Senior Marketing Planning Manager (Paid Media) 

Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 plus benefits 

Reports to: Head of Strategic Brand and Marketing 

Directorate: Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement 

Contract: 12 month fixed-term contract 

Hours: Full-time 35 hours per week 

Location: Stratford, London -based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office) 
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. 
Closing date: 28th October 2026 23:55 

Recruitment process: competency based interview  
Interview date: week commencing 9th November 2026   

The Senior Marketing Planning Manager owns Cancer Research UK’s internal paid media plan, taking a centralised view of paid activity across our audiences, channels and campaigns. Working in partnership with our external agency, and using marketing performance and econometric modelling, the role ensures we have the optimal balance of spend, channel and audience to drive media efficiency.

Leading a team of Marketing Planning Managers, the role is a critical function supporting end-to-end marketing planning, helping Marketing, Fundraising and Engagement achieve its targets. And, in turn, Cancer Research UK’s vision to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. 

Key accountabilities 

• Lead the application of the marketing strategy across paid channels, audiences and workstreams, ensuring close alignment with broader strategies and organisational priorities to deliver against OKRs. 

• Support the econometrics programme of work, using econometrics and our modelling platform to drive an insight- and data-led approach to planning across CRUK audiences, channels and campaigns, and working with Marketing Performance Managers to develop benchmarks and targets that are shared and reported up. 

• Own Cancer Research UK’s internal paid media plan, working with our external agency partner to develop and refine media strategy and recommendations using CRUK insight and performance data. 

• Work with our agency partner to deliver plans for above-the-line paid media campaigns and channels (including AV, audio, OOH, digital, PPC and social), ensuring delivery against agreed plans. 

• Work closely with Planning, Operations and Performance teams, and wider Marketing, Fundraising and Engagement teams, to own and lead the paid media input to the Annual Marketing Plan, target setting and budget management across all campaigns, channels and activities.  

• Maintain visibility and oversight of paid marketing activity, working with stakeholders across Marketing, Fundraising and Engagement and the wider organisation to minimise campaign, audience and channel saturation. 

• Line manage and mentor a team of three Marketing Planning Managers. 

Key technical skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours 

• Significant marketing leadership experience, with a proven track record of delivering results through effective team leadership. 

• Strategic thinker with significant experience planning and delivering complex, multi-channel campaigns. 

• Strong understanding of full-funnel, end-to-end supporter journeys and the role of different channels in integrated campaigns. 

• Experience of using econometrics or marketing mix modelling to inform planning and investment decisions. 

• Experience of managing and partnering with agency partners, including critically evaluating recommendations using data and insight. 

• Ability to build collaborative relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels. 

• Commercially minded, with experience of managing significant paid media budgets and balancing spend, efficiency and return across channels. 

• Flexible approach and able to adapt to changing priorities. 

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. 

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. 

Eligibility criteria

Internal candidates should ideally have completed their 6-month ‘getting started’ period before applying for other roles. You should also advise your current line manager at the point you make an internal application, or at the latest, at the point of being invited for an interview.

All internal candidates applying for a secondment, must have:

o   completed their getting started period

o   discussed their intention to apply and gained approval to apply with their line manager

o   been in their substantive (home) role for at least 6 months (this is only applicable if you have previously been on secondment)

If you do not confirm that you meet these requirements, we will not be able to progress your application.

For information about internal learning and development at Cancer Research UK please visit Fuse.

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 fairly and objectively.  

Please note that applications can’t be edited once submitted. 

Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.  

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at [email protected].    

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.  

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

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. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

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.