Associate Director (Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Research)

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: Sunday 5th July 2026

Visa sponsorship: Cancer Research UK can consider visa sponsorship for this vacancy. If this applies to you, please ensure that this is clearly marked on your application.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We’re looking for an exceptional and ambitious strategic leader to shape the future of children and young people’s cancer research. This is a high-profile role leading a priority portfolio at scale — driving forward bold, transformative plans to transform outcomes, with a focus on better, kinder treatments. You’ll build powerful partnerships, influence globally, and bring together science, funding and collaboration to accelerate progress for young patients.

What will I be doing?

• Lead the development and delivery of a bold, long‑term strategy for Children & Young People (CYP) cancer research, positioning it as a major organisational priority

• Build and secure highvalue partnerships and funding, growing income to support our ambitions

• Shape and oversee a complex research portfolio spanning discovery through to clinical impact

• Act as a senior external ambassador, building influential relationships with global funders, researchers, clinicians and partners

• Drive a step‑change in strategic collaboration, including consortia-building and new partnership models in paediatric research

• Lead, inspire and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high‑performing and collaborative culture

What are we looking for?

• A highly strategic leader with experience delivering large‑scale, complex research or innovation portfolios

• Strong track record of building and securing major partnerships, funding, or philanthropic investment that have delivered impact

• Deep credibility in the research landscape (ideally oncology, paediatrics, or translational science)

• Proven ability to operate externally at senior level, influencing and building global relationships

• Experience creating and delivering ambitious strategies from the ground up

• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style with the ability to inspire teams and stakeholders

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.

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 .

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 recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 0 20 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.