At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning to turn vision into actionable plans for impact.
- Company: Join Macmillan, a purpose-driven organisation supporting people living with cancer.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and alignment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while shaping organisational strategy.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic planning and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 69000 € per year.
Hybrid - split between home and our London Office
Salary: £63,000 – £69,000
Contract: Permanent
About the role
At Macmillan, we’re driven by a clear purpose: to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. Delivering on that purpose requires more than a strong strategy—it requires clear, aligned, and actionable plans. As a Strategic Planner, you’ll play a critical role in turning strategy into delivery. Sitting at the centre of our organisation, you’ll bring together plans, priorities, resources, and performance to create a coherent, organisation-wide view of how we deliver impact. You’ll enable smarter decisions, greater alignment, and more effective delivery across our transformation agenda.
What you’ll be doing
- You’ll lead and continuously improve how we plan, track, and deliver against our strategic objectives—ensuring clarity, accountability, and agility across the organisation.
Responsibilities
- Leading the annual and quarterly planning cycle, producing guidance, templates, and timelines to ensure a consistent and effective approach
- Working across functions to identify risks, dependencies, and interdependencies, bringing these together into a single, coherent organisational plan
- Owning and maintaining a clear accountability framework, ensuring alignment between plans, budgets, and performance measures
- Partnering with the PMO to track progress against plans, identifying delays, risks, and opportunities to optimise sequencing and delivery
- Producing high-quality reports aligned to KPIs, budget, and risk, supporting senior decision-making and prioritisation
- Building strong relationships across teams to ensure alignment, clarity, and shared ownership of delivery
- Driving a continuous improvement approach to planning, enabling flexibility and responsiveness as priorities evolve
- Providing planning expertise and coaching to teams across the organisation
Who we’re looking for
You’ll be a strategic thinker with a strong operational grip—someone who can see the bigger picture while confidently managing detail and complexity. We’re particularly interested in candidates with:
- Experience in organisational or cross-portfolio planning, programme coordination, or strategy implementation
- A strong track record of working in complex, matrix environments, engaging effectively with senior stakeholders
- Experience using coaching approaches to support and challenge teams, driving clarity and better decision‑making
- Excellent analytical and business skills, with the ability to connect strategy to delivery
- Experience producing clear, concise reporting for senior audiences
- The ability to adapt quickly, navigate ambiguity, and respond to changing priorities
- A genuine passion for driving excellence and enabling change
Who you’ll work with
This role sits at the centre of the organisation, working closely with:
- Strategic Change
- Insight and Performance
- Finance, Risk and Technology
- Delivery teams including Engagement, Partnerships, and People & Culture
What success looks like
In this role, you’ll:
- Deliver an agile, efficient planning process that evolves on a quarterly basis
- Create a clear, joined‑up strategy implementation plan aligned across directorates and budgets
- Enable robust, timely reporting that drives effective decision‑making at all levels
- Strengthen organisational alignment, ensuring everyone is working towards shared priorities
Why join Macmillan?
This is an opportunity to shape how strategy becomes reality in a purpose‑led organisation. Your work will directly enable us to deliver greater impact for people living with cancer—bringing clarity, focus, and alignment to everything we do.
Recruitment Process
Application deadline: 22nd May 2026
First interview dates: TBC
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. We are an organisation that is committed to setting candidates up for success, so we can support you to be at your best during the application or selection process, please contact Macmillan TA Team for advice, or a conversation on reasonable adjustments.
Strategic Planner in London employer: Macmillan Cancer Support
At Macmillan, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance while being based in the vibrant city of London. Our culture is rooted in purpose and collaboration, providing employees with opportunities for professional growth and development as they contribute to meaningful initiatives that support individuals living with cancer. Join us to be part of a dedicated team where your strategic insights will directly impact our mission, all within a supportive and dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Planner in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at Macmillan. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding Macmillan's mission. Show us how your skills as a Strategic Planner can directly impact our goals. We love candidates who align with our purpose!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills. Be ready to share examples of how you've tackled complex planning challenges before. We want to hear about your strategic thinking in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Planner in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in strategic planning and organisational alignment. We want to see how your skills connect with our mission at Macmillan.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve successfully led planning cycles or improved processes in previous roles. This helps us see the impact you can bring to our team.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate well-organised applications that are easy to read.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Macmillan!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macmillan Cancer Support
✨Know Your Strategy Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Macmillan's mission and strategic objectives. Understand how the role of a Strategic Planner fits into their overall goals. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you articulate how your skills can contribute to their purpose.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle complex planning scenarios. Think of examples from your past experience where you've successfully managed interdependencies or navigated ambiguity. Be ready to discuss how you drove clarity and decision-making in those situations.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Since the role requires excellent analytical abilities, prepare to discuss how you've used data to inform strategic decisions. Bring examples of reports you've produced that influenced senior stakeholders, highlighting your ability to connect strategy to delivery.
✨Build Rapport with Interviewers
As you'll be working closely with various teams, demonstrating your interpersonal skills is key. During the interview, engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions about their experiences and the challenges they face. This will help you build a connection and show that you're a team player.
