Salary: £52,000 - £56,000 per annum plus benefits
Reports to: Lead, Strategic Communications (Corporate & Consumer)
Directorate: Policy, Information & Communications
Contract: Fixed Term Contract (9-12 months maternity cover) from mid-February 2027
Hours: 35 hours per week
Location: Stratford, London. Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)
Closing date: 15 November 2026
Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
Recruitment Process: Two-stage competency-based interview process with a possible presentation and task
Interview Dates:
First stage: W/C 23 November 2026. Via MS Teams
Second stage: W/C 30 November 2026 or 7 December 2026, in Stratford offices.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are looking for an experienced communications leader to join us on a maternity cover contract. The role will lead the strategic development and execution of high-impact communication strategies and campaigns that support the charity’s communications strategy, and deliver on CRUK’s priority areas. 
What will I be doing?

• Plan, develop and oversee multi-channel communication strategies and campaigns supporting organisational goals

• Contribute to the development of the annual comms plan, quarterly communications strategies, and message house as required

• Oversee delivery of high-impact consumer PR campaigns and activity (national and regional), raising awareness of CRUK’s priority campaigns, fundraising activities, corporate supporters, special events and trading

• Oversee delivery of CRUK’s corporate communications activity, including visible leadership, EDI strategy and Annual Report & Accounts

• Oversee delivery of high-quality communications content, including drafting and reviewing media materials, press releases, statements, plans, briefing documents and creative multi-media content

• Oversee the creation of crisis communications plans and manage reputational issues, recommending appropriate courses of action to senior stakeholders

• Use data-driven insights to inform high-level decision making.

• Ensure strategies take into account recommendations and lessons learnt from previous activity

• Oversee campaign evaluations, working with colleagues to ensure they reflect the full breadth of our communications activity, and the impact of our work

• Monitor the external landscape to identify strategic opportunities and risks

• Advise leadership and colleagues on emerging trends

• Build and maintain relationships with colleagues within the department, and across the organisation, to ensure plans and objectives are aligned and delivered collaboratively

• Manage senior-level relationships with external agencies, and ensure they deliver high-quality work, aligned with strategic objectives

• Instil a culture of collaboration with other teams and individuals across the charity, developing meaningful relationships, understanding their needs, and making recommendations for communications activity

• Line and matrix manage team members to deliver against agreed KPIs

• Coach and mentor colleagues through their career at CRUK, creating a culture of development. Performance manage where necessary.

What are we looking for?

• Communications expertise: excellent communications track record; experienced at leading a team to deliver against KPIs; ensures department-wide objectives are met

• Management expertise: leads by example, encourages team to develop creative, progressive ideas that increase our effectiveness.  Actively coaches and oversees development of line reports, setting direction and role modelling appropriate behaviours

• Problem solving: able to work on own initiative to deal effectively and pragmatically with problems; actively supports the head of strategic communications & campaigns by helping to resolve complex team-wide problems

• Accountability: responsible for setting team direction and strategies for some corporate communications campaigns as part of supporting the wider department objectives

• Decision making: proactively manages own workload and advises team members on how to manage theirs; deputises for head of corporate communications requiring ability to take key decisions with appropriate consultation

• Communication skills: well-developed communication skills, and ability to deal with complex and sensitive information in a professional way; always showing a high level of self-awareness

• Influence: required to influence internal and external stakeholders, including at very senior level; builds consensus and instils confidence and credibility of advice and decision making with other key teams

• Strategic planning: Responsible for developing and managing plans to achieve delivery of overall communications strategy.  Uses organisational priorities to make informed decisions about communications support

• Experience: an established communications career at senior level, either in-house or agency, with a proven track-record of team and project management and excellent results delivery.  Accustomed to regular contact with directors and executive directors, as well as the CEO for important reputation issues

There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner. 

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. We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen by emailing us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.