candidates with:
- Significant experience of developing and delivering strategy in a complex organisation, such as a charity, public-sector or health setting.
- A strong track record of using customer insight and intelligence to deliver tangible, equitable outcomes, particularly for people facing the worst outcomes.
- Extensive experience of customer-centred change and service design across digital and non-digital channels.
- The ability to bring together diverse perspectives and turn long‑term ambition into practical implementation choices.
- Credibility and confidence working with senior leaders, Boards or Trustees.
- A clear understanding of how organisational culture, leadership and systems influence equitable outcomes for customers, communities and colleagues.
- Excellent strategic thinking, relationship‑building and written and verbal communication skills.
In return, we offer a range of benefits including:
- 25 days holiday plus flexible bank holiday options, increasing by 1 day every year of service up to 30 days
- Pension matched up to 7.5%
- 120+ learning and development offers, with access to external professional qualifications
- Flexible working patterns, such as compressed hours, flexibility to work earlier or later around our core working hours of 10am-4pm
- Holiday buying and selling scheme, life insurance, free wills, retail discounts and much more
Recruitment Process
Application deadline: 23:59 on Wednesday 4th November
Interview dates: First stage interviews will take place online on the week commencing 21st November (exact dates to be confirmed)
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. So we can support you to be your best during the application or interview process, please contact Macmillan TA Team for advice and reasonable adjustments.
Strategic Lead - Reach (11280) in London employer: Macmillan Cancer Support
At Macmillan Cancer Support, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by cancer. Our hybrid working model promotes flexibility, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life while collaborating with a passionate team in our London office. With a strong focus on employee growth, innovative projects in data and AI, and a culture that values inclusivity and collaboration, we offer a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative change in healthcare.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Lead - Reach (11280) in London
✨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 Macmillan Cancer Support.
✨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 Macmillan Cancer Support.
✨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 Macmillan Cancer Support.
✨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 Macmillan Cancer Support. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Lead - Reach (11280) in London
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 Macmillan Cancer Support. 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 Strategic Lead - Reach (11280), 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 Macmillan Cancer Support
✨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 Macmillan Cancer Support. 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!
