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- Tasks: Lead strategy development to maximise impact for people living with cancer.
- Company: Join Macmillan, a nationally significant organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Shape the future direction of an impactful charity with a supportive environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and external partners.
- Why this job: Influence strategic decisions that drive meaningful improvements for cancer patients.
- Qualifications: Experienced strategy leader with a strong track record in complex environments.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
You'll work as part of a senior strategy partnership, ensuring we focus on the right priorities, in the right way, at the right time, and that we maximize impact for people living with cancer.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading horizon scanning, identifying emerging trends, risks, and opportunities shaping the future for people living with cancer.
- Designing and developing Macmillan's long‑term organisational strategy, defining ambition, priority territories, and the capabilities required to deliver impact.
- Ensuring strategy is grounded in insight, data, and lived experience, championing inclusive and participatory approaches.
- Acting as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leaders, providing challenge and ensuring alignment between changing contexts, ambition, and capability to deliver.
- Providing thought leadership on strategic thinking, systems change, and long‑term impact across the organisation.
- Building and maintaining strong external relationships, ensuring Macmillan remains informed, connected, and influential.
- Championing inclusive leadership and creating a supportive, high‑performing environment.
- Deliver an ambitious, high‑impact organisational strategy that drives meaningful improvements for people living with cancer.
- Ensure strategic decisions are grounded in evidence, insight, and lived experience.
- Establish a high‑performing strategy function that provides clarity, challenge, and foresight across the organisation.
You’ll operate at the centre of the organisation, working closely with:
- Strategy & Transformation Team
- Centre of Clinical Expertise
- Community & Participation Team
- Executive Team and Board of Trustees
- External partners and stakeholders
Why join Macmillan?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future direction of a nationally significant organisation. Your work will directly influence how we deliver impact at scale - ensuring we remain focused, ambitious, and responsive to the needs of people living with cancer.
What we’re looking for:
You’ll be an experienced strategy leader, comfortable operating at executive level and shaping thinking across a complex organisation. We’re particularly interested in candidates with:
- Significant experience in organisational strategy development within complex environments (e.g. charity, public sector, health, or similar).
- Have led strategic decision‑making at the most senior levels, navigated competing priorities across an entire organisation, and set the ambition to drive real‑world impact.
- Strong track record of synthesising insight into compelling strategic narratives and choices.
- Credibility and confidence to advise, influence, and challenge senior leaders.
- Excellent systems thinking and analytical capability.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience engaging with Executive teams, Boards, or Trustees.
Desirable:
- Experience in health, cancer, or social impact organisations.
- Experience integrating lived experience and customer insight into strategy development.
Strategy Development Lead employer: Macmillan Cancer Support
Contact Detail:
Macmillan Cancer Support Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Development Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation inside out. Understand their mission, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role. Highlight your strategic thinking and how you've driven real-world impact in previous positions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Development Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Strategy Development Lead role. Highlight your experience in organisational strategy development and how it relates to the needs of people living with cancer.
Showcase Your Insight: Demonstrate your ability to synthesise insight into strategic narratives. Use examples from your past experiences where you've successfully navigated complex environments and made impactful decisions.
Communicate Clearly: Your written communication should be top-notch! Ensure your application is clear, concise, and free of jargon. Remember, we want to see your outstanding communication skills right from the start.
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 keep everything organised. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macmillan Cancer Support
✨Know Your Strategy Inside Out
Make sure you thoroughly understand the organisational strategy of Macmillan and how it aligns with the needs of people living with cancer. Familiarise yourself with their current initiatives, challenges, and successes. This will help you articulate how your experience can contribute to their goals.
✨Prepare Insightful Questions
Think about the emerging trends and risks in the health sector, especially related to cancer. Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your understanding of these issues and how they might impact Macmillan's strategy. This shows you're not just a passive candidate but someone who actively engages with the subject matter.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your approach to inclusive leadership and how you've fostered high-performing teams in the past. Share specific examples of how you've navigated complex environments and influenced senior leaders, as this role requires strong credibility and confidence.
✨Highlight Your Analytical Skills
Since the role involves synthesising insight into strategic narratives, be prepared to discuss your analytical capabilities. Bring examples of how you've used data and lived experiences to inform strategic decisions, showcasing your ability to ground strategies in evidence.