Research Portfolio Manager (Cancer Grand Challenges)

4,000 professionals, 0 days wasted, 1 incredible purpose. Together we are beating cancer.

Research Portfolio Manager (Cancer Grand Challenges)

Salary: £46,000 - £54,000 depending on experience plus benefits

Reports to: Head of Research, Cancer Grand Challenges

Department: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (Other flexible-working requests will also be considered)

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

Closing date: 14 May 2024

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Research Portfolio Manager to join our Cancer Grand Challenges (CGC) team and work closely with the Head of Research to develop and deliver the CGC research strategy and oversee the CGC research portfolio.

Working proactively with all CGC team members, you will be responsible for delivering CGC funding calls and initiatives. You will provide a key interface with the scientific community, importantly establishing strong and effective relationships with CGC funded team-leads and researchers, building a deep knowledge of the science being conducted in the teams and providing a key conduit between the scientific community and key stakeholders. This role provides the opportunity to function at the forefront of cancer research on a global scale.

About Cancer Grand Challenges

Cancer Grand Challenges is a global funding initiative founded in 2020 by the two largest funders of cancer research in the world: Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the US ( www.cancergrandchallenges.org ).

Cancer Grand Challenges builds on the success of CRUK’s Grand Challenge that launched in 2015 - we’re currently supporting eleven interdisciplinary teams across ten countries.

Our unique partnership has created an exciting opportunity to bring together the collective insight and expertise of CRUK and NCI and will enable the initiative to scale significantly over the coming years. Cancer Research UK will deliver the initiative on behalf of the partners.

For Cancer Grand Challenges, our mission is to empower the global cancer research community to come together, think differently and solve cancer’s toughest challenges, to transform outcomes for people affected by cancer. To deliver on our mission, we focus on four core objectives:

• Lead a global debate to identify cancer’s most complex challenges.

• Make important and transformative discoveries.

• Accelerate the translation of discoveries for public and patient benefit.

• Build a global community and harness its collective power.

In March 2023 we launched nine new challenges developed in consultation with the global research community that span discovery, clinical and population sciences. In March 2024 we will announce our latest global teams, each of whom will be provided with research funding at scale (£20m), to enable imaginative thinking and allow the best scientists to collaborate, irrespective of geographical boundaries, to solve cancer’s most complex challenges.

What will I be doing?

• Act as a key scientific and strategic interface with the external research community – cultivating excellent and effective relationships with the CGC community, leading scientists, academics, clinicians, patient advocates and/or industry or other relevant organisations.

• Work with the Head of Research and Director to develop, shape and implement CGC’s research strategy.

• Work with the research programme management team at the National Cancer Institute, our CGC founding partner in the US.

• Develop and demonstrate deep scientific and portfolio knowledge and management, including inputting as appropriate to any challenge setting, funding and review processes.

• Work with the CGC Operations team to plan and deliver CCG funding calls including application management, selecting applications to fund and award management.

• Help shape the scientific development of key CGC events, including the CGC Annual Summit, which brings together the CGC scientific community to present scientific updates, explore opportunities for collaboration and networking, the CGC Future Scientific Leaders’ Summit and other strategic events.

• Work with Cancer Research Horizons and other relevant teams to inform and develop opportunities for translation and commercialisation of CGC research, where appropriate.

• Identify scientific, collaborative and communications opportunities and work across functions to develop ways to better progress and promote CGC-funded work.

What skills are you looking for?

• Strong science background, PhD in a biomedical science, with expertise in the area of cancer biology and with a knowledge of current trends in cancer research.

• Proven ability to form strong, positive collaborative relationships at all levels of seniority.

• Demonstrable understanding of the research landscape, its challenges and opportunities.

• Excellent communications skills, with strong attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and present complex information in written form or verbally, that recognises the needs of the audience and enables effective decision making.

• Numerate and analytically minded, with an aptitude to resolving problems by developing innovative, robust and pragmatic solutions, implemented with attention to detail.

• Experience of planning, managing and delivering strategic projects; ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks and to support others to do so, showing adaptability to meet challenging targets and deadlines.

• Willingness to travel within the UK, and internationally, as required.

What will I gain?

Every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive.

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies, and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.

We don’t forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.

Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.

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 quickly, fairly, and objectively.

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.