Campaign & Operations Senior Manager

Cancer Research UK; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization is looking for an Operations Senior Manager in Cambridge. This role involves strategic project management, refining workflows, and developing gift opportunities to enhance fundraising. Candidates must demonstrate advanced project management and excellent communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary of £53,000 - £57,000 and includes a generous benefits package.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Career development opportunities

Work-life balance support

Qualifications

• Experience working on strategic projects.
• Proven line management or mentoring experience is essential.
• Ability to meet demanding deadlines and hold others accountable.

Responsibilities

• Refine cross-institutional workflows and systems.
• Develop diverse gift opportunities for strategic donations.
• Oversee philanthropic income reporting and forecasting.
• Lead and mentor the operations team.

Skills

Advanced project management

Organisational skills

Excellent communication skills

Analytical skills

Self-starter

Job description

Core values. Ambitious plans.Big impact.

Operations Senior Manager

(Internally know as Campaign & Operations Senior Manager)

£53,000 - £57,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Campaign & Operations Lead

Directorate: Strategy & Philanthropy

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (Open to compressed hours or 4-day work week).

Location: Francis Crick Institute, London (On-site 3-4 days per week)

Closing date: 18 November 2025 23:55

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment.

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:
1. Screening call
2. 1st stage competency-based interview via Teams
3. 2nd stage On-site interview with task

Interview date: Approximately w/c 1st December

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

Cancer Research UK is seeking a strategic and collaborative operations specialist to implement and embed the infrastructure to underpin the Crick philanthropy campaign. As a Campaign & Operations Senior Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping campaign strategy, streamlining operations, and unlocking high-value fundraising opportunities.

Based at the Francis Crick Institute, but working closely with colleagues at Cancer Research UK, you’ll project manage key campaign initiatives, drive cross-institutional engagement, and further embed income and reporting processes that support long-term growth. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of biomedical research through operational excellence and philanthropic innovation. As well as offering the chance to work with a varied stakeholder group from world-class award-winning scientists to operational experts across a breadth of projects.

If you're passionate about operational excellence, collaboration, and advancing biomedical research through philanthropy, this is your opportunity to make a lasting difference.

What will I be doing?

• Refine cross-institutional workflows and systems to strengthen collaboration and engagement.
• Develop and operationalise diverse gift opportunities, supporting fundraisers to secure strategic donations.
• Support the creation of a senior volunteer programme to enhance advocacy and involvement.
• Lead scientific engagement efforts, deepening relationships with ambassadors and researchers.
• Drive key campaign initiatives, including feasibility studies, strategic planning, and milestone events.
• Oversee philanthropic income reporting and forecasting, ensuring transparency and alignment.
• Deliver the operational plan through progress reviews and cross-team collaboration.
• Lead and mentor the operations team, fostering development and contributing to wider strategic initiatives.

What are we looking for?

• Advanced project management and organisational skills with experience working on strategic projects.
• Able to set and meet demanding deadlines, and to hold others accountable for delivery of projects/activity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate with a range of audiences at all levels of seniority.
• Proven line management or mentoring experience is essential.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and the ability to problem solve and identify key themes and concepts in complex environments.
• An interest in philanthropy and high value fundraising and scientific discovery.
• A self-starter, with the ability to work independently and proactively.

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.

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.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at [e-mail].

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 [e-mail] 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.